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ONE of my- short tours in the Adirondacks 
several years ago was quite interesting, 1n- 
asmuch as it extended imto a region which 
Was new to me and also on account of the fine 
views obtained, and in the midst of good fish 
and game territory, now more accessible since 
the railroad has been built. In the spring, when 
on a trip to the Lower Saranac for some needed 
supplies, I met at Martin’s a party of Boston 
men who designed going into camp at Third 
Lake of the Bog River chain, and whom we ac- 
companied on their way thitherward as far as 
Corey's Hotel on Big Tupper, and on parting 
received an itati . 
urgent invitation to pay a visit to 
their camp before they were to break up and 
“bring that cornet with you,” which I promised 
to do 1f nothing turned up to prevent. The time 
having arrived, and the weather being all that 
one could desire, we went from Smith’s Lake 
by way of Harrington and Clear Ponds to Bog 
Lake and thence by way of the outlet, pulling 
at times through the dense growth of alder brush. 
and the 
part of way having clear sailing, until 
we reached Mud Lake, where we stopped for 
dinner, and then taking its outlet, which is at 
the same end of the lake as the inlet through 
which we had reached it, and but a few rods 
distant, found good boating, and after a run of 
some five or six miles, with Rampart and Silver 
. mountains looming up ahead, entered the head 
of Third Pond of this attractive chain, and an- 
nounced my arrival by a strain upon the cornet, 
which was quickly responded to by a rifle shot 
from the camp, and soon other shots were heard 
from various directions. Soon Camp Comfort 
was discerned, located at a pléasant spot at the 
foot of the pond, and we were greeted by Mr. 
Ed. Holmes, who explained that the rifle shot 
signal, which we had heard, would soon bring 
in the others who were fishing at other points 
up and down 
ing near by. 
Then came Isieut. A. M. Parker and guide, 
and long Dr. Emerson and guide. These 
three guides were Geo. Johnson, Ance Parsons 
and Sim Torrence, and composed the habitués 
of Camp Comfort, which by the way, had been 
a favorite resort of the famous rifle shot, Dr 
Wright, and whose great rustic chair remained 
as a reminder of the former occupant. Soon 
after we were joined by Mr. Hollister, of New 
York, who, with guide, was camped at Spring 
Pond near by, also Mr. Aiken and guide from 
their camp at Hitchins Pond, and after a little 
“music in the air’ an hour was spent in shoot- 
ing at-a-target, and. some excellent scores were 
made. 
In the meantime the whole force of guides 
were busily engaged, some in preparing a grand 
supper, and others in felling dead balsams and 
piling them up on end until in an open space 
they had a huge pyramid stacked together as 
compactly as possible. As darkness began to 
settle supper was announced, and we gathered 
about a large camp table in the dining hall with 
the chain, as well as friends camp- 
ere 
Adirondack Tours 
In Three Parts—I 
By E. S. WHITAKER 
open sides, but covered with pole and bark roof, 
and then the balsam pyramid was fired, and be- 
sides making a royal bonfire, with sparks rising 
it seemed fully a hundred feet in the still air, 
the whole surroundings were made as light as 
day. 
The supper was a grand success, as the party 
were generous providers, and the cooks among 
the best, and the guests possessed of such appe- 
tites as the dweller in the woods taking vigor- 
exercise soon acquires. After coffee and 
came a fine sangaree, and toasting and 
responses were next in order, followed by music, 
0th vocal and instrumental, until as the hour 
was waxing late, those from other camps dis- 
versed, and soon all had retired to their beds 
of balsams arranged in bunks in the dormitory, 
a bark inclosed and covered cabin of fair pro- 
yortions Parker having a rheumatic leg was 
somewhat restless, and finally made his way out 
to the vicinity of the camp-fire and ensconced 
himself comfortably in the before-mentioned 
arge rustic rocking chair, and was soon in a 
doze. Sim Torrence, with the other guides, was 
in the cook’s quarters nearby, and in order to 
ous 
cigars 

have a bit of fun enveloped himself in a bear 
skin or buffalo robe, which he used instead of 
a blanket, and stole out into the thicket so as 
to approach Parker from the other direction, and 
when near enough began to scratch and perform , 
other bear antics until Parker was wide awake, 
and when Sim was moving on all fours along 
a log near by he was surprised that Parker, in- 
stead of running or seeking shelter or making 
an alarm, carefully arose and made for the gun 
rack, and only the quick appearance of others 
of the guides, who were watching the fun, made 
explanation that it was only Sim, and saved a 
shot in that direction. 
