Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-08-24
ON THE OLD BATTLE FIELD


ON THE OLD BATTLE FIELD.
Mrs. Gott Tells Many Things Amusing
and Int resting-Thinks Battle Island
Would Make an Ideal Inter state As
sembly Grounds.
After crossing strip of swampy land
we are on the shore across frJm Battle
Island. the scene OF the massacre Of
Black Hawks band, and our historic
Pilgrimage is finished. We have fol.
lowed the trail as nearly as possibls
from Soldiers Grove and quite likely il.
many PLACES touched upon it. The
Indians were following an old trail in
their effort to escape and in broken
country the roads were made in this
way: The Indian first made the trail,
or narrow path, the white hunter wild
ened 1t, and as wagon road was needed,
this path was further broadened, and is
the highway of today. In a level
country the roads have been changed
and run on section lines, but remain
much the same in billy country like
THIS. We make g permanent camp ar d
settle down for two or three days, but
as nature shed tears in copious showers
IN this commemoration of the sad scere
enacted here Sc years ago, we are I'M
able to visit the various points of inter-
est, although we look longingly to the
bold heights of Battle Bluff from which
the iiag is flying, and most we can see is
dripping, seething mass of people.
Our party is equal to the emerge ncy
ana the occasion, land our spirits are not
dampened if our surroundings are.
Wednesday afternoon and Thursday
morning is clear and we visit the
river beach, row on the river and
visit Battle Island. The latter is a most
beautiful spot 10 a natural state, and
sitting urder the trees one can indeed
feel''near to no. ..ro'e | Q TT" This shore
and island mf k- an ideal camping spot,
tine scenery, fishing, rowii g, pls asant
drives, the commercial life of the river
In view, and the luxnries of life, ice
berries and veg tables can be bon ght of
man here, who supplies the steam
boats. Lit would make fine assembly
ground, and thousands of people would
gather here f'om [ wa, Minnesota and
Wisconsin. Good i.road fac Titles and
no other assembly ground very near.
Thursday afternoon we pack our belong
lngs and hle away home. Owing to the
nf
thrown from Ler buggy, sustain ing
slight bruises only.and Mrs Porter was
poisoned by, what We think, The poiee n
OAK. We We're on the look out FIR pois on
ivy, as We krew il. Th"re always an
element of trag dy in lie al q one trip
would haye been unreal without some
unpleasant thing DR.. Porter and Sec
rotary Thwaites are princes of good fell
lows on such trip, ever helpful, cheer
ful and good natured, and each brings
large fund of knowledge to increase the
interest In the wayside scenery.
A writer saye, "what a poor inheri-
lance 1T IS when a man gets to be DID,
ana can look back upon no idle days;
40 tine when he rambled along the
brook, no time when he went fishing.
when he loafed under the trees, or en-
loYed any other phase of ont of door
recreation to make life worth living; all
OF which nina men out of ten say they
intend to do some time. Tyday is the
day to do such things, not the day after
tomorrow.
With the excellent opportunities
afforded the people of Vernon county.
why shouldn't every body take sum
mer's outing et little expense DR..
Porter's blackboard, which was an object
of interest along the way, is two boards
III feet long fastened 10 rear and frcnt
wheels, six cots fastened on behind
reached out three feet, more and the
horses IN front made lengthy affair,
but an excellent one for rough roads.
When driven up on to high bridge the
rise and descent seemed like the getting
up of the camels in the Midway at the
worlds fair and the descent seemed IL
perilous one. Our stov which sery. d
us we'll, was two discarded stove CRATES
and piece Of sheet iron plac ID over
hole in the ground. On this we boiled
potatofs, friei fish, made coffee, etc. We
carried sterilized cream aud milk, which
kept sweet the whole trip, and the tuck
board and buggits carried our abundant
supply of bedding and eatablss. La
going on such trip war old clothes
and don't crowd your tent. o erioy
it one must have d lo7e of nature, a will
inRness to work and a disposition to
make the best of things Are you wear,
and brain tired? Then go gypsyine,
get tanned and live In plainest fashion,
and you will come back to civilized life
and work with renewed zsal LR.a.