Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-08-17
OVER THEB BLACK HAWK TRAIL
A Delightful Trip in Camp and on the
Road-ecenery unexeeIled-One Char.
ter or an Interesting Write. np by Mrs.
tIutt

= DNt5htiut ZIP in lamp ana on the
Road-seenery unexeelied-one Char.
ter of an Interesting Write mp by Mrs.
Gott.
lis said that sail thir gs come to him
who waits, "and since nv girlhoodit has
been one OF my desires to take driving
trip and camp along the way. Nv
dream Was realized in the trip to Battle
Hollow. Leaving Viroqua Saturday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, July 30, Mrs
Porter and Charles Jr, in one buggy.
and myself occupying another one, we
started on our trip, going first to Reads
town by way of New Brookville. Some
might be irelined to comiserate NV be.
ing alone, but my own thoughts are
compans. and having been born in Just
such rolling country, dearly love IL e
olhifs and trees and varied scenery, be-
SID there is magnetism and delight
IN holding the reins over 40 Intelligent
morse. Beautiful as the bluffs ard
mead ows, with the little stream see ming
to mark out orr way down the VALLEY.
had been, new delights awaited us from
aeadstown on to ,ldiers Grove. The
rad is 10 goed condition; o. one side of
the klcknpoo CROOKED river river, with
It's grasses and equatic plants, on ,h4
other the hillsides, sometimes iottinp
out IN bold STONY po;I ts. Here the
straving cattle have eaten out the under
growth, and magnifc- trees nonrished
oy the waters al their Feet tower towards
ths heavens. AS we l+isurely, drs amilv
pursued our way, noise of much |
rafting and gathering III the rear caused |
MS to pull out TO the ro d .ide, and DR. |
Porter, with the buck board laden with |
camp equipage, passed on ard out of
sight, but when we r. ached the main |
street OF Soldiers Grove, Hon. Alley
Peterson directed us to the big pine
trees, where the United States soldiers
camped in their pursuit of Black Hawk
Horses were Ut harnessed and the bugp,g
drawn into triangle, tents pitched our
camp stone plt ced over fire, kindled |
With cones from the trees. and we were
soon merry over warm supper as the
sun Sent down. Things were made
ready Tor breakfast, cots made up, and |
as the night seemed chilly. the ladies' of
the party retired, but the one sleeping
near the front had the occasional exer
else of jumping up and running around
The tent to drive If couple of loose
horses, who occupied the field before
our arrival. Ten O'clock and DIR. Porter
returned from town with his guest, Sec
rotary Thwaites, of Madison, and soon
quiet reigned in our camp. No mos.
4ultoes, please emphasize that, for we
had been told we should be devoured bv |
them. Breakfast over, the camp equip
page was soon packed ard we iourneyed |
on with pleasant memories of our camp
under the historic pines, unless it were
on DR.. Forter's part, for here he was
forced to change his opinion in regard
TO zone blanket and wire cot being all
the bed Teller nee ds' on a camping
expedition. Cold comes up from below
as we'll as down from above when one
sleeps in a tent. We eurmise that the
fact that the ladies carried the eatablee
IN the buggies WAS also a good reason
why we were able to keep the buck
board in sight, although ne Doctor
drove fine team. From So diers Grove
to Towerville the scenery is wild and
picturesque, and the fora suoh AS is
found along streams. We gradually
climb the h'ufr~ and as we look back
ward DIV ey, an ever changing
scene unfolds before us. One o'clock
finds us on the high ground of Rising
Sun, but a shower is upon us, the tent
Is hastily pitched and we hurry in, the
horses are put IN grove, tie bugaies
backed to the storm, and in company
with parry of friends from Soldiers
Grove we sat Japanese fashion on buggy
cushions az ate our dinner ard epenta
pleasant afternoon. At 5 o'clock orr
friends babe us good bv g and Dr. Porter
desired TO 60 on to Retreat, as it had
CEASED raining, but Mrs. P, rter and [
voted to remain in the dry camp in our
possession, and FOR once the women had
their way. Supper was prepared end
big camp fire built, around which we
6 thered ar d spent the time in CONVEX
satlon until 10 o'clock, when we again
elept warm and comfortable under our
canvas roof. The writer waa not In a
house from the time of leaving home on
Saturday, until her return on Thursday
night. Monday morriog we were early
astiT, and as the sun arose We could
sec for miles la every direction, as we
we're on high rid Qe of lard. It is here
that Black Hawk and his band enoamned
For several miles we trgvers ID tue ridge
then turning abruptly we began the de
scent into the valley If Rush Greek,
reaching finally ravine that seemed
a bottom Of q well, and my companion
said, as the blackboard halted, "We have
come to the end of the road" but en-
sbrupt turn disclosed a way of ex-
Tor us. In the space OF three hours
driving we were in GA entirely different
country from that of the morning.
Again we climb the hillsidee ard eat our
noodtide lunch on the high ground
ct Retreat, where the broad fields are in
sharp contrast to the meagre spots of
tillable land in the valley Of Rush Creek
Again we journey on and soon begin
the descent of the bluffs bordering OF
the Father of Waters. At last we see
its CLEAN Of silver among the green
Rank grasses are about Us, the cardinal
flower in its gorgeous beauty beguiles
us, the water crowfoot and sedge is on
every hand, aud ia the river pond lilies
nestle and the yellow lotus opens its
broEd blossom to the sunshine. Two
hours before, the golden rod aud balm
nodded to US from the upland,ahd Tow
we seem transported to different
floral world. LR. G..
To be continued