FOREST ANDISTREAM^ 



243 



twenty inches of water— just such a boat as the little Clif- 

 ton, SO well known on the St. John River for several years. 

 The writer was on board of her for two Winters. Bke 

 cost about $4,000, built and fitted up at Philadelphia, was 

 nsed tiMir 01 five. Winters OS a pleasure boat, and then. sold 

 far a ferry boat without much loss. Three men made up 

 the crew." The whole expense was about. $15 e.ar.h day, 

 which, divided amoug six, was not litgb for suoh flailing 

 and bunting as we nsedtoget; and sucii bird suppers as 

 Reuben could get up I never, expect, to pee again. This 

 boat was built by a parly of gentlemen from Clifton 

 Springs, New Turk, and run down from Philadelphia 

 One could be got up much cheaper now, in Jacksonville. 

 Such a boat, can go to the upper waters of the St. John, 

 above where hunters go, and wl 

 St. John is a wonderful river, 

 tilde, audit has always been a 

 linn h fl'Ofih water comes from. 



North, is over 800 miles long, a 



near the coast. It appi 

 lakes, for more than a Ji 

 will average nearly two 



tide ia felt ns far lip asPilatka, and what appe 

 when it is high water at the the mouth of tl 

 low tide at Jacksonville. Visitors should alw .. 

 far as Enterprise, to see the beautiful lakes and wonderful 

 springs. AVe could not got, Ihe Clifton much above Lake 

 Winder. A floating island covered with willows had 

 drifted across the channel, and we could only £ 

 small boats to Lake Washington. We found Lak 

 a fine place for game; deer and turkeys were v< 

 had seen in Flori 



! did not 



eca eagle i 



■pie gala.: 

 id we fouud 



•a game is plenty. The 



,nd one of great magni- 



wonder to me where so 



It runs from South to 



id in many places is very 



like a beautiful chain of 



I miles from its mouth, and 



wide, for that distance. The 



'ngular, 



up 



n full, 

 ule, cc 



Winder 

 y abun- 

 a. We 

 Lt Lake. 

 it plant- 

 roast bitcru, 

 ny extensb 



dant, and mor 

 also found many bird wine] 

 Harney amljessup. The o 

 age, was common; also the. 

 yellow crown night heron, „_ 



breeding places. This is the home of the alligators, and 

 they used to trouble us bv setting our birds as they fell into 

 the water, before we could get to them. Sport, can be had 

 With alligators by baiting a shark hook with a coot, or 

 some other bird. 'Fasten the end of the rope to the top of a 

 small tree that bends well, and in the morning you are 

 almost sure to find one hooked. If a large one, you can 

 only pull him into the bank; if a small one, keep away 

 from his tail, or teeth, and to get your hook, after you are. 

 done playing with him, you must shoot him. Iu their 

 stomachs you will most, always find a roll of feathers, fish, 

 and ofteil large moccasin snakes, and they sometimes eat 

 one another, "l have seen one eight feet long, in a large 

 one's mouth. A favorite bird for our party to shoot was 

 the while plumed crares, egrets, snowy herons, for their 

 plumes, and we. could make quite good collections of 

 Florida bird skins. The steamer had two small boats, so 

 we could go up Ihe small creeks, and we explored most 

 every lake and stream on the river. Although we were so 

 far South we had no troble with insects. All the windows 

 had wire gauze, and we were careful to keep the doors shut. 

 Our sleeping accommodations, and our dining room was 

 Very good. The boat would run about ten miles an hour, 

 and we could change our location very easily. We found 

 moccasiu snakes very abundant in the upper country, but 

 had no trouble willi 'them. One day we lost a rowlock 

 from the boat, and pr.-r.~oii to ,1... block ...«.., Din, t« t<o.-_o 

 oil tits clothes and get it up with his feet. As he reached 

 tlie bottom he stepped on a lame snake, which coiled 

 about his leg. He went ashore with a yell, and one of our 

 party said he was the whitest man in the lot. He was 

 sure he was bit, and kept hold of his pulse to see if he was 

 not dying; hut was not hurt. The snake appeared as much 

 frightened as Bill. We saw very few rattle snakes. One 

 of our party, Mr. Rice, at Lake jessup, shot a white heron 

 that fell iuto the water near the shore, lie saw a large al- 

 ligator start for the bird, and Rice thought he could get the 



he did^and threw the bird 

 alligator following, and as he 

 tor struck his lcgs r , but did him 

 this paper too long, and can 

 •I such a cruise. Such a steamer 

 t River could be taken around to 

 i to Indian Hiver, and the ex- 

 pense less than to live at the hotels. Yours truly, 



Geo. A. Boauuman. 

