AMONG THE THOUSAND ISLANDS



"Island Belle"

Fulton Times, Wednesday, August 23, 1882.

AMONG THE ISLANDS.

How to Get There—Steaming Among Them—Observations From the Deck—Suggestions and Incidents.

   In going to the Islands we take the R. W. & O. railroad, leaving Oswego at 12:55 p. m., arriving at Cape Vincent at 5:00, where we find the steamer "Island Belle” in readiness to take us the remainder of our trip by water, a distance of about twenty miles down the St. Lawrence. Our first stopping place is at Clayton, a town of about 8,000 inhabitants, the terminus of the Utica & Black River R. R. Nearly opposite Clayton is Governor's Island owned by T. G. Alvord, perhaps better known as "Old Salt," of Syracuse, who saluted us as we passed.

   Our next stop is at Round Island, a pretty island owned and controlled by the Baptists, where we find a commodious hotel, also quite a number of fine cottages. It is growing rapidly and promises to be very popular.

   Leaving here our journey continues for about three miles farther when we reach the

Thousand Island Park and our destination at the head of Wellesley Island at 7 p. m. This is the oldest of the principal parks. It has grown very fast in the past ten years and now has between three and four hundred cottages, some of which are very artistic as well as convenient; also several hundred tents are on the park. A beautiful cottage has been built by Mr. Sweet of Dansville on the spot occupied by the "half-breeds” [Republican faction at Oswego--CC editor] last season, and several others where there were none a year ago.

   More cottages are contracted next season than ever before. There is also to be found a dining hall, post-office, telegraph office, grocery, barber shop, bathing houses, etc. Three mails are received and forwarded daily. The foundation is laid for a large hotel which is expected will be completed next season. It is very much needed and will be a valuable addition to the Park.

   Over two hundred pleasure and fishing boats are also to be found here, owned by the association and residents of cottages, most of which can be seen nearly every pleasant evening gliding quietly in all directions over the clear and smooth waters. There are between five and six thousand persons on the park and the season is now at its highest.

   Excursions are arriving from all directions nearly every day. Persons from Maine to California are found registered at the trustees' office.

   Any one stopping at any of the parks should not fail to take the "forty mile trip among the islands." The trip is about fifteen miles up the river to Gananoque, where you have only twenty-five minutes to look around in, and if you are not very careful you will get left and it certainly is not a desirable place to stay in as it is very much behind the times in our own state. One thing worthy of mention is their new post-office, which is a credit to the place.

   We go down the river through some magnificent scenery for a number of miles, passing through the Lost Channel, Fiddler's Elbow, Echo Point and other points of interest, stopping for only a moment at Westminister park, at the foot of Wellesley Island, controlled by the Presbyterians, where there is also to be found a hotel, chapel and some very fine cottages.

   After leaving here we find a cottage on nearly every island till we get back to our place of starting, passing through what is called "Fairy Land," which is a very appropriate name. Bonnie Castle owned by the late Dr. J. G. Holland is in the immediate vicinity. At the Bay there are two very large hotels—the Crossman and Thousand Island House, capable of accommodating a very large number of people.

   We now go up the river for a few miles to the park. A fine description of this trip has been written by our former townsman, Rev. G. F. Rockwell, who owns a cottage on Cherry Island near the Bay. The fishing is now very good, about a hundred pounds being considered a good day's fishing, which are mostly caught in the Canadian waters.

   Volumes could be written about the grandeur of the scenery and then not begin to describe its beauty, and to those desiring to spend the summer pleasantly we would advise them to spend a few weeks among the islands. ROB ROY.

Spiritualists and Free Thinkers.

   The Spiritualists and Free Thinkers of the western division of Oswego county will hold their annual meeting on the fair ground, at Oswego Falls, Sunday, August 27. First services at half past eleven. Miss E. Anna Hinman, of Winsted, Conn., has been engaged to deliver the addresses. To meet the expenses of the meeting and to distribute it equally among the hearers a small fee will be taken at the gate. Bring lunch and camp chairs for the noon hour. Admission 10 cents.

By order of com,

J. P. M. PECK, chairman.

Neighborhood News.

   A poor family of four persons at Jennings Corners was very anxious to attend Barnum’s circus in Oswego, Saturday. In order to be able to do so, the father and son walked 10 miles a week ago, and picked huckleberries, selling them for enough to buy four tickets. Saturday the family walked 22 miles to Oswego and saw Jumbo.

   Oswego, like all cities, has indiscriminating blockheads on its police force. Abner Graham of Fulton was in Oswego Monday and was arrested for drunkenness. The poor man is afflicted with paralysis and his manner of locomotion is excessively awkward. His ailment is apparent to any sober, sensible man, and arresting and lugging him before a magistrate for drunkenness was as shameful as it is unjustifiable. Recorder Getty promptly discharged Graham. Why don't the Oswego papers give us the officer's name that made the arrest?