The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-13
IN The WOODS
Topeka Boy Campers Having
jolly Time at Maple Hill.
Bad Weather Has No Terror For
the Youngsters.
GAME OF BASEBALL.
Enjoy a Contest With the Coun-
try Boys.
They Will Break Camp on Next
Saturday.
GAME OF BASEBALL.

Il like this said one of the boys,
with the emphasis on the like i'm
mediately after the storm at the Y. NJ.
G. A encampment near Maple Hill on
Sunday morning. The wind blew with
such fury that it twisted the limbs of
the trees in the vicinity, and laid low
the corn. In the midst of the storm
when Mr.. c. H. Fenstermacner, the
secretary in charge of the camp, made
tour of inspection of the boys tents
during the deluge when the thunder
was reverberating among the hills, the
faces of the youngsters were as white
as sheets but when the storm subsidized
they declared that they were hav-
ing the time of their lives. The officers
did not fare so well. and it was only
due to a strenuous effort that their tent
was not blown down. The shower bath
they received made it necessary for
Mr.. u. B. Dye, the physical director, to
appear at the breakfast in a suit of
pajamaS, and a visitor from Topeka
paraded about the camp during the
morning while his clothes were drying,
in swimming suit which fitted decid-
eddy too soon"
In spite of the fact that the weather
has been anything but favorable the
boys have been having a great time.
Mill creek, near which the camp lies
has been a raging torrent, so it has
been impossible for the boys to in
dulge in boating, fishing, or swimming,
but still they have found plenty to do.
The other afternoon the boys chose
sides in anticipation of a battle royal.
One contingent with a 10 minute start
went into hiding; After diligent
search the other division came upon
them and a battle ensued. pignuts serv-
ing as the missiles. There were no
casualties among these mock Indian
braves but the % youngsters thoroughly
enjoyed the pastime.
n n
baseball was played with the husky
country lads of Maple Hill 1t was
good clean game, and as might be eX-
pected the country fellows won.
Buffalo Mound, which is said to be
the highest point between the Missis-
sippi river and western Kansas. and
is situated near the camp, was climbed
one morning by the boys who stacked
up pile of stone as a trade mark,
as the small boy would say. Won
derful view is obtained from this hill,
the state house dome being visible on
a clear day.
An excellent cook is employed and
the boys do justice to their sharpened
appetites. 1t is the idea of Mr.. Fens-
termacher to make the camp life edu
cational as we'll as beneficial from
physical point of view. Arrangements
were made with Colonel Golden, the
ex-Indian fighter, to be with the boys
evening to entertain them by his tales
of thrilling adventure. He was un-
able to be there on account of serious
illness, but Frank L. Snow, who has
spent several years in Africa, told the
youngsters as they sat in a circle |
around a merrily burning fire, of some |
of the curious customs and supersti- |
tons of the Mashona race of people, |
illustrating by a dance and songs.
One of the features of these camp |
fire gatherings is the singing by the |
boys who fully enter into the spirit of
the occasions.
Short devotional exercises are held |
every day and longer services take
place on Sunday. Last Sunday the |
boys were told of missionary work in |
Africa.
The boys will return home by the |
country road route on Saturday. On |
Monday a second encampment will |
start on the same spot on the HamiI- |
ton farm near Mill creek. The follow |
ing are the bo-- tenters:
Hampton Shirer. Robert Drum. |
Sam Stewart, Charlie EIdridge, Fred |
Wright, George Hogeboom Beryl |
johnson, Churchill Sargent, Frank De |
Almond, Oscar Bolton, Ralph Kings
ley, Robert Carter, Roger Davis, Mark |
Weidener, Richard RICHTER, Willie |
McKibben. Will Wolfe, John Marsh.
Charles Freeman, Chester Ebey, Will |
liam Macferran, Reid Morrison.