Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-05-13
ALLIGATOR LAKE.
MANY SPRINGFIELD PEOPLE
AMONG ITS VISITORS.
EXCELLENT TROUT AND SALMON FISH,
ING WITH PLENTY OF GAME IN
sEAsON-GUIDE JOHN HAYNES.


sEAsoN-GUIDE JOHN HAYNES.
Especial to the Maine Woods from E. M. Will
kins, of Springfield, Mass.l
SPRINGFIELD, MASS, March 16-"Dear
Old Alligator" as it is called by a we'll
known Springfield man who first visited
it in October, 1885, is one of Names many
lakes, beautiful sheet of water about
four miles long, and varying in width
from one-half mile to three or four times
that distance. 1t is located forty miles
from Bangor and four miles from the lit
tie village Of Great Pond in Hancock
county.
Hither nearly every year for the last
twenty-one years one or more parties
OF Springfield lovers OF the wilderness
have gone, and amply have they been re-
paid in health and happiness. In this re-
gion many lordly buck has fallen before
the rifles of local sportsmen, and NUM- er-
less trout and salmon have proved out
fishermen's skill. Those who have TESTED
Alligator lake water claim for it wonder
full medicinal qualities, which, combined
with the GLORIOUS Maine air', constitute
requisites for sanitarium deserving of
larger patronage than it has had hitherto.
While at Alligator last summer the
writer spent an evening looking over the
camp register, or log book, and was vastly
entertained thereby. On its pages appear
the signatures of many present and former
residents of this city, and in several cases
the records are artistically illustrated by
Paymaster Holt, OF the Boston and Albany
railroad, and Arthur j. Berry, formerly OF
Springfield and now superintendent of the
New Home sewing machine company's
needle factory at Orange.
Among these names appear those of a
number of veteran sportsmen, now de-
parted-Dwight Fuller, one of the first
Springfield men who visited these shores,
Judson Strong, jr., s. F. Pomeroy, DR.. J.
K. Wiley, George B. Clark, Horace L.
Niles, Charles Fl. Allen, George H. Carter,
F. L. Wesson, John H. Rogers, and others.
The record of the party in camp early
in October, 1894, which included Horace
l.. Niles, George McGregory, Stiles Bush,
FL. l.. Handy, George Clark and R. V.
Cooley, states that on October 4, Niles,
Bush and Cooley captured in the lake,
alive, yeariing doe and took to Springfield
Would stand to be petted and eat sugar
from Niles's hand day after capture.
This deer was placed in Forest park.
Another record, that of the winter party
of 1898, illustrates the great "challenge
act" of Warner r. Holt and W. s. Bellows
"a plunge in the ice-cold waters of the
lake on November 10. On November 10,
1900, Fred R. Swan killed, short distance
from this camp, one of the largest black
bears ever taken in the State, weighing
between 500 and 600 pounds. A handsome
rug, including head and claws, now
adorns Mr.. Swans home. Six days later
Frank Howard, of Pittsfeld, killed
smaller bear near Alligator stream, and on
November p, 1901, Charles E. Whipple Sc
cured the third black bear which has
fallen to the lot of local visitors.
Record further saith that on Nov. IL,
1901, Moth Balls hove into camp after
tempestuous founder through the snow,
'having been unable to start with the bal
ance of the party and coming in alone
after dark, over trackless trail with the
burden of a heavy valise"; also that on
November II, 1902, said "Moth Balls"
while enjoying his after dinner smoke in
the woods was disturbed by deer which
bit the dust. ''Moth Balls secured his
fitting and lasting title on one of his ear
lier visits to Alligator from the fact that
his fond wife had slowed away someth hing
less than 100 balls of moth-preventive in
his trunk, impregnating all his belong
ings, including some cake, with their
odor.
Nearly every visitor to Scamp Union,
as it is called, has had an appropriate title
bestowed by the presiding genius, Guide
John F. Haynes, well beloved by all who
have been his guests. Mr.. Haynes dedi-
Gated Camp Union on January 81, 1885,
and since then has helped to make many
Springfield man happy and healthy. On
probably only one occasion has he VEN
tured so far from his Businesses as this
city. Many local man thinks lovingly
of Alligator lake and John Haynes each
day of fifty weeks of the year, planning
to visit both the other two weeks. In this
case realization is always greater than
anticipation.
Women have tested the joys of Camp
Union, and always with satisfactory re-
suits. DIR. and Mrs. F. w. Hudson have