Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-08-27
RETURN FROM CRATER
Some Impressions OF the Excur-
sionists From Portla nd

| y member OF Iie fOItanu OIdteT
Lake party has given the Portland
Oregonian the following account of
their trip. After giving the person
mel of the party, he says;
"It is probably the merriest party
that has ever travelled over the hills
to this great natural wonder of Ore
gon. Leaving Portland August 18th
by the Southern Pacific, they were
transferred to wagons at Medford, ar
irving at Crater lake on schedule
time Saturday night, August s, with
the exception of some freight. The
long ride through the cool, ,enticing
shadows of the yellow pine forests
was frightened by sallies and bon
mots without number, and the in
spiration of the noble canyons of the
Rogue river, its waterfalls and mar
velous natural bridge brought out
quaint, picturesque metaphors and
curious legends such as might well
become permanent part of Pacific
coast literature.
joaquin Miller was in his hap
piest vein, his wit and fantasy find
ing fresh opportunity TO vent itself
at every turn in the road. DIR. Hill
was the humorist of another wagon
load, a jovial giant, bent on seeing
that everybody about him should get
the best out Of his vacation. Presi-
dent Campbell, always brilliant
reconteur, kept up perpetual laugh
at the other end of the cavalcade,
while Senator Fulton's shrewd humor
and good sense gave the needed spice
of diversity.
"At Eagle Point, 10 miles beyond
Medford, there was campfire that
will live long in the memory of those
who were present The whole country
side for miles around had assembled
to do honor to the visitors, and the
stirring intensity and lofty strain of
feeling shown i'll the impromptu
speeches, together with much clever
repartee, brought out ringing ap.
plauso from the people of Eagle
Point. joaquin Miller gave a sup
perb tribute to Oregon for her part
IN the Indian wars, placing this state
before all others in the Union for
the brave men she gave and the Ore.
gon gold she coined for the cause
The battle of Table Rock was touch
ed upon with much dramatic feror
and vivid imagery-a battle in which
some of those present had taken an
active part.
A lively scramble down tine messy
sleeps of the picturesque little water.
fall on the country place of ], II,
Stewart, of Medford, was feature of
the next ccamp. This situation in
the heart Of the forest, the charming
vistas and wildwood glens causing
joaquin Miller TO exolaim that he
could not wish heaven itself TO be
more delightful and entrancing in its
beauty. The rustic cottage with its
wide verandas was filled with
trophies of chase and pine wood
curios. The campfire talks inspired
by the rare hospitality of the owners
were quite as notable as at Eagle
Point
At the natural bridge, where Rogue
river disappears into the living rock
to come out Of its prison-houso q
fnaming torrent, IL was found that
the horses, although the best obtain
able, were not quito equal to the
task of carrying the generous load of
table supplies provided by Mr.. Steel
up the mountain ON schedule time
This will explain why the company
of "a people arriving at Crater lake
about sunset Saturday night, found,
after waiting two hours, that the
cook, with his supplies, was encamp-
ed az the base Of the mountain. This
uecessitated merry scramble Of a
mile down the mountain in the moon
light. But Sunday morning found all
encampod in good shape on the rim
of tho lake, engaged in studying
the marvellous changing tints OF
water and rocky cliff as the sun
moved westward.
On Monday, August 10, party Of
about 80 people, under the guidance
OF Cgi iu q. g. Ar oPnie, who wa'
encamped neag u, climbed Castle
mountain, which is sl15 feet from
sea level, or 1000 feet above the
camping ground.