Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-30

To be sure, before taking the count,
leg No. l nearly transfXed the driv-
er's back. while leg No. walked all
over my foot and nearly battered off
toe, but leg No. was more impair
tial and distributed its jabs between
the driver and me.
Twenty miles from Millinocket we
left the autos and with our luggage
transferred to teams started on
foot for the remaining eight miles to
| the Great Northern camps at Basin
Pond. With a good dirt road under
foot and no luggage, walking was a
pleasure. and soon we reached Depot
Camp at Roaring Brook. Here we
! rested a few minutes. enjoying fine
view of Katahdin and waiting for
slight shower to pass. Shortly we
We're started on our last three and a
half miles to Basin Pond Camps.
From Depot Camps to Basin Pond
Camps there is a rise Of from 1900
to 1900 feet. For a mile and half
or two miles the assent was gradual
and walking was easy. The mountain
now stood close above us and fire.
quently revealed through beautiful
spruce vistas.
We now met frequent signs Of
game-on topping sharp rise we
nearly stepped on a large red fox.
sleek, handsome fellow. who speedily
sought concealment in the under
| brush. A little farther on a flock Of
cartridges walked leisurely across our
trail and calmly watched our passage
from nearby logs and fallen trees.
| Now and then the road revealed the
| imprint of a bears foot. a wandering
deer, a waddling porcupine or wary
| raccoon. Seemingly the woodland folk
/ had word of our visit and were out
to welcome us.
On reaching Sandy Stream the
road soon mounted steeply and we
/ had real climb of about a mile and
half to Basin Pond Camps. Here
we expected to find the usual lum-
Der camp quarters, but instead found
special camp which had been con-
! structed for officials of the Great
| Northern. This consisted of a large
living room and several sleeping
rooms fully equipped with COM
Portable furniture. double spring
beds. etc. Everything was spotless-
ly clean, attesting to the efficiency
of the caretaker, Frank Crawford,
| who gave us a royal welcome and
| who anticipated our every want
| while we were there. Never have we
met neater. more kindlier, more
hospitable caretaker than Frank
The Great Northern is fortunate in
having such a pleasant, courteous
and efficient representative at this
camp.
This camp was nearly destroyed by a
forest fire which had started several
weeks before and which was still
smoking in places. Apparently the fire
started close to the camp about mid
night and from some unknown cause.
Frank, the caretaker, and two other
men were asleep in the camp. By
pure chance Frank happened to wake
up and noticed red glare. Running
to the window he saw the flames road
ing through the brush and trees close
to the camp, and fire already starting
up the side Of a room which projected
on the north side. Fortunately there
were several pals and a wash boiler
full Of water in the camp. Snatching
up two pals, and shouting to his COM
panions, Frank ran into the burning
room, showed up window which, luck
lily, Wa1 directly above the creeping
flames. and partially checked the blaze.
The three of them now turned to and.
although despairing of saving the
camp, managed after an exhaustive
fight to quench the fire. Frank said
the fire was travelling at least 40 miles
an hour, but away from the camps
If the camp had been directly in it's
path nothing, of course, could have
saved it.
Basin Pond Camps are wonderfully
situated. The altitude here is 1900
feet-nearly half the height of
katahdin itself. From the camp
door, looking west and south. one is
confronted with a panorama i'm
pressive beyond description-at ones