482 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jiu.v 39, 1883. 



ghe fyarhttfitn §omi$L 



CAMP HENDERSON. 

 A SONG i" the jolly old camp. 

 **■ Tin- scene of lull inairj a lark; 

 Alone in thegraye-soletmi wood. 

 Tin- III.' flickers weird in tliP dark. 



e oofleevjSoi taj coals, 



Above Hits a shadowy owl, 

 ,\ frog hoareely croaks in the pool, 

 A Chord to tin- wolf's distant howl. 



Some 1 1'ni-. on coolci ii 

 The deep sldtlet savors of eetej 



llnrl; ! yonder come 'Rnstiia ami John, 

 Tin- fruit- ot the 'liiy i" their creels. 



The, embers their viands disgorge, 

 With zesl the attack i« begun; 



Wo eat a< if famished for weeks, 

 Tlie forest resounding with fiia. 



Sweet hemlocks »e strew by the fire; 



On those our tii ed limbs iind repesp; 

 Wiiii blankets drawn o'er us we sleep 



The Simula r l rue weariness knows. 

 BtOSCmltOes and (unities may swanil, 



And uranilames may prate of the damp; 

 We'll laugh all aui b I rrorstoseors 

 Aaid suiK to the jolly old camp. 



Lew Vakdbrpoel. 



WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



\' tourist can pass through thf mountains of North 

 _L\ Carolina without being impressed with the magnifi- 

 cence of the- climate and scenery, and made sensible of Hie 

 juatioe of the boasl at its inhabitants, that it is the "Switzer- 

 land of America." I Bhall noi attempt to describe any of 

 the lovely spots which have called forth enthusiastic admira- 

 tion. Those who .desire to obtain accurate information of 

 the climate, scenery and physical attractions of Western 

 North Carolina, are referred 10 Miss Fisher's bOOk entitled, 

 "The Land of the Sky," and to the sketches on the subject 

 in Harper's Magmne, by "Porte Crayon." 



It is my design, by this article, simply to invite attention 

 to Ibis locality" as a" p.amc resort. There arc localities off 

 from the beaten tracks, such as Watauga county, which il is 

 difficult for the tourisl to reach, lint which, it is said, present 

 to the lover of nature and sport,, attractions not to be found 

 elsewhere east of the Rocky Mountains. The forests 

 abound with game, and 'be clear cold streams are tilled with 

 trout, Ttie must accessible spol in these mountains, which 

 the sportsman can make his headquarters, is the Warm 



Springs, in Madison county, near tin Tennessee line, and 

 from which place 1 am now writing. Celebrated as a ivsiul 

 both for pleasure and health, it is beautifully located in the 

 midst Of the mountains on the far lamed French Broad River, 

 and is reached by ihe Western North Carolina Railroad which 

 con uoets with Ihe Richmond and Danville system a I Salisbury, 

 . rud will! the fast Tennessee, I t»r£i i and Virginia sycUms 

 of railroads at Mori islown. The drawback consists in the 

 exorbitant charges which a sojourner at the Warm Springs is 

 Sure to find on his bill. Niagara is no worse. But if satis- 

 factory arrangements in ibis regard can be made witli the 

 hotel proprietors, the sportsman will, in all other respects, be 

 charmed, Accommodations are good, and the scrvanls, like 

 ihe colored servants generally found at public places all 

 over the South are txrelbnt. It is the graiiest rhistaks in 

 II, e world to suppose thai while servants are superior to 

 colored servants found in the South. When, in ibis great 

 republic, si while person becomes a menial, if seems to de- 

 grade him in bis own estimation, as it certainly docs in the 

 Opinion of others. He even resents the idea of being called 

 a servant, but insists that, he is only a "help." The colored 

 citizen upon the contrary, when he becomes a servant does 

 not. object, to being ealledone, provided you do not call him 

 u "nigger." The latter term be regards as the greatest of in- 

 BUlKS. And BO far from being lowered in his. own, or the es- 

 timation of his fellows, by going into service, Ihe reverse 

 is true. If his employment be one yvherc he has some au- 

 Ihorily, confidence or trust reposed in him, he feels elevated, 

 and seldom proves faithless. Hence there are no more thor- 

 ough aristocrats than arc frequently met with among the col- 

 ored menials of the South. 



