114 



FOREST AXD STREAM. 



of the timlx 

 narrow em 

 cltiater of i 

 about thru 



and gl\ 



hie in its results that, though it amused others in the room, 

 doubtless terrified Mr. C — — into silence. 



We skirted along the shores of Spirit Lake till we came to 

 the farm of Mr. McLeUnd, and in the sloughs and creeks in 

 the neighborhood of his house we passed the rest of the day 

 shooting. As we drove up upon the knoll of the prairie on 

 I hither a fine flock of geese presented themselves to 

 vih'.v no an opposite knoll some five hundred yards distant. 

 ig my Maynard rifle, I cTept around under the protec- 

 tion of the knoll rill within about a hundred and fifty yards 

 of them. end then rising from the deep prairie grass, took 

 deliberate aim. off shoulder, at the nearest of three standing 

 together. Quick aim was necessary, and I pulled the trig- 

 ger. The whole dock rose, and it seemed for an instant I 

 had. missed my aim, but six feet from the ground one drop- 

 pod back. Wading through the slough, and climbing the 

 opposite knoll, was brought to bag, after a little scrambling 

 through the grass, a fine specimen of this splendid bird. 

 He was shot through the middle of the back with a half-inch 

 bullet. At MeLeiand's we posted ourselves along the edge 

 >n the shore of a large slough, separated by a 

 tment from the lake. We each had a small 

 ye before us. Two of the party then rowed 

 the reeds in the slough, starting the birds, 

 as they flew over, flight shots, but the good 

 shooting did not begin till evening, when it was particularly 

 good, and we bagged thirty-five bald-pate widgeon and 

 gray ducks, and one mallard "only. The reason that we did 

 not kill more was owing to our inexperience with the ground. 

 There was on the lake an abundance of canvas-backs, red- 

 heads, and mallards. We had very excellent sport, and 

 after a good supper of good bread and butter and excellent 

 coffee, furnishing no real •jroandx for complaint, at MeLeiand's, 

 we. "turned in" there, five men and a dog, in one room, all 

 well prepared for a sound sleep. The frightful snores 

 ejected through the double-barreled nose of one of "the 

 great unwashed" was at times, however, a litttle too much 

 for the god Morpheus. A sharp whistle seemed to check 

 for a moment the volcano, but it was a shortlived relief. 

 Those alone w r ho have experienced the delightful companion- 

 ship of such fellow sleepers can participate in the injured 

 feelings ol the sleepless. 



On the shores of the neighboring lake, "Okoboji," some 

 Englishmen have built a shooting-box, and after the chicken 

 and duck shooting in the fall, start from their pleasant 

 headquarters on the lake out upon the plains in pursuit of 

 elk, buffalo, black and white-tailed deer, antelope, beaver, 

 and other large game found there. A Mr. Van Steainburg, 

 from New York State, also has a shouting-box delightfully 

 situated on the shores of another of the numerous and beau- 

 tiful lakes. The weather continues very agreeable till after 

 the middle of October, when it is apt to'be~eold and windy. 

 The climax of the disagreeable is found later in the season 

 in what is known as the "blizzard" — a terrible wind, full of 

 thick but line snow, which quickly obscures all traces of the 

 roads, and unless very near a farm-house, which are to-day 

 eight miles apart, necessitates the prompt encampment on 

 the spot, and the withdrawal of all parties into the interior 

 of thb wagon, perhaps for one, and possibly for two days, 

 till the ferocity of the storm is over. The recollections of 

 the people of Spirit Lake are full of the sad instances of the 

 death of those who have perished in these storms. We had 

 a Comparatively mild foretaste of the severity of the cold and 

 wind on our return trip from Spirit Lake to take the cars at 

 Worthington. We put on all the clothes we bad, and, 

 although in a covered wagon, still experienced severe cold, 

 and finally, unable to endure it longer, we pulled up and 

 passed the night at farmer Rud's, the half-way stopping-place 

 to Worthington. Here we again experienced the good fare 

 and hospitality of the Minnesota farmer. The cooking and 

 heating was done entirely with bundles of hay tied up as 

 tightly as possible. Think of using hay for fuel ! It seemed, 

 however, to burn much longer than one would expect. 

