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Homeletter 1935 Vol. 8, No. 6

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Hyde Bay
CAMP FOR BOYS

HERBERT E. PICKETT,
DIRECTOR
1935 HBC Logo COOPERSTOWN, NY
HYDE BAY HOME LETTER           VOLUME VIII        NUMBER 6, 1935.

SENSATION OF THE WEEK.
The Brown brothers, Winstead, Eddie Supplee, Sandy, and Huidy, this week formed a powerful combine, cut the top out of a five gallon can, and constructed a diving helmet.   The details are num­erous, but the sequel is extra-ordinary.IT WORKS.  Almost all the camp have been down walking on the bed of Otsego.  W. Lynn issues insurance.   Some jealous rival organization stole the equipment on its initial night but it was recovered.   The first rainy day we have, the suspects will be given a fair trial and will be convicted.

TRENTON FALLS AGAIN.
A second group was taken to the falls last week.  They had a great trip with good weather plus a short rain.  Water was more normal.  We had swims under the falls.Sunshine Pickett and Ed Leedy went over the falls but issued such adverse advertisement that no others did.  We hiked to Prospect along the crest through the woods, explored the power house and its mysteries, shot the rapids, ate ice­cream, and so to camp.  The canoe captained by Walter Koppelman alone upset this time and limped into port minus one paddle.

MEANWHILE.
Once three wise men went to sea in a bowl.  At Hyde Bay in a high wind three wise men, O'Donovan, Lanahan, and Winants, all stu­dents in our college, set out in the sail boat.  They fought their way with heroic determination ten feet from the dock where they upset. Nothing daunted they put out again in a righted and bailed boat.  Again Neptune, or his Otsego daughter, reached out a hand and over they went again.

SMALL TREASURE HUNT.
For one afternoon a miniature treasure hunt raged through the camp.  It was just a warm-up for the big one this coming week.

BIG MAN HUNT.
The second grand man hunt took place on the usual Friday.Howls and yowls resounded through the night.  Fierce battles ensued in the gloom.  The out party won.  Some prisoners were rescued with difficulty from the hills where they were stored.

RED CROSS.
A class of seven or eight are still at the life saving course under coach Leedy.   They are almost ready for an examination. The successful aspirants will appear later in this sheet.

ARRIVALS.
Jere Lober has come in to play the piano in place of Les.  Jack Thomas is here for the rest of the season.  David Brewster, an old camper of five seasons ago is back too for a few weeks.  He was greatly amused to see pictures of himself as a nine year old.  The numbers of this younger group were kept full by the arrival of Melsing Smith for the remainder of the camp season.  They come and go, but the numbers keep, at their new all time high.

TRIP.
Under the leadership of Charles Classen and Donald Tag, a large group of campers set out in the vast motor boat.  After a few hundred yards they burned out everything but the outer shell of the motor, ate their picnic lunch on the bosom of Otsego and were towed home.  It was a unique trip.

LES’ LOSS.
The camp was plunged in a deep saffron gloom the other day when Les Exshaw decided he had to pull out for geological reasons.  A mourning group whose tears were reminiscent of the great rain, stood about his Rolls.  Later joy was somewhat restored when a letter told us he was to work over the Trenton Falls region and might be ex­pected to return for a few days.

MEET.
A fine group of local boys under the leadership of Play­ground Director Bursey of Cooperstown, came in and took our scalp in the water.   It was a very close meet much enjoyed.  Next year we plan more of them.   Local winners include, L. Pickett with two firsts, dive and twenty-five.  Clemmitt first in a race, Hunger third, Bob Pickett second in dive, Paul Hudson and K. Bartlett with places in the plunge, and others.  The senior relay of Supplee, Clarke, Pickett and Clemmitt, won, but failed to pull the meet out of the water.

DEATH DEALING RAYS.
Local scientists, headed by Jack Markell, have constructed of most simple materials a fly killer.  Dry cells, a Ford coil and some wire over a box make up a death trap.  It is practically fatal to a fly and makes a daddy longleggs sizzle.   I fear this is not in the best tradition of nature study and kindness to insects, but it is scientific.

NEW BABY.
Herbert Smelser has worked long and hard to cut down the Hi Baby to racing dimensions.  Yesterday the work was done.  A new creation resplendent in gold and black and sea-green was on the ways. Presently it was launched.  The builder sped up and down the lake like so many darts till suddenly there was a roar and a splash.  The steering gear broke and over they went.   Nothing was lost but the breath of the onlookers and one small clamp.  All the other boats in camp, loaded to the gunwales, set out to hinder the rescue which they accomplished in masterly style.

TOURNAMENTS.
The usual final tournaments are in full swing.  Leaders will be announced later.

LEFT.
After a most pleasant visit from Mrs. Johnstone and her smal­ler son Bobby, we were forced to see Jimmy borne off by them to Province-town. He is a loss to the younger group.

CQOKIE-TOSSERS.
The epidemic of nausea, prevalent in the camp as well as in the nearby regions has subsided.  Less than half our members are elig-

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