The Washington times., 1914-08-16
TRAIL MAKERS TELL
OF CHASE BY CRUISER
Scouts Center of Attraction
During Stay at Camp Butt
on Way Home.

CAMP ARCHIBALD BUTT. Aug. 16
Bear stories, deer stories, woods
stories and finally a story of being
fired upon by British cruiser on the
way home are among the things which
are making certain Washington Boy
scouts popular at camp today. They
IRE the members of the Washington
contingent which leSr-the city more than
eight weeks ago for Wild river to build
a forest trail in the wilderness.
Scoutmaster II. l. Bowles, who had
charge of the expedition, and Scouts
William Thomasson, Robert Young,
Robert Gard Edward Pardoe, Raymond
Scaggs and Charles Thurten arrived at
camp last night from Baltimore for a
short stay on the way home from the
long trip.
The party left Wild River Camp, in
the White Mountain district, August z,
spent nearly a week viewing the sights
of the locality, climbed Mt Washing
ton ard passed over the high mountain
range to Gorham, n. H., whence they
went by train TO Portland, Me, last
steamboat to Boston, had another day
or sightseeing, and took a boat to
baltimore, where they arrived Satur-
day.
Iney were met on InelT arrival Dy
Scout Commissioner II. L. Eddy, of that
city, and number of Boy Scouts They
we're Hospitality entertained and brought
10 Camp Butt by way of a trip down
the bay to Chesapeake Beach. A num-
oer of parents of the boys from Wash
ington were at the dock yesterday
morning to receive the homecoming
Scouts.
All Glad to Get Home.
All are well and glad to get home. 1t
would be hard to find a more hearty.
solid looking set of boys. Living In
the open, clearing trail through thick
woods and chopping wood for camp
Tres. not to mention long hikes through
the wilderness, have given these young
fellows muscle, clear brown compleXions
and healthy appetites.
The party was the center of attrac-
ton at the big camp last night. a
,ampfire, arranged in their honor. gave
hem an opportunity to show their skin
rs story tellers. They relate strange
thiags. Not the least exciting is that
Of being fired upon by foreign man.
Jf-war on the way home
Last Thursday, while on the way to
baltimore the steamship was chased by
British cruiser, guarding the sea
against foreign ships. The pursuit occu-
pied the better part of an hour and
,-nded only when the cruiser had fired
hree shots at the steamship, had hoist
cd flag signals asking tho identity OF
he steamer and compelled her to raise
The American flag. One of the shots
vas so close passengers distinctly felt
he conclusion. Officers of the steamer
declare the affair was unprecedented
and was partly due to the fact that
kahh uniforms of Boy Scouts were
mistaken for those OF soldiers.
The affair occasioned considerable eN-
citement To the Homecoming boys,
however, il is only an incident in the
trip. similar opportunity for seeing
things of the world never before has
been given Boy Scouts. There is no
disposition, however, to boast of their
joings for the past two months. All
are quiet and serious in their relation
of events of the trip. With huge packs
valuable records of the outing hanging
rom their backs. the boys filed off the
-teamer at Baltimore.
They tell of seeing wild animals of
all kinds; Of building bough shelters IN
he woods to keep of the rain: of
wake by the hooting of owls and the
harking of foxes; Of snow battles in |
august in the famous Tuckerman's |
Ravine during the descent of Mt |
Washington.
Brings Many Trophies.
Raymond Scaggs has a pair of |
moccasins made OF bear skin; a porcu-
pine skin and scores Of quills bear |
witness to his having secured the |
woods in his study of wild animals. |
Some tell of having insufficient provi- |
sions on one occasion and going out 10 /
,'atch fish TO assuage the pangs of hun |
ger. Others describe the taste of fried |
porcupine and woOdchuck stew as II |
hat sort of diet were no uncommon |
hing in their lives. They understand I
now what il means to be scouts in the |
true sense.
Work on the trail stopped August G.
Il required two days to break camp and |
lack up. They bring with them the |
congratulations of officials Of the
'nited States Forest Service for the |
work they have done on the trail
Some OF the boys when questioned |
about the beauties OF Camp Butt re-
marked: "It's all right. but yorI ought |
20 see our camp on Wild river" Not |
nat there is any disposition TO depre-
late the advantages of Washington's