 Now, since the invention of the Florence oil stove, which 

 has none of the dangerous peculiarities of other oil stoves, 

 and which cooks and warms most deliciously and thoroughly, 

 and totally without smell or odor from the oil, besides being 

 the most inexpensive system of cooking or beating, thes* 

 prairie farmers need be no longer under the tiresome, cum- 

 bersome, unsatisfactory, shortlived and extravagant necessity 

 of burning hay for fuel. 



The next morning brought us in a few hours to Worth- 

 ington and the close of one of the many little episodes of our 

 delightful hunting trip through the West. Let any one who 

 would derive rest from the fatigues of social or business life, 

 Beek it in an easy wandering trip, like the one out of which 

 I Teeount this episode, with dogs and guns and congenial 

 friend, through the varied beauties of the natural wilds of 

 the far West, pursuing the deer and bear and screaming 

 wild-fowl through the lakes and forests of Minnesota, 

 steadying their pointers over the coveys of grouse on the 

 limine-,-; prairies of Iowa, tracking up the bayous and tim- 

 bered bottom., of Missouri, and finally losing themselves and 

 all thoughts and cares of civilization 'in the continuous and 

 unbroken verdure of the vast Indian territory, where no 

 toads or other human impressions mark the face of Nature, 

 and where for days, save for the occasional tossing upon the 

 horizon of the distant white-covered emigrant trains, jolting 

 over their pathless ways westward, they are alone with Na- 

 ture in her solitudes. 



By such experience the exhaustion of business activity, or 

 the distress of affliction, cannot fail to be repaired, and the 

 mind and body invigorated and revivified. S. P. H. 



RANGELEY LAKE TROUT TALES. 



BV THOMAS SEDGWICK STEELE. 



Camp Kennebago, RANoanEr, Me. 



THE first visit the writer made to the Rangeley Lakes 

 was in the spring of 73, in company with a number 

 of gentlemen from New York, to many of whom the im- 

 u: • use trout were almost a miracle, and the mountain scenery 

 instant and delightful surprise. 

 The trip from Boston to Portland, Maine, by the Eastern 

 Railroad, is one of little novelty to the general traveler, 

 although the thirty minutes allowed for dinner at the latter 

 place is of great importance, and in which he takes a personal 

 interest. Here We change ears for Fannington, which lies 



eighty-fi 



road Th 



niles to the i 



th, and is the terminus of the rail- 

 it at 6 p, M. After supper, at the 

 ed our rifles, rods, and other 

 age COttCh, and drawing the boot 

 s beside the driver for 

 over the hills to Phillips, 

 .topped at a place, called "Strong" for 

 am! to lake the mail; then on we 

 rattled dVBX the road, awaiting the sleeping vil log, by OBI 

 songs and merriment, until alter another tie., hours' ride we 



night ridi 



At about 9 F M w 

 fresh re] 



, 



drew up at the "Borden House," at Phillips, happy to 

 warm ourselves before the gTeat log fire in its office before 

 retiring for the night. 



ThebrODk fishing at this place is very Sb 



accommodations are good, and although, of course, not quite 

 equal to "The Windsor" or "Fifth Avenue,'' of New York 

 <ity, will satisfy any true angler who thinks more oi hi.- ny- 

 rod than his dinner. At 8 A. M. we wi re 

 stage coach, and with a cheer tothi ttj I 

 the piazza of the hotel, we settled ourselves into our respec- 

 tive places, and lighting our fragrant Havanas, prepared to 

 enjoy them and this long ride over the mountains to 'Kim- 

 ball's," at the head of Pvangeley Lake, a distance of eighteen 

 miles. 



We were now slowly wending our way up "Beach Hill," 

