Saturday morning we the members of a Down
Neck Boy Scout troop, walk up Ferry Street to Wilson Avenue to catch
the #31South Orange Bus. Boarding the bus, we deposit five cents
for the trip that will take us to South Mountain Reservation. In
what seems like forever we travel thru the Newark Business district,
now up Springfield Avenue to South Orange Avenue. Following this
street we finally arrive at our destination, leaving the bus we
are required to pay another nickel, suburban fare zone.
The scoutmaster leads the troop into the park and picks out a site
where we will perform our scout chores. Our first task is to gather
dried and broken tree limbs and twigs that will be used later in
building a fire to cook our rations. Next we perform First Aid,
making a triangle bandage to be used as a sling for a broken arm.
Pressure points are noted, a tourniquet is fashioned from a handkerchief
and a tree branch, the handkerchief fastened around the effected
limb, the branch in rotated to tighten up the kerchief stopping
the flow of blood. We also practice stopping nosebleeds,and using
smelling salts to revive unconscious persons.
Next it's time for knot tying- we practice the following knots
-Clove Hitch, Carrick Bend, Overhead Knot, Sheet Bend, Bowline,
Square Knot, Half Hitch much time is spent in tying knots. Hopefully
we will use them some time in our life experience.
Now the Scoutmaster invites us to see a fire starting demonstration.
Using a bow, a round stick and some dry moss he attempts to start
a fire. Pushing the bow back and forth the dowel rotates and a little
spark is formed, this is transferred to the moss which now glows
and begins to burn .To this little fire, twigs and later branches
are added and soon a camp fire is up and running. Now it's time
to bring out our victuals, which are canned baked beans, hot dogs
and marshmallows, and we are about to cook them. Struggling to cook
over a camp fire is not easy,in any case the beans come out hot,
the frankfurters may not be well done but they hit the spot.We then
roast marshmallows over the fire.
Then it's cleanup time, from the nearby falls we obtain fresh
water to fill our canteens, wash the utensils and douse the fires.
Making very sure that the fire is out and the area is policed, we
are about ready to make the trip home.
We now walk out to South Orange Avenue to catch the Public Service
Bus # 31 for that long trip home, on the bus we deposit a nickel
for the fare.Down we go on South Orange Avenue , thru the Newark
Business District to Ferry Street and Wilson Avenue, deposit another
nickel, suburban fare zones and exit the bus. We walk along Ferry
Street to Down Neck and home. A wonderful day was had by all.
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