Evening star., 1932-02-21

Lawrence, who was in poor health. George
Washington, at 19, gives US an account in his
journal of some deep-sea fishing: October 9.
l751-Catchd q Dolphin at pm, Shark at
IL and one Of his pilot fish; the Dolphin and
pilot fish we're dressd for Dinner"
THE next most interesting record OF outdoor
! adventure, written by himself, is during
his commission to the French commandant Of
the French forces on the Ohio. He was sent by
Gov. Dinwidde Of Virginia because Of his
knowledge Of woodcraft, his friendship with the
Indians, his sporting resourcefulness in the face
Of danger He did not fail, although his Jour-
ney, especially the return. was beset with acute
hardships and perils of all kinds. Let us read
his own account:
1.-The horses became less able to travel every
day; the cold increased very fast . was
uneasy to get back to make report Of my pro-
ceedings to his honor, the Governor; I deter
mined to prosecute my journey the nearest way
through the woods, on foot put myself
in an Indian walking dress = With gun in
hand and pack on my back in which were my
papers and provisions, set out with Mr. g..
fitted in the same manner. on Wednesday, the
26th, 1853. We fell in with a party of
French Indians, who had lain in wait for US.
One of them fired, but fortunately missed US.
I'VE took the fellow into custody and kept
him until O'Clock that night, then let him go
and walked all the remaining part of the night
without making any stop. The next day
we got to the river above Shannopins. We ex-
pected to have found the river frozen, but it
was not only about so yards from each shore.
- There was no way Of getting over but ON
q raft, which he set about with one poor hatchet
and finished just about sunsetting. This was q
whole days work; we next got 1t launched and
set Off = Before we were half way over, we
were jammed in the ice in such a manner that
faI a1raV -, ava<1
ourselves to perish. put out by setting pole
to try to stop the raft, that the ice might pass,
but the rapdity of the stream threw it with
such violence against the pole that it jerked
me out into 10 feet Of water. We were
obliged as we were near an island to swim for
it."
I'VE found no difficulty in getting of the IS
land in the morning and went to Mr.. Fraziers.
We met here 20 warriors who were going to
the southwark to war. For a month there
was not a day that did not rain or snow in
cessantly. Reached Belvoir the 18th,
where stopped one day to take necessary rest,
and then set out and arrived in Williamsburg
the 18th, when I waited on his honor the Gov
ernor."
pearance upon the pages of American history,
He was instantly famous, because of the sue.
cess Of the expedition. At % he had become q
distinguished man Of achievement
He married in January, 1859, and turned as
soon as possible to a happy home life at Mount
Vernon, which had been bequeathed to him
by his brother Lawrence. He was now able to
indulge in all the anlusements, "for which he
had true sportsman's relish" His chief de-
light was the chase and he often rode two
or three times a week, in season. with friends,
in hot pursuit Of the fox
Fowling, too, was q favorite exercise. He
roamed the woods, and spent hours alone in
his canoe on the waters of the Chesapeake.
Once he overcame alone and unarmed poach-
er of desperate character, who pointed q gun
at him and took deliberate aim.
Visitors hocked to hospitable Mount Vernon.
FOX hunting duck shooting and fishing, each
in turn, with its season, rounded out this care
free period Of his life.
Called forth from this delightful life g
.fve~s .s-.- 4..- <rr- -s.-.-
Continued on TlpentN-sirth Pane Il