Howard Henderson - Practical Hints on Camping

First published in 1882 by Jansen, McClurg and Company

First Racehorse Publishing Edition 2017

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Foreword 2017 Vin T. Sparano

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Lori Wendin

Cover artwork credit: iStockphotos

Print ISBN: 978-1-944686-38-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-944686-40-6

Printed in the United States of America

TO

GEORGE VAN ZANDT,

MY STEADFAST FRIEND.

T HE camper has of late years occupied a distinctive position by the side of the hunter, the angler and the canoeist. Each summer adds to the number of those who, without being expert in the arts of the sportsman, go out for the mere pleasure of camping. Even ladies and children penetrate the depths of our forests, share in the genial glow of the camp-fire, and enhance the pleasure of a woodland life by their presence. The lover of nature, the artist, the sportsman and the naturalist, each find occupation, amusement and rest.

The aim in writing this little work has been to give concisely some practical hints sufficient for guidance, which can be acted upon according to the length of the purse and the degree of ones enthusiasm. Whether the readers tent be pitched upon the seashore, beside a mountain brook, or upon the rolling prairie, it is hoped that something may be found in the following pages which will add to his comfort and his pleasure.

For the kindness of authors and publishers in allowing extracts to be taken from their works, for which credit will be found elsewhere, thanks are due.

I VE BEEN a camper, hunter, and fisherman all my life and I hate to admit it, but modern technology has spoiled us rotten. When we head into the woods, we like to think of ourselves as mountain men and women, tough woodsmen who can survive in the bush and live off the land. A quick look in my backpack tells me a much different story. I carry a smartphone, a handheld GPS, a space blanket in case I get chilly, a fire starter that I simply squirt on a wet log and conjure a roaring camp-fire, and high-energy power bars in case I get hungry. My clothes and boots are waterproof and windproof. My tent literally pops up in seconds. When we tell friends that were roughing it in the woods, we should bite our tongues.

When I was asked to take a look at this book, I wondered what was left to say about an activity made quite comfortable by L.L. Bean and the Bass Pro stores. But then I saw that this book was published in 1882, long before the creation of the outdoor gear that we take for granted today. What I discovered in its pages is fascinating reading about what camping was like nearly 135 years ago.

I already told you whats in my backpack, but now lets go back in time. In 1882, here are a few of the items Henderson tells us to put in our packs. He recommends heavy flannel shirts, stout woolen pantaloons, French kip-skin boots, Balmoral shoes, pipes and tobacco, Indian blankets, and a pair of buckskin gauntlets. The author even suggests you make a blanket bag out of ordinary grain bags.

Its interesting to wonder what Henderson would have thought if he walked through one of our outdoor stores today. I kept comparing his grand-old advice to the gear I see in my Cabelas catalog. It was like reading about the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition and the tortuous conditions they encountered. Too bad Lewis and Clark didnt have a copy of Hendersons book. It might have kept them out of trouble.

Keep in mind that back in 1882, we still had a long way to go with our medical knowledge. Penicillin and antibiotics werent developed until the early 1920s. Any kind of injury or wounds on a camping trip meant a serious risk of infection. So what kind of camping advice would an outdoor writer offer 135 years ago? Not knowing what the future held, Hendersons recommended treatment of a wound is a little scary:

Bleeding from a wound on man or beast may be stopped by a mixture of wheat flour and common salt, in equal parts, bound on with a cloth. If the bleeding be profuse, use a large quantity, say from one to three pints. It may be left on for hours, or even days, if necessary.

If I cut myself on a camping trip, I doubt Id mix up a batch of salt-laden wheat flour and put it on my wound. Ill opt for some Neosporin and a sterile bandage. Although reading Hendersons sage advice at a time when trekking into the woods could well be risky, his ideas might have saved lives during the time. I do, however, take issue with the authors treatment for snakebite. Although not a cure, I do confess that his treatment might relieve some tension. Henderson suggests For the bite of a rattlesnake, whisky taken freely seems to be the only antidote.

I still found the authors book a valuable insight, even if some of his advice might sound outdated today. How else can we appreciate what we have today without first acknowledging our past? Henderson gave us safe and sound advice more than 135 years ago and we owe him a debt of gratitude. Reading his wonderful little book gives us a great deal of insight into the world of camping and offers us fascinating comparisons to the modern camper.

I wonder how many campers today would venture into the woods and waters equipped with only Hendersons gear and advice. You can start out by leaving your geodesic tent, your cell phone, and GPS at home. Do you know how to build a lean-to? You can leave the trail, but do you still remember how to use a map and compass? If you dont have a compass, Henderson reminds us that moss is thickest in the shade on the north side of the trees and the branches of a tree are the largest on the south side. Hows that for trail-blazing?

Want to take the challenge and go into the woods with the gear Horace Henderson used 135 years ago? Good luck. You may quickly discover that you may not be as tough as Horace. Make sure you take his little book with you.

Vin T. Sparano, Editor Emeritus, Outdoor Life; author of The Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia and The Complete Guide to Camping and Wilderness Survival