 which is two and a half miles in length, and 3,000 feet above 

 the level of the sea, from the top of which we obtained our 

 finest mountain view this side of camp. Away to the east, 

 across the Sandy Biver Valley, lay the beautiful peaks of 

 Mount Abraham, and as we rounded a turn in the road, old 

 Saddle-back Mountain appeared in sight, its pine-covered 

 sides occasionally relieved by patches of rock, showing the 

 effect of heavy snow slides. In the early summer, when we 

 have USWOly been over this road, from the loth to (he 20th 

 of June, we have never failed to find great drifts of snow, 

 and the sport we have enjoyed snowballing is better imag- 

 ined than described. But" the top of the hill was soon 

 reached, and regaining our seats, we clattered on down hill, 

 and soon drew up at "Kimball's" in time for dinner. "How 

 are you Joe, and how do you do, Captain Crosby V— have we a 

 head wind down the lake? — how's the fishing?— -how many 

 have gone through to camp this week?" were a few of the 

 many questions asked and answered in almost the same 

 breath. Then came the transferring of baggage to Captain 

 Crosby's sail boat, the placing of each parcel m just the right 

 position that the boat might "trim" to satisfaction, and then 

 we filed into dinner, to which we did ample justice after our 

 ride in the fresh autumn air. This hotel offers the best ac- 

 commodations to anglers that can be found upon the entire 

 route. 



The Rangeley Lake is but a short walk from the house, 

 where plenty of fine trout (and large ones too) can at any 

 time be caught, while many fine brooks erupt v into it on all 

 sides. For a ramble beside a most delicious stream, with 

 plenty of steep rocks to elinib, and good chances for torn 

 clothing, recommend us to the brook at the left of the 

 house, which comes tumbling clown off the sides of Saddle- 

 back Mountain. 



The village of Bangeley (or the "City" as they call it) is 

 but four miles further on, where is located another hotel 

 with good accommodations, and it is from this point that, 

 with tandem ox-team and sled, they "back it in" to Konne- 

 bago ponds, seven miles, which is the great trip in these 

 regions nowadays. Pushing out into Bangeley Luke we 

 caught the first bit of breeze, and "laid our course" for the 

 foot of the lake, a distance of ten miles. 



Never shall I forget my first introduction to this beautiful 

 sheet of water, when, in company with some thirty other 

 anglers, we met our guides at "Kimball's," and with two of 

 us in each boat beside the guide, and an American flag float- 

 ing from the bow of each of the fifteen boats, we kept a per- 

 fect line and rowed the entire length of the lake, our oars 

 beating time to our merry songs. In the middle of the lake 

 are a number of beautiful islands, while the hills on each 

 side are wooded down to the water's edge. 



At about 4 f. it we reached the foot of the lake, landed our 

 baggage, and after a walk of two miles through the woods, 

 reached "Indian Bock," which lies on the right bank of the 

 Bangeley Biver, just opposite our camp. We had not long 

 to wait at the "Bock," for soon a boat shot out from the 

 other side, and we were the next moment heartdy welcomed 

 by the Superintendent, Mr. 0. T. Riehiu-dson, whom we 

 have since nicknamed "Rip Van Winkle," on account of his 

 long gray hair and beard. By him we were then introduced 

 to our guides, and assigned to our boats, caul's, and sleeping 

 apartments, all of whioh were numbered, even down to our 

 lunch-boxes, for we were to retain them all during our entire 

 visit at camp. 



Camp Kennebago, or the headquarters of the Oquossoc 

 Angling Association, is situated at the. junction of the Range- 

 ley and Kennebago Bivers (two small streams, each about 

 two-thirds the size of Little River at our park), which are 

 easily forded at any time during the year, except for a week 

 or two in the early spring. At their junction they form the 

 Rangeley River, and afteT flowing for about half a mile empty 

 into the Mooselueniagnntic Lake. 



The main building is of wood, one hundred feet long, 

 thirty-live feet wide, and about twenty- five feet to the ridge- 

 pole. It has a piazza which runs half way around it, and 

 between each rustic pillar are swung hammocks, for the en- 

 joyment of the guests, while on the sides of the house are 

 wooden pegs on which to place our rods, after the day's fish- 

 ing is over. This building contains three rooms, the largest 

 of which is some seventy-five feet in length, and is our 

 sleeping apartment, containing about twenty beds, which 

 are arranged up and down the sides of the room in hospital 

 order, with only small space between each. 



At the right of this main camp is another log house of 

 smaller dimensions, and divided by means of birch bark par- 

 titions into four rooms for the accommodation of the officers 

 of the Association, and is called "Bald Eagle Camp." In 

 the rear are the guides' camp, joiner-shop, barn, and other 

 buildings, and I must not forget the ice-house, located near 

 the landing, nor the graceful flag-staff in front of the camp, 

 from which float the flags of our country and the Associa- 

 tion. 



