Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-25
ACTION AT BATH ALUM
HuntWos Long on Luxury,
But Very Short on Bears
By GEORGE KENNEDY

forget the 1855 bear hunt at Bath
Alum.
1t was my first bear hunt. My
enthusiasm for it probably dates
back so years when my father used
to tell me thrilling stories about
hunting bears on Gum Hill in his
home town. I can still feel the
disappointment I experienced when
I visited his old home in a small
New England industrial city and
was told by an aunt that there were
no bears on Gum Hill in my
fathers time.
But this time was going on
real bear hunt, only an hours ride
from Washington-by plane.
Bath Alum is the mountain home
of Clinton NJ Hester. Washington
attorney who has collected some
big fees since he hung up his
single after years of Government
service. 1t gets its name from a
pre-Civil War spa. Mr.. Hester
purchased the site, tore down the
old hotel buildings and built a large
IIOuSS 1lOI1l U4lC A0Ao uS
the foot of a mountain.
He is a former head of the Civil.
Aeronautics Administration and
aviation enthusiast. He has his
own plane, four-seat Cessna, and
a fulltime' pilot. But for the big
bear hunt, he chartered two more
planes and they were shutting
: back and forth over the week end
transporting guests. He even
assigned q plane to carry Gen.
Nathan Twining, Chief Of Staff OF
the Air Force.
A Mighty Hunter
Clint Hester is a broad faced man
who parts his straight brown hair
in the middle, a style favored by
high school boys before World
War I. Almost 6 feet tall and
scaling 1876 pounds. his plumpness
softens q powerful build. He was
an athlete at Exeter and Colgate.
At go he always looks boyish and
sometimes acts that way. Some
thing Of a lion hunter. his bag OF
guests for this party included three
Senators, two Representatives. an
Ambassador, an admiral. the gen.
eral. Also q lion cub-me.
1t was my first trip to Bath
Alum and my first fight over the
mountain country which many OF
the well-to-do know through their
visits to two famous hotels. the
Homestead at Hot Springs. Va. and
the Greenbrier, short distance
away at White Sulphur Springs.
w. Va.
Like other small high-wing
planes, the Cessna is an excellent
sightseeing vehicle. The day was
clear. Among my memories is the
fascinating pattern Of the Skyline
Drive as 1t threads its way atop
the irregularities of the Blue Ridge.
Another is the big house IN a
clearing Of the woods with 1000
foot landing strip in front. We
circled 1t once because We had TO
come down from the 3.000-foot al
titude necessary to clear the final
ridge. Our landing was smooth
and our greeting was warm.
Like Dingley Dell
It was a bit reminiscent Of the
famous Christmas get-together at
Dingley Dell except that the Pick
wickian gentlemen were all arriving
by plane instead Of by stage coach.
The house is a typical Colonial
style mansion. a main building with
side wings. 1t contains a formal
dining room, a large drawing room
with a grand piano and wen
stocked library as well as q spacious
barroom with a fireplace burning
four-foot logs. Some hunting
lodge!
NV quarters were a bedroom.
bath and sitting room with fire-
place. had 1t all to myself be-
cause Harry Kopel. co-proprietor
Of Hammel's restaurant, who was
to have shared it with me. drove
down and arrived late. When ne
looked In was asleep and snor-s
ing.
AS our host led him away to
quieter quarters. Mr.. Kopel was
heard TO say In his Austrian &C
cent:
"He meets a falve chob."
sweating-out the arrival OF q
plane carrying Senator George w.
Malone Of Nevada that evening was
q dramatic experience. At sun
down our host began to get nervous.
1.-THE pilot will only have about 10
minutes more to make it, he said.
at gets dark awfu1ly fast In these
mountains once the sun goes be-
hind that ridge"
It was 20 minutes later when we
heard the plane. Our host had
automobile headlights and q fash
light turning on and Of to indicate
the strip.
The plane circled once in des-
cending and then came in.
Hes turning wrongl" our host
shouted in agony. Then. mo. he's
all right now"
Vodko for the Senator
Fortunately the pilot, Herman
Krinkler, had been to Bath Alum
before. He made good landing
and, DR.. william Detwiler and the
Senator stepped out. The Senator
was in his hunting clothes and
buoyant as ever. He had gone home
to change and delayed the
departure.
Il guess that's shaving it pretty
close" he said.
With the rest Of us, all q bit
shaky, he walked to the bar.
Once there Representative Hubert
B. Scudder of California said:
THE Senator drinks vodka"
A tactful reference to the Sena-
tors recent travels In the USSR.
Other memories Of the week end
at Bath Alum are taking trout
through the ice Sunday morning