August 30, 1883

Arthur's party spent a final day along the Yellowstone River en route to camp at Tower Fall. The route north took them through Dunraven Pass, along an Indian trail to the crossing of Tower Creek, and down to the valley of Tower Junction, a trip of 21 miles. They took one of two trails, eliciting this comment in the official report: "One follows the canyon, along its brink, for five or six miles, then leaves it and passes to the eastward of Mount Washburn. It is a very difficult route, the last twelve miles of which are a constant descent. The other and better one we followed, and passed over the westward slip of the same mountain." The route took them to the summit of Mount Washburn, and a "comprehensive view of the park scenery."

While at the summit, the party discovered a cairn of stones which contained cards and notes written by visitors who provided detailed accounts of depredations, including cold winds, snow and sleet. The official report did not say whether members added their accounts to the record. General Philip Sheridan first encountered this cairn on his 1881 trip into the park. Lt. Col. Michael Sheridan reported on the view from the summit: "The Grand Canyon, from this point of vantage, looks like a narrow gorge fringed with dark pines. In the distance can be seen some of the great geysers sending forth puffs of steam and giving their locations the appearance of an aggregation of busy factories."

The campsite was near Baronett's Bridge, named for guide Jack Baronett, a celebrated character and habitué of the park, also known as "Yellowstone Jack." He first saw the park as part of the "Yellowstone Expedition" of 1866. A peak located in the far northeast corner of the park bears his name. Baronett built the first bridge across the Yellowstone River at the confluence with the Lamar River, and charged a toll for its use. At the time of the Arthur expedition, Baronett's Bridge was in place and run by Yellowstone Jack. Sheridan used Baronett to guide his military excursion of 1881 from the bridge to Yellowstone Lake.

General Sheridan named the camp for former Sen. Simon Cameron, a Republican from Pennsylvania and good friend of the president. The president and Vest went to the waters again and had modest success bagging trout. The score: Arthur eight, Vest six.