The Washington times., 1903-05-31
A Wholly Unprecedented Mar
rative of How They Spend
a Good Deal of Their Time
Studying the Beauties of
Mature, ETC., and Including
Some Hitherto Unpublished
Facts Concerning the Dis
covery of Traut's Island. :.

q grinning skull with the gruesome
piacard Such is the fate of all liars"
was to be seen in the refreshment stand.
but it has disappeared of late. surrep-
titiousiy removed. probably. by some
one who wanted to tell "a real good
one and didn't dare to while the skull
grinned at him.
Every fall, generally IN November.
the club gives an oyster roast, order
ing several barrels of the toothsorue
bivalves from the best selected stock In
the market, and preparing them in a
way that is pronounced by all who
are fortunate enough to be present to
be meal fit for the gods
This year clam bake Is under consd-
GRAFTON. and several clam chowders have
already been brewed in the big camp
kettle.
Prizes are offered each year for the
first fish caught in the season and tor
the largest fish caught. Bass is the fish
mostly taken. Last year Mr. Coppes
succeeded in landing the largest fish and
was presented with the finest reel that
money could buy, but wisely sticks TO
his own familiar. though inexpensive,
tackle. knowing that II is skill and not
apparatus that makes the fisherman
Christopher Columbus outdone.
Nothing pleases Joe" Ehrmantraut
more than exploring trips by boat and
on foot He is so much In love with the
outdoor life that he says his wife
threatens to condemn him to two weeks
on the island night and day, to see if
1t will not cure him. He has discovered
On one OF his voyages of exploration
that the lowland at the northern point
OF the island is in reality a separate
island and accordingly with all the joy
OF Balboa or Cortez has hoisted his flag
over 1t and claiming 1t by right of dis
eovery, named it '-Traut's Island
Oh" says the sweet girl visitor. lis
the island named that because you catch
trout there?"
And Ehrmantraut gravely assures her
that you catch "Traut" there most
any time
As he rounds the northern poin. OF
the island he sends his boat between
two piles OF rock jutting out from he
water, which passage he informs you
with delightful humor reminding you
irresistibly OF Jerome Sykes, is lawful
dangerous" and Is named Hell Gate"
II was near here. he adds with further
impressiyeness. that he found the re-
mains OF wrecked boat. its ribs curv-
ing from the drifted sand
On the island there are other funds Of
merry-making IN the shape of out door
ping-pong" and other games which can
be INDUCED IN by those who do not care
for fishing or swimming.
A Paradise Of Birds.
The island IS thronged with birds CT
every description. which find an unmo-
Tested home there. a flicker. or golden
winged woodpecler, Is nesting In a deal
tree near the clubhouse, and mocking
birds, catbirds, cardinals. orioles. and
others fit about among the branches.
The annual formal opening of the
island for the season is set for today.
Mr. Coppes. who reioices In the title OF
captain Of the Island, has made arrange
ments for day OF feasting and re1oic-
Ing, of music and Of song. As the crowd
on any Sunday in the season usually
numbers seventy or eighty, the pro5a-
bilfties are that today will see almost
double that number on the island.