The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-08-18
Camping at Mile Laos Lake.

Camping at Mile Laos Lake.
DEAR UNION: Z linking that per-
haps your readers would enjoy a brief
synopsis of our trip and camping at
Mile Laos lake, that most beautiful
lake in Minnesota, we send you a short
.Iletter.
We left Princeton, Monday, Aug. i,
arriving at Milaca at l0:45; we there
took teams for our long drive of forty
miles,, reaching Pages at about four
/. o'clock, our appetites being already
lsharpened by the pure air and our ride
over stones, SO often spoken of on these
roads; we took supper and were there
for the night At an early hour the
next morning we were again on our
way north, the roads being greatly i'm
proved by light rain. It was not
many hours before we arrived at
4 Edith, and there remained until We'd
nesday morning, being very pleasantly
entertained by the Cundys and Cot
tons. Miss Kathryn and Geo. Cotton
joining our party, we embarked in
boats, kindly furnished by E. W.
Cundy, for our camping grounds at
Oak Grove Point on Mile Laos lake,
a distance of nine miles through wild
rice and beautiful scenery. Pitching
our tents on the claim OF Mr. Olof
johnson, our camp life commenced in
reality and we soon had our coffee boil
ing for our supper, all of us s'pitchy
buckete." We spent a week at this
spot, enjoying several excursions by
boat. OF course we cannot speak of a
surety of the good time of the gentle
men, as they each got a dose of poison
ivy and'spent good dealsof their time
nursing their arms. In the stiffness Of
the night we could hear smothered ex-
CARNATIONS from them, when it began
to itch. We cannot speak too highly
of the hospitality of Mr.. Olof Johnson
and D. H. Robbins and family, who put
forth every effort to help us enjoy each
moment of our time; and every mem
Der of our party felt grateful for their
efforts. One and all voted it time
long to be remembered.
On Monday morning, Aug. 8, we
broke up Camp Misery" which re-
ceived it's name from the misery
caused by poison ivy, and embarked on
the steamer Oracle D, which by the
kindness of Joe Carter, was to take US
across the lake. We all enjoyed the
trip very much, although some of the
lady members became sea-sick and
concluded they did not need their
breakfasts. AS we passed Stony Is
land, that freak of nature, which is a
mass of solid rock, we we're greeted by
a myriad of white gulls which
screamed at our intrusion upon their
solitude. The sea running high made
it too dangerous to land, therefore we
had to satisfy ourselves with a glance.
After a pleasant cruise among the
numerous and beautiful islands of Isle
Harbor, we landed at the home of Joe
Carter, none the worse for our trip, al
though the land seemed to be very un-
steady for time. A lunch at Carter's
and once more we pitched our tents on
what is called Point Freeze Out, on &C
count of it being so cold in the winter
that no one can live there. Here we
found an ideal camping place; smooth
sandy beach, afforded an excellent
bathing place, fine view of the large
lake and the many islands that fill this
part of it. Next morning we raised
our flag and christened our camp,
''Camp Comfort" then settled down
for a week of enjoyment. Our forager,
N. E. Jesmer, kept us in necessities,
generally making night excursions
into the adjoining gardens, while C..
A. Jack, assisted by DR.. Small, kept
the camp in wood. z.. .-
While here we witnessed most
glorious sunset and all felt the grand
ure of old Sol as he babe us good night
and disappeared beneath the horizon.
1t was also our good fortune to see the
lake by moonlight, scene which defies
the brush of the artist. ..
On Aug. 18th we once more broke
camp, loaded our wagons and started
on our road homeward stopping again
at the homes of Mrs. Cotton and E.. W.
Cundy for few DAYS. The gentlemen
visited Bass lake and reported the
presence of deer in that vicinity. We
left Edith for Princeton the next Tues
day with a kindly feeling for Mile
Laos lake people, who did so much to-
ward furthering our pleasure.
THE MERRY DOZEN.
| w. @. T. o. ~.
A few years ago you could have
counted on your fingers the names of
women of this country whose voices