Upon iiHjtiiry 1 was informed that Tom Coulter was re- 

 garded as the great authority upon all questions relating to 

 l he chase in the neighborhood of the Springs. Tom is a 

 colored man, and resides in Green county, Tennessee, about 

 niue miles from the Springs. 1 rode over into Tennessee to 

 see him, and fortunately found him at home. Like most of 

 , ii he is polite and accommodating, and has far more 

 Mian ordinary intelligence, lie was formerly a, slave, and 

 i-. now fifty -three years of age, and lives with his family 

 on a comfortable little mountain farm, which he litis bought 

 and paid for since the war. lie keeps a pack of hounds, and 

 from and after the loth of July of each year, having secured 

 in i n |i,-. he stays at the Springs during the season to bunt 

 with and guide the guests. There is not. a foot of ground 

 in a radius of thirty miles around his house wilh which Tom 

 is not familiar, and notwithstanding bis age, he can tramp 

 oyer the mountains following his dogs flom daybreak and 

 until dark, and always keep' within bearing. He exhibited 

 a number of trophies of the chase, and gave me a full account 

 of all game, and the haunts of the same, in the neighbor- 

 hood. 



Bears are numerous, but owing to the lofty and precipi- 

 tous mountains and the dense growth by which they are 

 covered, it is almost impossible to catch them or bring them 

 to bay with dogs. Started near the Springs, they often 

 make for the Slack Mountains, the highest mountains east 

 of the Rockies— Mount Mitchell being higher than Mount 

 Washington in New Hampshire— a distance of over thirty 

 miles. But large numbers ol bear-, are caught in traps and 

 pens. Torn himself has caught since the war twenty-three 

 bears in pens. These are ttuill of hewed locust logs, about 

 four feel deep, four feel wide and seven feet long, with a 

 ib or of the same bard and heavy material, SO constructed as 

 to fall when the bear enters and takes the bait. If any other 

 materials are used except the best locust, the bear will be 

 certain to cut out. These, pens are much better than steel 

 traps. 



There are a good many deer iu the neighboring mountains, 



hut there are more in tlie groups known as •'Cow-Bell" and 

 "S|, ring" mountains than in any other. When started on 

 flic north side of the French Broad River, Ihe deer generally 

 run through Oourlhind's farm, and cross the river at certain 



points between two and four miles below the springs. 

 Hunters taking stands along the river at, these places are. 

 almost sure to obtain a shot if vigilant. There are now on 

 Ihe mountains embraced in the Courtland farm a herd of 

 fine bucks. The docs have fawus at this season. They 

 fawn about the last of .June, and by the fifteenth of July the 

 :iv, n in, abloto shift for themselves. The laws of North 

 Carolina afford the poor deer no protection whatever, as I 

 am informed. Tennessee has game laws, but Ihcy give the 

 ime no protection near the North Carolina line for obvious 



Within a few hours' ride from the Springs is the Clifty- 

 fork range of mountains in Cocke county, Tennessee. This 

 is a, famous bear region, It is on the northwest side of the 

 French Broad River, and covered with dense thickets of 

 laurel and briars, affording to bruin an almost inaccessible 

 retreat. 



Brush Creek Mountains and fiats, nine miles west of the 

 Springs, is a favorite resort for deer. When started in these 

 ml;. ins they almost invariably cross the liver at the 

 mouth of Brush Creek, which i's therefore an excellent 

 id. Four miles above the Springs is Walnut Mountain, 

 upon which there are a great many deer. When Started 

 they cross Laurel Creek at two points, from which 

 hey may he easily killed. Laurel Creek is a large and 

 beautiful stream emptying in the French Broad four miles 

 above the Springs. Many of the streams flowing into and 

 forming the Laurel are' filled with trout, which, though 

 small, seldom exceeding ten inches in length, afford excellent 

 sport. 



