People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1893 — A Week on the Kankakee. [ARTICLE]

A Week on the Kankakee.

Wabash Call. Dr. N. T. Hale returned Saturday evening of last weeek from a week’s duck hunting in the marshes “in behind Rensse laer,” and judging from the box of game which was shipped home via the American express company, he had a most enjoyable time. He made his headquarters at the home of his cousin, Mr. Shelby Grant, of Rensselaer, and after spending a day or two among his relatives there he, together with a party of congenial sportsmen from the city named, packed up the necessary paraphernalia to a camping outfit and started for the “mashes.” The doctor wishes it distinctly understood that the interpretation of the word “mash” is entirely different from that in this locality; there were no females in the crowd on which the boys could beepme “struck,” and as regards to the sour “mash,” why, they took plenty of that with them, and of course it wasn’t necessary to “start” for it.

The party, which was made up at Rensselaer, consisted of Floyd Robinson who, by reason of the fact that he brought good luck to the balance of the crowd, was called the “Mascot;” Chas. Warner, an attorney of 225 pounds avordupois, who couldn’t walk a little bit, 1 was named “pedestrian;” Frank Meyer, by reason of the fact that he “stood in” with the owner of the “mash,” was given the nickname of the “hustler;” B. F. Fendig, who was the only “dressy” man in the gang, was given the cognomen of the “dude;” Dr, “Vick” Loughridge, the only man in the party who would not work, was named the “old soldier;” Dr. Hale was known as the “waiter,” but what he was “waiting” for is not apparent, unless it might be that he was waiting for his cousin, Selden Grant, who was given the title of the “jigger boy,” to put in an appearance.

The party left Rensselaer by way of the Monon route, and were landed at Fair Oaks, a small village about seven or eight miles from the hunting grounds, late in the evening. The landlord of the hotel said he had an establishment of 147 rooms, and the party at once engaged eight apartments, seven sleeping rooms and a parlor, When they

arrived at the hotel they found it to be a one-story structure thirty by fifteen feet in dimeutions. The landlay said all the rooms but two were engaged, room No. 1 being occupied by herself and family as a kitchen and dining room, but that the other room, No. 47, was at their disposal, and that is the only excuse she could give for her husband stating that they had 147 rooms in the hotel—room No. 1 for the kitchen and room No. 47 for the guests and there was your 147.

From Fair Oaks the party traveled by wagon to the hunting grounds, and every once in a while the wheels would come in contact with what the “natives” called “tussocks,” a knoll of earth covered with grass, which would tend to upset the equilibriums of the occupants of the log wagon, and when walking the Wabash sawbones says he frequently came in contact with these “tussocks,” and it was all he could do to maintain an upright position. At camp the first night he said he felt a hard substance pressing against his spinal column, and when he asked what it was, received the cheering assurance that it w r as a “tussock.” Next morning, upon investigation, he found a potato about the size of his double fists lying between the blankets, where it had been placed by friends who were very solicitous as to his homfort.

The party made a four day stay at the “mash,” and Dr. Hale says there were millions and millions of ducks, geese, brant, teal and jack snipe, that it was no unusual thing to go out in. the morning before daylight and enscousing themselves in “tubs,” await the flight of the feathered fowls, and return at 9 o’clock with more game than they could carry. As an evidence of the skill of these sportsmen he brought home with him a store box full of game which he took great pleasure in dividing among his friends, and, aside from this he is the owner of the carcass of a sandhill crane, which is now in the hands of a Wabash taxidermist to be mounted.

Sunday closing of the World’s Fair which causes labor to work on Sunday in order to see the Fair on Saturday is worse than a failure, even from the standpoint of the most fanatical Sabbatarian. Austin & Co., composed of W. B. Austin, A. H. Hopkins, and Geo. K. Hollingsworth will loan you money on personal, mortgage, or chattel security for long or short time at local bank rates. These loans can be paid back at any time, and are more desirable than bank loans because interest is rebated. We have unlimited capita.! and can accommodate everybody. 89-6 t. There -will be a meeting at the Methodist church this evening of those interested for the purpose of organising a lecture association for the coming season, This is an undertaking which we hope to see consummated. It -will be the means of getting a series of first class entertainments in our town and can also be made to pay a small profit to the members of the association. At Goodland a very successful course has just been completed.

A Goshen school ma’am has introduced a new feature in her school, and one that is distined to be very popular with the boys as well as the girls. When one of tlje girls misses a word the boy who spells it gets permission to kiss her. As a re-

suit the girls are becoming very poor spellers while the boys are improving.