THE BAR 11 BOG IE FORT. 



By J. McG. Baxter, M. D. 

 EARING some wonderful stories about a fort out in tlie 

 virgin forest, that had never been seen before, situated on 

 top of a hill, enclosed by a stone wall, the stones having 

 been carried for two or three miles, supposedly )n men's backs, 

 through the woods, etc., Col. B. U. McCulley and 1 proposed to 

 ascertain for ourselves and others the actual facts. 



We started on Nov. 23rd, 1905, and went by rail to Bartibogue 

 Station on the Intercolonial Railway, arriving there about 3 p. m.. 

 and, walking back on the track for half a mile, entered the woods 

 by a })ortage road. This road runs east southeast in a nearly 

 straight line towards the Bathurst stage road, but, after following 

 it for about three miles, we found a stake standing frozen in in 

 the middle of the road. We rightly judged that we should leave 

 the road there, and, finding a road that bends sharply to the right, 

 and goes nearlv due south, we followed it for two miles through a 

 much better wooded district of clear straight young spruc-e. but 

 small, being only on an average five or six inches diameter. After 

 crossing three or four meadows, we at length struck heavy tirnbei", 

 and came across a logging party. Their camji was a short dis- 

 tance off the road, so we did not go to it. The party were work- 

 ing for Mr. Clem. Ryan of Newcastle. 



One thing struck me on this trip, us on many others, viz., that 

 men working in the woods have no idea of distance at all. At 

 the I. C. R. station we asked three difl'erent parties how far it was 

 to Damery's camp. One said four miles, one three, and the other 

 less than three. Well, up to this time we had walked fast, on a 

 fairly good track, and had covered, as nearly as we could tell, 

 about six miles, as it was now 5 o'clock and dark. 



The road was tending easterly again. 



We enquired the distance, and were told that it was three miles, 

 and it was now very dark. We stumbled along now for about one 

 lh*d a half miles, when we came to the conclusion that if we still 



DC 