On the south side of the river, and emptying into it at the 

 springs, is a large clear stream called Spring Creek, which 

 takes its rise in The Bluff Mountain range, some ten miles 

 from the Springs. On the head waters of this stream and of 

 Big Creek, which rises in the same locality, wolves, as well 

 as bear, are plentiful. It is the only locality 1 know of in 

 these mountains where wolves are' found. Not long ago 

 five were lulled in one clay by a party of huntsmen; and on 

 another occasion four bears were killed in one day on this 

 range. 



Since the railroad has been built along the river, the deer 

 and other game have been driven further back into the in- 

 terior; but arc still within easy reach of the Springs. 



Wild turkeys, pheasants (rutted grouse) and partridges 

 are abundant.' Occasionally eagles may be. seen. They 

 build in the inaccessible cliffs near the rivers and creeks. 

 Of course, there is other small game, such as rabbits, 

 squirrels, etc. 



Owing to the splendid warm baths at the Springs, which 

 are favorable to the sportsman afflicted with rheumatism, 

 no more delightful place can be found by him east of the 

 Mississippi, during the aulutnu and winter months, provided 

 he can obtain board on reasonable terms. From November 

 until January is the time to come here to hunt, when the 

 deciduous trees have shed their leaves, and the mountain 



The "sportsman tourist," by going only two miles from 

 the hotel, may get into the hunt, and enjoy the loveliest of 

 scenery on the Laurel. Wildcats and catamounts are nu- 

 merous, and are often killed. 



The tributaries of the Laurel are the only streams near 

 tbe Springs in which trout are now found; but black bass, 

 redhorse, cats and other fish abound iu the French Broad 

 and all of its large tributaries. Gray and red foxes a 

 found in such numbers as to afford excellent sport. Toi 

 Coulter and Mr. Surveyor have each a pack of hounds, and 

 are always ready and wilting to lend their services to tbe 

 sportsman. Indeed, every one abouttbc Springs is polite, and 

 accommodating, and outside of the hotel, charges are tea 

 sonable enough. Like mosi men of bis habits, Tom Ooultei 

 is good-natured and amiable, and delights in all kinds o 

 hunting, whether tor rabbits or for bears, and has at hi: 

 tongue's end any number of incidents connected wilh hi; 

 sporting experience wherewith to beguile away a tedious 

 hour. 



1 had the good fortune to meet at the Springs Col. Thomas 

 Steele and his sou, of Little Rock, Ark. All readers of the 

 Fobbst awd Stbeam are probably familiar with his name, 

 as 1 have olteit seen il mentioned in connection with his 

 hunting tours in the Rocky Mountains. He isa large planter 

 and an enthusiastic sportsman, and having removed to 

 Arkansas in 1838, remembers flic day when 'Arkansas was 

 linl, a sportsman's paradise. Scarcely a season passes that 

 lie docs not go on a camp hunt in tlie. Rockies. Having, 

 therefore, such varied experiences as a sportsman, and being 

 a gentleman of tine sense and attractive though plain C 

 ver.saiioual powers, it may he readily imagined what a treat, 

 it is to sit and listen to hi's relation of his sporting adven- 

 tures, especially when given in his quaint and original style. 



We bad hoped to meet "Wells" here, who we learn is 

 somewhere in the mountains. I trust he will be inspired 

 thereby to give us soon another of his entertaining letters. 

