Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-12-03
SPAVINAW.
A Beautiful Mountain Country
Well Watered and Conducive
to Good Health.

hunting parties went to the Indian
Territory on a big hunt. But the
party of whom we shall speak had,
we believe, a much better time and
more solid enjoyment than any
other party out. The party was
composed of J. b. Opperman, DR..
A. o. Dewitt, Capt. ]. b. Boyer, Ira
C. Perkins, Chas. +. Noble. Frank
NJ. Perkins, J. L. Chew. Don Fenton,
Arthur Carney, W. NJ. Gill, Frank
Hemstreet, c. J. Fribley, L. ID.
Brewster, Kelly Carmichael and
Chas. L. Smith. Mac Kinney (Ah
SIM was cook and Kelly Carmi-
chael quartermaster, The biggest
part OF the party left on Nov. 0 and
the balance struggled along, as
b ,siness would permit.
The place selected for camp was
on Big Spavinaw, about a mile and
a half or two miles from where IL
empties into Grand River, fifteen
miles east Of Adair, I. T., and about
the same distance south of Tight
Wad. Big Spavinaw is one of the
swiftest running streams in the
West and is as clear as crystal,
being very deceiving as to depth.
Camp was on the north bank. The
waters of the creek are pure and
cold and we believe If properly
used will make old people young
and turn white hair black. Seri.
ously, however, the water is the
best we ever drank, and as there
was nothing else to crink except
coffee we partook of it quite freely.
In almost every direction from
camp are great bluffs Tor mountains
as they are called in that countryl
and the scenery is simply grand,
the bluffs being literally covered
with pine aud cedar trees.
Camp was fixed up in a most
comfortable manner by those who
went down first. There were four
tents-kitchen l0xl2 feet; dining
room l2x201eet; two bed rooms. one
I4xl6 feet and the other l4xlS feet.
A stable for the horses was made OF
tarpaulins and hay covers. A heat
ing stove kept the bed room tents
warm and q big camp cooking
stove made by Will Mckinney was
used by .Ah Sin, who presided over
the cuisine.
The stay of the party was made
very pleasant by Watt West and
his brother, John, who exercised a
sort of fatherly jurisdiction over
and looked after the welfare of the.
party. Both of these gentlemen
are Cherokees and have lived on
Spavinaw for years. Each has a
fine farm, well improved, up the
creek from camp.
In the section where the party
camped this year game did not ap-
pear to be apy too plentiful, but
enough wac killed for immediate
use in camp, and the folks at home
were remembered occasionally.
Don Fenton killed the fret deer,
two-year.old doe, and during the
first few days turkey were killed by
Boyer, Brewster, Gill, Noble, Car.
michael and Watt West. When we
left, John West had just come to
camp with his hounds and taken
several members of the party out
on a deer drive. We have not yet
heard what luck was had.
John Opperman killed two fine
turkeys the day before he started
home.
In camp the conduct of the boys
was all that could be desired or ex-
pected. No hunting 10 done on
Sunday, the day being put in in
reading and lying about camp.
As to ourself we will say that we
failed to kill anything except squir-
rels, although in company with
Gill we jumped up couple of deer
one week ago last Saturday, but
they were out of shooting distance
for shotguns.
1t was our first trip down into the
Spavinaw country, but If we live 1t
won't be our last. II some fellow
comes along who wants fret class
and job printing plant
doing a good business he can make
a deal with us and we'll 60 down
and devil the life out of John and
Watt West and drink pure Spavinaw
water.
The country between here and
Spaviuaw 10 az fine as ever a crow
fiew over and there are many we'll
improved Iarms on the prairies.
But well all flock together" and
with ~Ryestraw," "Chokebore," ,""Kos-
aiute" and the balance take one
more roundup on Spavinaw If a
merciful God permits.