 Calais, Maine, Aw. Mt, 1874. 



bird before the alligator 

 over his shoulder. The 

 reached Ihe bank the allig 

 no damage. 1 have made 

 recommend for real eomfn 

 after dolus up the St. Job 

 St. Augustine and so do< 



For Forest and Stream. 

 ' GAME IN TEXAS— A DEER HUNT. 



NUMBEH THUEE. 



IN 1852 I was stationed at Fort Worth, Texas, then a 

 ii dlier post, but now the thriving county seal of Tar- 

 rant eountv, and a more lovely spot is difficult to be found. 

 It is situated on the south side of Trinity River, on a bold 

 limestone bluff about 160 feet high, which overlooks the 

 entire country for miles ami mites away. The two forks 

 of the river here uniting meander along its base, but first 

 encircling in I heir arms one of the most soft, quiet, fertile, 

 and beautiful valleys the eve of man ever rented upon. 

 Tradition has it that upon this commanding bluff old Nim- 

 rod himself, being then on a hunt across the "big waters," 

 once pitched his tent for a lime, aud that whilst here lie 

 often bathed bis limbs for strengtli in the cool, limpid 

 waters which gush out into a huge pool at its western base. 

 Be this as it may, let it be said in remembrance that Major 

 Arnold, l.i. S. A., Hie founder of the Post, and a disciple 

 of Nino od, caused to be sunk a large well directly upon 

 the ground supposed to have beon once occupied bv his 

 Ipnt, tjins constituting a lasting fountain, that all "who 

 come bere to drink may in; reminded of our much-beloved 

 patron saint, old Nim'rod, ihe giver of health, strength, 

 aud pleasure. After this just tribute, I am sure another 

 equally deserving will be met. I mean that, some good dis- 

 ciple of this saint now living at. Worth shall introduce at 

 least one copy, for one year, of Forest and Stkeam into 

 his brotherhood, that all may see and drink of its soul in- 

 spiring waters freely. 



To resume my description: to the East and West, equi- 

 distant a few miles, lie the "lower and tipper cross timbers," 

 both belts of open limber lands, reminding one of the 

 parks of Europe. These limit the views in this direction. 

 They extend to the North and South for a long distance, 

 are variously broad, and abound in game of many varie- 

 ties, such as bear, deer, wolves, wildcats, foxes, turkeys, 

 coons, possums, squirrels, minks, muskrats, geese, ducks, 

 quail, plover, snipe, etc. To the North and South the roll- 

 ing prairies stretch away till the view is lost in the dis- 



tance. As a whole, the scenery is extended aud highly 

 picturesque. It combiues the. rolling prairies, winding 

 streams, fringed with timber, hills, valleys, scattering 

 farm houses, fields of grain, small herds "of cattle and 



sheep, islands of timber, d 



though not least, as if to enliven I 

 a few scattering herds nf deer, a 

 might be seen from the Post. Th 

 with Ho- presence of their bold 

 gracefully bounding away over Un- 

 to seek their cover in the forest. S' 



idiands, etc. But hist, 

 id complete the picture, 

 telope, and wild horses 

 ae nearest, as if alarmed 

 intruders, were already 



open, soft-clad prairies 

 td were 



quietly grazing c 



one was near. ( 



with wonder from the hil 



"Pale face, from wheno 



mission here? Thy pros 



bv thy looks, full cousin 



tal enemies to ( 



cutting up their playful pranks, as if no 

 ' ill, with heads erect, stood gazing 

 I tops. These seemed to inquire: 

 a eomest thou, and what is thy 

 .mee bodes no good. Thou art, 

 to the 'red man.' Both are mor- 

 .... and both 'twin relics' of our bar- 

 barism. We are off for the forests; get us if you can." 

