The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-15

I once asked a company OF twenty
campers. Some said, Yes, once or
twice; others answered, Many q
time; only two said, mo, never"
Then I said, turning to the two, Il
know that all the others here have had
plenty Of experience, and that you two
are the tenderfeet, and never lived in
the woods"
It is quite certain to come soon or
late; If you go camping, you will get
lost in the woods. Hunters, Indians,
yes, birds and beasts get lost at times.
You can avoid it for long by always
starting your bearings and noting the
landscape before leaving camp, and
this you should always do; but still
you VIII get lost some time, and it is
we'll to be ready for it by carrying
matches, knife and compass.
When you do miss your way, the
first thing to remember is, like the In
dian, You are not lost, it is the teepee
that is lost" It isn't serious. It can
The first and most natural thing to
do is to get on a hill, up a tree or
other high lookout, and seek for some
land mark near camp. You may be
sure of this: You are not nearly so
far from camp as you think you are.
Your friends will soon find you. You
can help them best by signaling. The
WOTSl IIlIuS yOu can 10 Is 10 get lI1ShL-
ened. The truly dangerous enemy is
not the cold or the hunger so much
as the fear. 1t is fear that robs the
wanderer of his Judgment and of his
limb power; 1t is fear that turns the
passing experience to a final tragedy.
Only keep cool and all will be well.
If you see no land mark look for the
smoke of the fire. Shout from time to
time, and wait; for though you have
been away for hours it is quite pos
sible that you are in earShot of your
friends. If you happen to have a gun,
fire it off In quick succession on your
high lookout; then wait and listen.
Do this several times and wait plenty
long enough-perhaps an hour. If this
brings no help, send up a distress sig
nal-that is, make two fires by smoth-
ering two bright fires with green leaves
and rotten wood, and keep them at
lease fifty feet apart, or the wind will
confuse them. Two shots or two
smokes are usually understood to mean
Il am in trouble" Those in camp on
seeing this should send up one smoke,
which means, Camp is here
If strong west wind, for example.
was blowing when you left camp, and
has blown ever since, you can be pretty
sure it is still a west wind; but the
only safe and certain guides are the
sun, mon and stars. The Pole or
GNOTIn SIdT, anu the treat Bear (a1SO
called the Dfpper and the Pointers)
should be known to every boy as they
are to every Indian. The Pointers al
ways point to the Pole Star. OF course
they go around it once in twenty-four
hours, so this makes a kind Of clock.
The stars then will enable you to keep
straight If you travel. But thick woods,
fog or clouds are apt to come up, and
without something to guide you are
sure to go round in a circle.
Old woodsmen commonly follow
down the streams. These are certain
to bring you out somewhere: but the
very worst travelling is along the edges
Of streams, and they take you a long
way round. All things considered, IL is
usually best to stay right where you
are, especially If in a wild country
where there is no chance Of finding a
farm house. Make yourself comfort
able for the night by gathering plenty
Of good wood while II is daylight, and
building wind screen on three sides,
with the fire in front, and something