Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-07-08
Lake Kampeska.

Lake kan mpeSka for the first time as
aguest of DR.. and Mrs. j. N. Harper,
and a lumber of other prominent
residents OF that beautiful city at the
head Of the Big Sioux Valley. We
had heard much and read glowing
descriptions Of that magnificent lake,
but no pen so far as our knowledge
goes, has painted a picture of that
marine blue body of pure water,
framed in sloping hills with an inner
fringe of SAND and pebbly beach,
making picture that charms the
heart of one raised along the salt
water bays of New York. Fishing
boats and a few motor boats are at
The service of visitors, but in the
opinion of one who loves boating for
pleasure, Kampeska is not fully
appreciated by the people who are
making Watertown a rival of Sioux
Falls and Aberdeen. The Watertown
boomers must realized soon that they
have the finest body Of pure fresh
water in the state, and nothing In
any state excells Kampeska only In
size, and Kampeska is big enough
for the pleasures of 100000 people.
1t may be long time before Water
town reaches that mark, but there is
no reason why the charms of that
beautiful deep blue lake are not fully
enjoyed by those who are passing
along life's highway. There may be
sail boats on the lake but we didn't
see one and twenty mile breeze was
blowing, just ideal for a Is foot cat
boat and a big sheet driving her
through the white caps and dashing
spray on all sides. Talk about your
motor boats and pleasure steamers,
but modest sized sail boat in a 20
or 80 mile gale is the one thing that
makes an outing on the water a
charm that surpasses all other sports.
If Aberdeen had Kampeska you
would hear of nothing else, not even
her roof gardens, and Aberdeen is
shipping Kampeska water for drinking
purposes, and some of the Aberdeen
boomers say that Kempeska water
is more appreciated than the stuff
that made Milwaukee famous.
Kampeska is about 8 miles long and
from three to five miles wide, so we
we're informed, and just over sloping
ridge about three miles wide we gazed
upon Lake Pelican, about 9 miles
long, a famous resort for ducks. a
hunters. paradise, but rushes and
mud banks mar it's claims for a
summer resort, but it is fine body
of water. and lakes in big prairie
state are priceless and charming.
The party was composed of twenty
three and occupied a cottage down
near Stony Point belonging to Mr..
Williamson. The program was arrang-
ed by DR.. and Mrs. Harper and given
in honor of her son Roderick who was
fortunate enough to have a birthday
and we were fortunate in being one
of the guests. The party was COM
posed of DR.. and Mrs. Harper, Mrs.
Colonel Slower, Mrs. A. G. Marugg,
Mrs. G. B. williamson, Mrs. Frank
Hawley, Mrs. G. e. Clench, Walter
Stover, Roderick and Douglas Harper
Roy Slower, Catherine Welden,
Adaline and Ruth Englesby, Stanley
Williamson, Arthur Lyon, Ellen and
John Carter Charles Doke, Clyde and
Wayne Schoo1ey and frankie and
Sterling Hawley. Everybody had
bathing suits but the writer, and the
ladies wanted to loan us dress but
as we never did any swimming in
petJicoats we had serious doubts as
to our ability to handle skirts and
declined, although it was very tempt
ing to watch them frolic in the
water. We sat oA-the beach under a
tree and watched the white caps roll
up on the opposite side of the lake
and wished for sail boat.
After q splendid dinner and a rest
there was more bathing with addi-
tions from an adjoining cottage and
the men among the new comers
delighted in "ducking" their com
panions and how they did scream, but
it was glorious fun. Pictures were
taken and our party returned to
town.
DR.. and Mrs. Harper are prominent
society people and enjoy the love and
esteem of large circle of friends.
Mrs. Harper was formerly Belle
Dewey, daughter of Col. Dewey, one
of the men who helped to lay out and
build up Watertown, and member
of the soldiers home boardv when the
writer was in command Of the home.
Among the new men of prominence
in the city are the Way brothers, who
are progressive progressives, who
will do much to keep WatertoWn In
the front rank They own public
Opinion" an evening daily and a
large block of lake front and beauti-
full cottage and have laid out ways
north addition to WatertOwn," and
are modestly booming one of the best
towns in the state. The way
brothers are Iowa boys and great
friends Of Senator Cummins. and their
location in Watertown, representing
important railroad interests, was a