 So hoisting their Hags, and giving a whistle or snort of de- 

 fiance, theylighllv bounded away to the cross timbers. 

 Among this numbet of haughty defiants was one old buck 

 larger than the rest, whom I particularly wanted. This 

 was one November morning. The day was one. of calm 

 sunshine and beauty, and all a kind Heaven could make 

 it. Bald I to Billy,' my Delaware guide and spoil, "what 

 I have witnessed around me this morning is too much; I 

 cannot .stand it longer. We must be off to the "lower 

 cross timbers" to have a hunt, and perhaps I will get that 

 insulting old buck I saw in the herd this morning." 



"Hay be so," said Billy, "now good time; me want to 

 go hunt; plenty deer in de cross timbers; me know good 

 place, not much tree, some little piairie, good grass for he 

 lies, water in do creek, acorns and pecans on de ground, 

 deer like 'em, eat 'em heap, much fat now; may be so we 

 kill plenty." 



"Just so, Billy; saddle up, and I will be ready in fifteen 

 minutes. We will stay out one night only." 



Half an hour afterwards I was rolling down the hillside, 

 over the valley, across the Trinity, up her northern banks, 

 east along her" prairie lands four miles, enter the cross tim- 

 ber five miles, stop on the road and pitch the tent. Billy 

 is the only hunter, and a. squad of men to guard camp. 

 At two o'clock in the afternoon we sallied out, each sepa- 

 rate, of course. As for myself, I saw at least a dozen deer 

 in a couple of hours. They were constantly jumping up 

 around me, but the grass was too high to see them when 

 they stopped; besides, I had on globe sights to my rifle, 

 and they troubled me. I could not. find my game through 

 them quick enough, if at all. Some of them, much 

 alarmed, forgot to stop at. all after rising from their sunny 

 couches, ami to these I had only to say good bye as they 

 slipped away with flags flying. Thus tormented, I took ofT 

 my globe sights, and condemned them forever for anything 

 but open shooting, and fell back on my old stand by, the 

 crotch sight. I now soon got a shot at a noble buck (not 

 mv old fellow), but struck him too far in rear of the fore- 

 shoulders, and he got away badly wounded. Oilier deer 

 frequently jumping up and running away in the tall grass, 

 I became disgusted at my luck and made for camp. Billy 

 was already there, having his one deer only, and much 

 troubled with the high grass; he had seen many. 



"-Lei us move, camp," ociu be, "at once, two miles fur- 

 ther on; woods open there; grass low." 



Agreed! and in half an hour by sun we were on our new 

 grouuds. While pitching our tent a medium sized doe 

 came along, and I gave her a shot; but off she bounded, 

 greatly lo my ill humor, though I found her dead the next 

 day a mile away. Fresh game, or none at all, said I, and 

 left her for the wolves and turkey buzzards, which were 

 already circling the air for their prey. 



Deer signs were everywhere plenty. It looked like a 

 sheep yard under the oak trees, so thick were their tracks. 

 The water in the stream w T as yet turbid where they had 

 come to drink, and the shore was all cut up with traifs. 



"May be so to-morrow we have good luck," said Billy; 

 "plenty signs." 



It may be so, I dryly replied, for he had one deer and I 

 none; had lost two and seen a dozen. My humor was not 

 good. Very unsportsmanlike, I may say; but who can 

 help this sometimes? I did not care to talk; my hopes for 

 better luck lay in the morrow. But I must pass rapidly 

 on, and leave much unsaid. Tent pitched, camp fire glow- 

 ing, supper eaten, cigar smoked, and plans for the morrow 

 all agreed on. I threw myself down upon my woodland 

 cot to think, to sleep, to dream, and to wake at morning's 

 early dawn. 



