Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-23
Outside Point of View.
McCannis Mill,
Somewhere in Wis,
Sept. Is, 1908.

NV Dear George:
In my last letter we were still at
DR.. Kenedy's place, having secured a
nice catch of brook trout at the pool.
The day after, we took the boat down
to Lake Crystal, put in one days sup
ply of food, sent the two teams and
drivers ahead to drive around Lake
Namicoggin. while we started across
two lakes, involving two portages.
Charles took the oars and incidentally
we picked up few black bass. We
had sent word ahead for Mr.. Pete
Pitthong an old lumber camp work
er to meet us at the first portage. He
was there, and the five of us dragged
the boat half mile from one lake to
another, Pop" acting as lead horse
and setting the pace. Two hours more,
Of rowing brought us to the second
portage. Here we loaded the boat on
to lumber wagon j. e., running gear,
the wheels and a long 'reach" and Pete,
hitched on an old white horse and we
started into the woods. And right here
Elet 1t be mentioned that horse was a
wonder. He knew just how to turn to
avoid that stump and going down hill
when the boat rested on his tail, he
showed no nervousness, but held 1t
firmly in place till we climbed the next
hill Once the trail was half filled
with an old dead pine tree lying
lengthwise, and is a fact he walked the
length of the log as we'll as a tight
rope trapeze performer, and when we
finally reached the lake he backed the
whole business down to the edge OF
the water, thru brush, stumps and
swamp, as tho it had been his daily
occupation since he was a colt. Here's
to Pete Pitthong and his old white
horse.
And here Charles, the muscular,
PLAYED out He had taken cold, had a
high fever and things looked bad. Bob
the youth, took the oars, and at noon
we stopped for dinner. Charles was
laid in the shade. The colonel walked
mile to house and secured some
quinine, while pop cooked the dinner.
Brook trout for four was the order.
Eighteen nice ones We're taken from
| the ice box. Bacon was sliced then and
commenced to sizzle on the hot stones.
Potatoes were boiled with their jackets
on. Eggs were put in the same kettle
four minutes before dinner was called.
The coffee pot was hung over the live
Goals and the smell Of 1t almost
brought Charles from the shade. A
pine slab over foot wide served as a
clean table. Another one propped up
on stones for the chairs. Fresh bread
and nice butter from DR.. Kenedy's
that morning. was in evidence. And
on that island not a mosquito to dis
pute our rights, we sat down to din
ner long to be remembered. We
saved" four nice big trout for Charles
when he got better, which fortunately
| he did that evening, and must 1t be adj
mitted, three of us ate fourteen brook
trout at one meal. To make
| this appear credible, let me
state, we saved" hard boiled
eggs and potatoes enough for supper
After dinner we loaded up again,
Bob took the oars and long before
sunset we arrived here. On the way
down we hooked several big pickerel
| "a much despised fish here, termed
| Snakes" by the true sportsman. How
ever, we passed one boat containing
some men actually fishing for these
| Snakes" weren't biting very well;
only caught twenty-five since din
ner." And here I must tell you OF a
bit of personal experience. 1T was
deemed necessary to have some chubs
| for bait. Frogs We're reported out OF
style; bass would have clubs or moth
ing. SO we rowed up to the rapids,
| the boys took the seine up the rapids
to make draw. leaving Pop to take