Next day we went over to the Hollister bark 
and canvas commodious quarters, at that beauti- 
ful and 
noted trout water, known as Spring 
Pond, whose waters clear and cold have pro- 
duced some good sized fish. In fact while we 
were in this vicinity there were two trout caught 
that weighed 534 and 5% pounds respectively, 
and were the largest and finest that I had ever 
seen. This handsome pond is located about one- 
half mile directly north of Third Pond, and be- 
neath the southwesterly slope of Rampart Moun- 
tain. We also went from Third. westerly into 
Fourth Pond, upon whose northern shore is a 
fine spring of very cold water: and thence by 
carry and inlet over to. Graves Pond. most 
charmingly located with mountains rising on 
either side, and lying northerly from Fourth, 
and then following up the inlet in a northeasterly 
direction reached Otter Pond at the north of 
Rampart Mountain, and thence in a few rods 
were in Iron Pond, which is really the southern 
part of Silver Lake, a beautiful sheet of water 
of considerable extent (now I believe called Lake 
Marian) and situated at the western foot of 
Silver Mountain, and fed by the outlet of Panther 
and Triangle ponds that are but a short distance 
-and pushed until I entered 




















































































































north and really form the head of the chain of 
ponds, and the northern branch of Bog River, 
which unites with the southern branch near the 
head of Third Pond. 
Silver Lake is so retired, hidden away back 
of the mountains, and somewhat difficult to reach, 
that it should be at all times a most desirable 
locality for the hunter or fisherman to select for 
his outing; especially the surroundings 
are so attractive that the eye never wearies of 
the beautiful views presented, and the climb to 
the mountain top richly rewards the lover of 
nature in its sublime wildness by the charming 
Scenes then unfolded. We made a rough camp 
here for the night, and with a crooked branch 
for a rod, caught trout enough at the inlet to 
supply our wants. Next morning we ascended 
the mountain, and after an hour’s enjoyment of 
the splendid view returned to our boat and then 
made our way back to Camp Comfort well 
pleased with our trip. 
As my friends were to break camp next day, 
and offered to be my host for a fine supper when 
I should arrive at Corey's, we were easily per- 
suaded to go with them. From Third into Sec- 
ond, and thence into First Pond (in this reverse 
order of numbering) we shortly passed, and 
thence by the Bog River, now quite a stream, 
glided along and soon were at the spot where 
the outket of four considerable ponds that lie 
under Rampart Mountain empties in, and directly 
opposite to it is the outlet from Long Pond 
which comes in from the south. Then a fine 
run of a few miles brought me to where the out- 
let of Big and Little trout ponds comes in from 
the south, and the river turns to the north, and 
IT entered enlargements known as Hitchins Pond, 
Middle Pond and North Pond. Here I sere- 
naded my whilom friend Aiken, whom I found 
‘at his camp, and then on through the rapids to 
the outlet of Horseshoe Lake which comes in 
from the north (near to where the present rail- 
road crosses), and then up the outlet I paddled 
Horseshoe Lake at 
its southwestern point, then crossing into the 
southeastern bay. We were shown the location 
of, and tested the water of a famous cold spring 
ere landing at the carry, which by a good road- 
way of about three miles, brought me to Corey’s 
on the shore of Big Tupper Lake, near its head. 
As Andy and I intended to return we left our 
boat, but the others had a wagon sent over to 
bring their boats and baggage. Here we found 
the first cultivated ground we had seen in the 
western Adirondacks in a small .farm + connected 
with the hotel, and the prospect for fresh eggs 
and milk and vegetables was amply realized at 
the good supper that evening. We had a very 
enjoyable time. Next day we bade our friends 
good-bye and they wemt down the lake, and An- 
drew and I returned to Horseshoe and down to 
Bog River, which we thought we would try to 
run through to its junction with Tupper Lake 
stream. We had not proceeded far before we 
arrived at some rocky, dangerous. rapids, about 
6 
so, as 