The morning and evening are always the best time for 

 deer, aud generally for most game. By sunrise I was off 

 in one direction and Billy in another, the one for the woods 

 and the other for the small prairie, and both adjoining 

 camp. This was the commencement of rutting season, 

 wheu the bucks begin to run. At these times they are 

 often very bold, not to say foolish at times. If one hap- 

 pens to be in their way when trailing up the doe they will 

 sometimes stop for minutes aud look at him, at others 

 nearly tut) over him, and appear quite regardless of fear or 

 danger. The dew. yet on the ground, I had not got half a 

 mile from camp when I saw about two hundred yards off 

 a noble buck, apparently the same old giaut I wanted to 

 get, and comiug nearly towards me, alternately on the 

 walk and trot, frequently lowering his antlered bead, aud 

 evidently scenting the trail of a doe he was pursuing. He 

 had not seen me, and in his eagerness of pursuit gave but 

 little heed to bis bold intruder. You are surely mine, old 

 fellow, said 1. I dropped upon my knees, cocked my rifle 

 quietly, and waited his near approach. 



l incident in my long sporting life— 

 ,'cr before or since experienced, and 

 shamed to relate. Awaiting my game 

 anxiety, I was seized with the' "buck 

 lake. I began to tremble and shake 

 ■t began to throb aud beat, then even 

 ed all my forces, and said coolly to 

 [1 hoy's play, aud 



Aud now conies a 

 one which I have n< 

 ich I am almost 



,-ith hut to 



lmi 



3 is all 



fev 



like a leaf, 

 to thump, 

 myself; Tli 



I will stop it. But the harder I t 

 The old buck was coming slowly and unconcernedly along, 

 and here I was, an old hunter, shaking like an aspen, and 

 perfectly disgusted with myself. But wdiat. availed me? 

 I could not. restore my nerves to quietness. I had tried it, 

 but signally failed. Soon the deer had arrived opposite to 

 me, within fifty yards, when a low whistle stopped him, 

 broad side to, arid there he stood gazing at me, while I, 

 with raised gun, was trying lo aim at him, but iu fact only 

 wiggling all about him. No, not exactly about him, but 

 everywhere else, Ibe tree tops, perhaps, excepted. I fin- 

 ally pulled tho trigger, and bang went my rifle. Tlie 



smoke cleared away, but there stood the old buck yet, 

 staring me fully in the face. I rose up to load, and the 

 old buck raised up his tail, but only to shake it once or 

 twice in my face. Then he gave one good snort, blow, 

 or whistle, bounded high into the air, came down again, 

 stamped his feet at me, dropped his tail, and then most 

 coolly commenced his stating again. A clear miss, said I. 

 What a proud, stately, bold old" fellow! 1 began to reload 

 as quick as I could, the fever still higher, and my bands 

 yet shaking. I spilt half my load of powder, replaced it, 

 aud dropped my patch iu the grass, but dared not stoop 

 down to find it. ' I dropped the first ball also, and the sec- 

 ond I rammed down without a patch. I now raised my 

 rifle again aud tried to aim, but wiggle, wiggle, as before— 

 bang! The smoke cleared away, when the old buck, now 

 quite satisfied, raised his white waving flag, gave one or 

 two heroic snorts, and then gracefully bounded away. My 

 fever, or rather ague, went with him; but never was I so 

 disgusted with mvself. Fifty, yo3, ten cents, in peltry at 

 thai, would have bought me, rifle, trappings, and all. Cu- 

 riosity alone led me lo examine his trail, and truth compels 

 me to admit I found blood; but whether this was from the 

 tip of his nose, or ears, or the end of his tail, I know not. 



Enough for to-day, said I. I will do penance for all this. 

 So marching straightway into camp I laid my empty rifle 

 down upon the ground and resolved to do no more hunting 

 I hat day, I sacredly kept, my vow, though I could hear 

 Billy's rifle cracking all around me. To be short, after five 

 hours of penance alone in my tent, Billy came into camp 

 at noon with two deer tied to his saddle. These he (brew 

 down by the tent, and Indian-like, without saying a word, 

 mounted his horse and set off again. Soon he came in 

 with two more, which ho deposited with the others. He 

 again left, and brought iu st ill another two, making six 

 killed this forenoon and one yesterday, besides the wound- 

 ed. I had got none, but had wounded three. 



"Any more," said I to Billy, as I surveyed his pile. 



"No more deer," answered Billy; "but me kill plenty 

 'om wolf; leave him for de buzzards to eat; no good, me 

 ao want 'cm." 



"All right, Billy." 



Aud now came his turn. A hard one to me, I confess. 



"How many deer you kill, Major?" 



"None; my rifle is crooked; you conjured it last night, 

 Billy, with your 'medicine.'" 