In front of the camp the ground slopes gradually down to 

 t ho water's edge. Sitting on the piazza of the large earn p. 

 ono has a fine view of the Kennebago fall,,, and the lovely 

 bend in the Rangeley River, as if ontward to the 



lake. Being over 1,500 feet above the leveled' the sea, the o i r 

 is pure and delicious —strengthening and exhilarating one to 

 such an extent that no tramp in the woods seems too long, 

 and no exertion too great. 



Our boats are built with keel, and are heavier than those 

 used in the Adirondack as there are no "carries" or trans- 

 portation of baggage frpm one point to another, The pres- 

 bappy possessor of a birch 



whiol 



at c 



To the stem of each boat is attached a small fish eauf, 

 pointed at. the end to offer as little resistance to the water as 

 possible, and into this is placed every trout that is captured, 

 so that he aim] [j bftUf ffl his place of residence, and lives in 

 the same purr- water. Each guest at camp also owns for the 

 lime another eauf, four or five times as large as the first, and 

 into this lo- If.u.siers the success of each day's trip. These 

 caul's are generally anchored in some shady nook by the 

 bank of tie uup, and as I said before, all num- 



B] j i,:' ■■• i. ■;: i i ■ . i! angler stays one week or two, the 



products of the entire trip are kept alive until he departs. 

 On leaving camp the trout are carefully dressed, hung on 



. ice-hOU&e over night to dry. and then each fish is 

 wrapped in birch bark, packed in sawdust and ice. and is 

 ready for transportation. Early rising is not cons 



:uip, but all new: >mers ai 1 ge 



of going dut once before breakfast ! It is hardly Bee 

 say that this effort i 



Beet with 



>.l E 



the 



degree so that we 

 breakfast at 8 .v. m., and alter enjoying a smoke and prom- 

 enade on the spacious piazza, we call oui guides, who appear 

 with the lunch boxes already filled, then with rods and land- 

 ■rour shoulders, w-e step into our respective 

 boats and are ready for the day's spore. 



Some go up the Rangeley and Kennebago rivers, while 

 others take to the lake pi rof 



which is some ten miles distant, and is one of the 

 est spots in this vicinity. Dinner, the principal m 

 day, occurs at 7 v. m., or after all have ret . 

 the mutual exchange of experience through which 

 passed during the last ten hours makes >.!,<<• hour ei , iyab a 

 to all. It is at this time we narrate "big fish stories," which 

 call forth applause from some and serious doubts trim 

 others. 



I shaU never forget an incident that happened to me one. 

 day on the Rangeley River. The first part ol' the afternoon 

 had been occupied in cleaning my gun and putting numer- 

 ous other traps in order, but at' i o'clock, the storm having 

 abated, I called my guide, and buckling on my invincible 

 ■•mackintosh wading pants," we strolled up the'stream. We 

 found "Indian Eddy" was as well patronized as usual, and 

 at that time many a speckled beauty was leaving i 

 to be soon transferred to the caufs dancing attends! 

 stern of the boats. So on we pushed, occasior : l ag 



fish, until we reached a certain position on the stream. Oh! 

 shall I whisper where ? 



Suffice to say that it was beside a certain overhanging bank, 

 near a certain number ot handsome fir trees, and that an old 

 dead sturnp around which you can just clasp your arms, 

 reflects itself in the stream, and furthermore, that 'said stream 

 at this time is about four feet deep: and if by this description 

 you can discover my secret, you are Welcome, 



Getting to the. lee of a "smudge,'' built by the guide to get 

 rid of the angler's pests, the black flies, whose supply always 

 more than equals the demand, I fastened to my line 'the most 

 tempting treasures from my fly book, and made a cast far out 

 over the charming waters. Thinking the flies did not alight 

 on the water to my satisfaction, I was about making a back 

 east when a gleam of silver far down under the dark waters, 

 a rush, a splash on the surface, and the next moment my 



Bj was fast in a pound trout. Placing my 

 the hue above the reel, I realized he was firmly booked, and 

 1 prepared myself for the battle which was sure" to follow. A 

 pound trout is not much to handle with plenty of room, but 

 take overhanging boughs, a slippery bank and ii wild ruBhing 

 river, aDd the odds are frequently in favor of the fish. 



