The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-24
FOLKS. IN CRYSTAL
TOWN AT BANQUET
Fine Venison Spread Given
By J. c. Baker
Of PLEASURE
Stories That Were Sprinkling
With Incidents of Chase
Are Told ,. ~

Are Told ~.
Lake Crystal, MINI, November %.
Saturday evening last, ]. C. Bak-
er was hest at venison roast to
the members Of the fire department
and city council and their wives at
the A. o. u. w. hall. Mr.. Baker
was one of the successful hunters
returning from the north. Before
leaving he had promised the fire.
men that If he was successful he
would celebrate with them upon
his return. Wednesday evening Mr..
Baker called the fremen together
in the usual manner and announced
that he had been successful and for
feveryone to set themselves for a
venison roast Saturday evening.
About $3.50 seventy five guests
met at the hall and were soon plac-
ed at the tables, loaded with a
bountiful feast of venison and trim
mings, by Mayor Davis. Mr.. Baker
and family being given the place
of honor at the head Of the first
(
there appeared to be no limit to
the most delicate and appetizing
manner and other good things, sew
eral of the firemen and ladies clear
ed the tables and while the others
chatted together, washed the, dishes
for the firemen claim the slogan
of always attending to business be-
fore pleasure.
After everything had been placed
in shipshape manner the guests
seated themselves about the hall to
listen to a short but interesting
program. VIM. M. Williams acting
as chairman. Mayor Evan Davis
gave a short speech fitting the oc-
casion after which J. G. Baker, the
host, was called upon to give an
account of how he had shot the
deer. Mr.. Baker claimed that there
was not much to tell as after
tramping the woods for several
days, one morning he saw deer
coming tow ards him at fast pace,
evidently having been started by
some other hunter. Mr.. Baker walt
ed until the deer was at a reason
able distance from him, then pre-
pared to fire but his gun missed
fire, by this time the deer was
very close to him and at the second
attempt to fire he brought his game
down shot through the neck, as Mr..
Baker claimed where a deer should
Lbe shot. He also told several jokes
at the expense Of his fellow hunters
who were called upon to verify
these Jokes later in the evening.
| Miss Evelyn Jones, accompanied
on the piano by Mrs. Stanley Jones
! sang a very pretty solo. Mrs. Eliza
| beth Greenough and Miss Emma
Hellekson favored the crowd with
an instrumental duet. Milo. M
Spencer, secretary of the fire de-
partment then gave an interesting
| account of the department. The de-
partment has been in continuous
service since its organization in
1881, and Mr.. Spencer stated that
two of its charter members, Will
Der Robinson and w. e. Cookson,
were at the banquet, and while on
the retired list, having received
their life membership honorary GER
tificates from the State Fire asso
citation, they still held a keen in :
terest in the doings of the fire
men. 80 ~.
Henry johnson, another success
| full hunter, was called upon to give
an account of his experiences In
the northern woods, apparently his
experiences were not very thrilling
as he filed his license the second
day of the season. Mrs. Stanley
Jones accompanied by her sister,
Mrs. Elizabeth Greenough on the
piano sang solo which was great
ly appreciated by all. c. W. clark,
the first Of this hunting party to MI
his licence, was called. Although
he was in the woods but a short
while when he filed his licence, he
had several experience such as fall :
ing of a high stump, where he had
climbed to secure better view OF
the surrounding country, at cri-
teal moment and missing his first
chance at a deer which went scurr-
ing away into the clutches of some
other hunter. Mr.. Clark also saw
a moose but only succeeded In
wounding 1t severely. as he was
only able to get chance shot at 1t.
He followed the trail of the wound
ed moose for nearly four miles
when it swan a creek and got
q: A. Epson, the only one in the
party who did not bring home
deer was called on to account
why he did not kill a deer. Mr..
Epson claimed to have nothing to
say to redeem himself so turn
ed his subject to the condition
of the roads and the land. He
claimed that the roads up north OF
Duluth were far in advance. OF the
roads around here, but that the land
was very rough and swampy and
was practically worthless for any
thing but a game refuge. 1t devel-
oped later in the evening how ever
the reason that Mr.. Epson did not
fiji his licence was not because he
had not seen any deer or was less
expert with the rife than his COM
panions, as he did bring down a
deer. but kind heartily had turned to
help another young fellow near by,
whe also succeeded in bringing
down a deer the same time, this
being his first experience in the
northern woods and big game, and
when he, Ueson, turned to his own
XIII found that he had only stunned
the deer with his shot and while
he was helping the. other fellow
the deer had made his getaway.
DIR. r. P. Dodds, member OF the
fire department, but not of the same
hunting party, was called upon to
give an account of his camp. DR..
announced That he was the only
successful one of six hunters in his