The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-03-09
CAMP THUNDER.
a Busy Lumber Camp on the Burger
Line.

"A Busy Lumber Camp on the Burger
Line.
Situated in the heart of a wilder
ness of woods about four miles from
Albert, Tucker county, w. Va, is
Camp Thunder, which, under the
competent management of that genial
and popular jobber, Mr.. d. Il. Harvey,
of Garrett county, Md, has become
one of the most prosperous and pro
gressive of the many to be found in
the vicinity. Under his supervision
its capacity has been more than
doubled, nearly three-quarters of a
million feet of timber being skidded
monthly and in the near future this
amount will be still further increased.
The inhabitants of the camp furnish
material for an amusing character
study. The student has many types
of human nature to observe in this
assemblage, representing, as it does,
many states and nationalities. Side
by side with the Leadville miner we
find disciples of William Penn and
the tall, lank individual representa-
tive of the "Buckeyen State. In
another group is the Admiral - of
the Empire State, and the down east
Yankee in earnest conversation. Old
Garrett county, never behind, either
in war or peace, furnishes her quota.
pre-eminent among whom may be
mentioned t h at modern criminal
catcher, Mr. Doyle Burton, whose
in a distant corner, deep in medita
tion, sits the illustriOus son of "Old
Erin whose only misfortune seems to
have been in being born across the
East river instead of the Atlantic,
which fact makes him ineligible to
the police force Of his native city. a
redskin of magnificent physical pro-
portions and a weak back who
claimed the far famed PocahOntas of
colonial days as an ancestor, until
recently occupied a prominent posi-
tion in the life of the camp, but ow-
ing to an over indulgence of firewater,
the cause of the downfall of many of
that noble race, he was banished.
Every locality seems to have fur
nished her best, as is evidenced bv
the manyEtalents shown. Musicians
and vocalists are common, and the
inventive genius of our boss sawyer,
Mr.. Merkler, who is at present deeply
interested in the complicated study
of perpetual notion" wins the ad-
miration of all. With others, muscle
seems their strong point.
The amusements of the camp are
diversified and interesting. Card
and dancing parties are very popular
at present writing and 'stagdance"
to the pleasing strains of melody
eminating from the violin, banjo and
harmonica, as manipulated by our
leading musicians, Boyd, Lloyd and
the boy with the crinkled hair, under
the dictatorship of the Barber"
county representative are night
ly occurrences. The honors of
the occasion are easily carried
away by that gracious and expert
lady impersonatOr, better known
among his associates as Fatty"
Double pedro is a favorite game, but
the ever changing code of signals
make decision as to the ability of
the relative players hard matter to
decide. AT present the Filter and
"Grab Driver are seemingly in the
lead.
Nor must we neglect to mention
the blacksmith of the outfit, whose
ability at the forge is only excelled
by his prowess with the butchers
knife. With the latter we are conf
dent he stands without peer, having
not long since engineered the slaugh-
ter of fourteen porkers in fraction
over sixteen hours and seventy two
minutes. This time although con-
sidered record breaker by his many
admirers, would have been materially
shortened except that one of the ami
mails proved obstinate and insisted
upon living even after being shot
and it's throat cut. However, it
finally died and the deed was finished.
The time keeper, teamsters and
Mr. John johnson are deserving of
special mention, particularly Mr.. J,
but owing to the mine o'clock, boys;
keep her down, boys" of the
"growler" we are compelled to finish,
promising them full justice at tanother
time.
O. II. J.