"No, said Billy, me no conjure rifle; me no medicine 

 man; let me shoot 'em, see?" 



"All right, Billy." 



So picking it up he saw a wolf a good distance off and 

 fired at il, when over he rolled, dead. 



"Rifle shoot straight; me no conjure," said Billy. 



"Well now, let me try it," for I knew I had a reputation 

 to regain in Billy's eye, and this was myonly chance. Just 

 at this time another "prowling coyote popped his head over 

 a hill to survey our camp and venison. He was further off 

 than the first one. I raised my rifle; ague gone, and 

 "right between the eyes," said I to Billy, I pulled the 

 trigger and brained him completely, and so stood the 

 "Leatherstocking" iu Billy's estimation forever afterwards. 

 Now let, us pack up and be off. We have game enough. 

 We packed tho seven deer in the wagon, left the wolves 

 for the blizzards, aud rolled into the Post in two houra 



ttuuu is a specimen ot a few hours hunt in the "cross 

 timbers," and I am credibly informed the game is yet 

 about as plenty there as ever. Worth is a good place for 

 headquarters, containing some 1,500 inhabitants, hotels, 

 &c The Texas Central Railroad from Denison skirts at 

 an easy distance the lower edge of these timbers, and ren- 

 ders good sporting grouuds of easy access to such as seek 

 them. Ever yours, Old Scoot. 



Texas, November \0tli, 1874. 



• 



For Forest ana Stream. 

 THE BLACKWATER REGION. 



I PRESUME that you, like myself, dislike controversy, 

 unless it be a con! roversy with a huge bass on the pro- 

 priety of exchanging his native element for the frying pan. 

 I have no desire for a debate with "Veritas," but wish to 

 thank him for the courtesy with which he lavishes compli- 

 ments on me. Even if the Blackwater Chronicle was 

 written by Mr. Kennedy, it is a very entertaining work, and 

 as such has long figured in a library, the books of which 

 are valued more for their quality than their numbers. 

 Being illustrated bv Porte Crayon's inimitable pencil, its 

 authorship is generally attributed to him. To the brethren 

 of the rod who have read it, the region of which it treats is 

 classic ground. As such I visited'it, and gazed with due 

 reverence on the ruin of the shanty once inhabited by 

 Powell, the guide. Powell long since followed Horace 

 Greeley's advice, and went West; but Conway, the other 

 guide, has passetl over Jordan's stormy flood, and is now 

 probably catching trout iu the streams' that flow through 

 the happy hunting grounds. He lias, however, left many 

 descendants worthy of their sire, and from them I received 

 the information that the .party whose adventures are re- 

 corded iu the Blackwater Chronicle had not reached the 

 stream, but had mistaken for it the North Fork. This 

 information was confirmed by others, guides who know the 

 country well. I visited the spot where they camped on the 

 supposed Blackwater, camped near it for several days my- 

 self, and in divers expeditions from thence after the spotted 

 beauties that inhabit its flashing waters, explored the 

 stream thoroughly to its mouth, If, is not the stream which 

 is known to Ibe natives, and is marked on the maps as the 

 lilaekwater. As for the geographical jungles of the Canaan 

 they are. many miles away aud hard to reach, except by a 

 long detour via the Dry Forks of Cheat. 



It lint party that Powell and Conway led into the wilder- 

 ness were well supplied with tlie astonishing whisky that 

 prevails on the Upper Potomac, it is no wonder they mis- 

 look one stream for another in the heart of a then almost 

 unknown wilderness, especially when, as the book sets 

 forth, the members of the expedition, including the guides, 

 entertained seven different opinions at once, as to which 

 way was north. H, S. Gkeen. 



— Our readers are requested to more carefully scrutinize 

 our AnvF.tmsiNO Columns for such articles as they require. 

 Most everything in the sportsman's line will be found 

 there; or if not, ought to be. Thoughtless persons send us 

 letters every week, enclosing stamp, to inquire where dogs, 

 dog-trainers, guns, decoy ducks, buckskin garments, glove-, 

 and the like can he obtained, and wait pifiently, sometimes 

 a fortnight, for an answer through our columns; whereas 

 if they "would turn to our back pages they could generally 

 ascertain in a few minutes. 