The Rangeley River, flowing from the lake of . 

 name two miles through the woods into Mooselucmagnntic 

 Lake, acquires great force in its descent, and when wading, it 

 is with difficulty you cuu maintain your foothold even when 

 only a short, depth in the water. Many an angler hasinistaken 

 its hidden force, and while wading that stream capsized in its 

 turbulent waters and risen to the surface " a sadder hut wiser 

 man." So with the fish tugging away at my line (as a trout 

 only knows how), it required great skill ami careful manage- 

 ment not to lose him, or be upset myself. A few wild rushes 

 up and down the stream, occasionally showing his gleaming 

 sides near the surface of the water, bending my eight-ounce 

 rod as if it were a twig, and with month wide open, he soon 

 lay exhausted on the bank. Then another east, and another 

 fish of about the same proportions, followed by others still of 

 l 1 ,,, l 1 .,, and 2 pouuds each, my flies hardly touching the 

 foaming surface before they were eagerly taken by the vora- 

 cious fish. Sometimes two or three would spring for the en- 

 ticing flies at the same time, and my past idea of the delicate 

 sense of a trout was badly shocked by their selfish exhibitions 

 of character. For two hours, the shortest I ever experienced, 

 these trout kept me busy, and sometimes when giving them 

 the final blow, bending tnv split bamboo three leer, bEUQ v tie: 

 butt, while my faithful guide stood at l 

 transferring the fish to the caul 06 

 take no zest in outdoor sports, or : 



stream, and think with the old adage "thai angling is merely 

 a stick and a sring with a fish at one end and a fool at the 

 other," what wouldn't I have given to have placet! 

 denly in my position, and if the blood in your veins didn't 

 course more freely after such excitement, then you must be m 

 dead to all enjoyment as the Egyptian mummies in the mu- 

 seum at Niagara Falls. But as •• all things have an end," so 

 did these joyous moments, which were finally brought to a 

 close in a more hasty manner than I anticipated. 



For the last ten minutes tire trout had ceased to rise, 

 and we hud concluded that we had either exhausted the 

 pool, or by repeated! < - had frightened them away (for we 

 hud not moved three feet fnen tmi first position during the 

 whole time), when letting my flies float slowiy under the 

 big stump, I was immediately reminded that one fish at 

 least was left to tell the story. Taking the fly greedily^ !lg 

 it he meant business, h,- dashed up the stream with light- 

 ning speed. Checking him in his wild career Bj 

 him the butt," I succeeded in turning his head toward me,' 

 when away he went, backward and forward, across tie 

 stream (which is some twenty feet, wide), and then down 

 into the most turbulent and rapid of the w I 

 reel hum like a buzz-saw. Now 1 tried to hold him a little, 

 which brought the tip of the rod at the water's surface ; now 

 he would sulk under some mossy bank or overhanging roek, 

 from which I was obliged to rouse him, until finally he 

 dashed for the midille of the stream, where he wound the 

 line around and around an immense boulder. Plunging 

 into the water lip to my waist, I touted him from his fortress, 

 when away he sheeted down stream around a curve- in the 

 river, dragging my line through the alders and brush which 

 lined the water's edge, wiiile over the sUppery stones and 

 through numerous holes 1 followed till tie had 



. ii el red feet, of my line. Then 1 finally succeeded 

 in stopping him, but against the wild rushing water, which 

 boiled around me, I could only hold him. The guide m,v, 

 hastened to my side, and held my rod, while, following the 

 line through the middle of the stream, I held it firmly half 

 way between the guide and trout. Guidethen reeled lip the 

 line to Where I stood, and handed me the rod, and I con- 

 gratulated myself mi having gained fifty feet. Rut it was 

 only for a moment, for 1 again started the fish, and away he 

 dashed down the stream, carrying with hi/u tie- Sfl 

 line I had just gained. 1 was now deter a-'. 

 all hazards, and "giving him the butt again" I brought him 

 to bay. My guide now went ashore, and with net in hand 

 disappeared among the bushes to look up he. i 

 headquarters, while I followed carefully 

 of anxiety and sus/pi 

 the line told me 1 had either lost the prize or "Willi 



i hand, 

 ; possible. You who 

 oibles by Eon 



