Evening star., 1914-07-26
Sunday Night Campfire
Features Life in Woods
for. White Mountain Bows

The following letter has been re-
ceived by The Star from Scoutmaster
Henry Irving Bowles. in charge of the
Washington Boy Scouts engaged in
building trails under the supervision
of the bureau of forestry in the White
mountains:
WILD RIVER CAMP. July 23.-The
Sunday evening campfire now is the
feature of life in the woods for the
White mountain Boy Scout trail build
ers. This Is the time when the boys
are all together after a hard weeks
work, when details of the trail build
ing operations are discussed. when
stories told by the boys and plans laid
for excursions following the compile
ton of the work. Scoutmaster Green
hawk has charge of these affairs. After
supper Sunday night there are games
badger" pulling, cock fighting" hand
slapping. hand wrestling and other
scout games occupy an hour or more.
Then Scoutmaster Bowles lights the
big campfire and the blaze lights up
the woods for a long distance all
about. The boys gather near and sing
all sorts of songs; those which have
become popular at other campfires.
songs that remind one of home, songs
| that are associated with religious
go back to friends and parents in the
cities or at summer resorts.
The Monday morning mail is large.
Nearly every boy has some message to
the forest. Early Monday morning.
also each Boy Scout crawls out short
| ly after $50 and makes ready for a
week in the woods.
Effective Work Now.
"At the end of the fifth week on the
trail the work has become more a
matter of routine. The strictly vaca-
ton aspect has worn off: it has become
serious business Each boy knows now
just how far his party will proceed
much ground will be covered. The
hardest portion of the work has been
done. and the troop has been divided
to permit more effective work. The de-
! parture Of Scoutmaster Mason, who
came in charge of the Boston patrol,
and two of his boys. Scouts Stevenson
and Matzek. all called away for busi-
ness reasons. and of scoutmaster
| organization of the forces.
| These changes have developed many
interesting traits of leadership among
the boys. The experience gained in this
stead later in life. Scout Knott of
Boston has charge of a party of his
fellows clearing up on the old Bull
nroof ok sTa Scout VII
Scraggs. Young, Pardoe and Gard, is
conducting cutting operations through
the woods from Moriah brook to
Cypress brook. Neither of these parties
of scoutcraft acquired previously is al
most invaluable to these boys. They all
camp together at Moriah brook at
night and take their separate ways into
the woods early in the morning Forest
Ranger kezar visits the parties almost
| daily. and Scoutmaster Bowles makes
| his trips over the trail to supervise
the work several times week. For
sponsibility for carrying on the work
rests with these young men. That they
do not finch. and that they make few
mistakes. and no serious ones. shows
| that they realize the dependence that
| is being placed upon them.
| Blazed Trees Mark Line.
| 1T Is interesting to observe how Fore
man Thomasson has organized his party.
Far in advance, he follows along the line
Of blazed trees as long as the way ap-
pears smooth until a corner is reached; !;
then he sights back to the preceding cor
ner and commences cutting away the
| large trees. Scout Scaggs assists in
| this and the two clear a fairly good
trail. one that would be recognized, and
| then proceed ahead again in the same
| manner, leaving Scout Pardoe to clear
up the trail better and get the loose
| branches out of the way
| I'm the meantime portions of the
trail where the requirements in the way
of cutting are plainly evident have been
put under the charge of Scout Young.
and is assisted by Scout Gard, who cuts
the smaller brush. and both then clear
out the trail and proceed as before,