 1 desire here to return my thanks for Ihe kind invitation 

 extended by birn to nic and others of the fraternity, through 

 the medium of the Fouest and Stream, to visit his home 

 in Rdckingham. Not only from some of bis numerous, kins- 



cxtensive connection than any other in the South), but from 

 others J have learned of the hospitality to be met with under 

 bis roof, and I hope at no very distant day to be able to 

 find time to accept his invitation" M, 



.Icily 7, 1888. 



THE ADIRONDACK GUIDES. 



XAM no fighter— would rather walk round a block the 

 wrong way to avoid a harsh word to or from anybody, 

 even from my Wife, But there are times when I will make 

 a stand for my friends, and show fight in their behalf when, 

 were the ease my own. it would probably pass unnoticed. 



Now then for* the provocation, which is in the following 

 paragraph from a late number of Tin Mnil and Krprens: 

 "Adirondack tourists arc already on the march, and the 

 guides have all come to tbe front' with customary rapidity. 

 Tourists are most fortunate wdio do not have to do with the 

 guides." 



You know that I have done a little traveling and camping 

 in the Adirondacks — and your fishing editor has done a little 

 of the same. Now, I know (excuse me for going in front, 

 for it's my fight) and vou know, that without the aid and 

 assistauce'of 'these much-maligned guides, the Adirondacks 

 to many would be an impossibility. There are some wiio can 

 go off into Ihe wilderness, make pack horses, boatmen and 

 cooks of themselves; can put up with any or no shelter, can 

 digest food cooked poorly or well; can do many things that 

 the guides tlo for us, and feel all the better for it. Wouldn't 

 I be a proud man it' 1 could do it and live? But I know 

 that's too much for me. and not only for me, but for the 



great, majority of those who visit, and enjov the grand old 

 North Woods, and are the gainers thereby. 



\\ hat are we to do when this terrible army of guides fas- 

 ten their arced v. Ldisienin- I ,racin rials eeMiti'ii us as we 

 iter their territory? heal a ,vi rem. and :'o somewhere else 

 nply because of these miserable, mean, scurrilous iiniucn- 

 ies thing out in fbi.ssi.vlev or, will we be manly enough to 

 i as the Children of ferae] when Moses, i eting uhdi c 

 Divine instruction, issued his marching orders, "(Jn for 

 d"? I have been in the care and kreping of sei et a] <lil 

 ferent guides in Ihe years that have lied, and n,v acquaint- 

 ance among them, especially in the Brown's Tract Region, 

 is pretty extensive, and I do not know of one solitary guide 

 i ' hi hi 1 would not share my blanket, in any part of the 

 lei ii"--. a ml I eel just as safe in person and property as I 

 i i 1 I., ■■;,,. houso Of any friend in New York city. " 

 n 13 ■■■ in K for pay, So do we all or us, only they give a 

 it deal more work for tlie money than any class "i men 

 I know of. Their's is an intelligent, service — (bey require 

 brains, and good ones, too. livery emergency or crisis they 

 nsl be prepared for; and I've seen some of them get cauirlit 

 in tight places, but never knew one to fail or flinch; true as 

 steel, and faithful as true, they do not deserve these slurs 

 il stabs in the dark. 



I know that around some of the lakes where large mini- 

 's of fashionable, people gather in the large hotels, 

 there exists a class of "hotel guides," who are not to be 

 led in the same breath with the genuine guides. These 

 men, or boys, are brought in from the settlements and farms 

 on the borders of the wilderness, and are employed by the 

 hotels at a certain sum per dav for the busy season. ' The 

 hotel hires them out to the guests, and often the latter are 

 sadly taken in. They may get some one to row the boat for 

 them, but they have qo guide; lie knows nothing aboil 

 where the fish or game are to be found; nothing about 

 woodcraft, and is often simply a lazy, good-for-nothing 

 heat, whose only ambition is to get through his days work 

 and bleed his patron of ail bis spare change. "From all 

 such deliver us." They are not guides! 



In your issue of May 3, which 1 read in the woods, your 

 correspondent. "Piseco," relates bis grievances iu this 

 line at the expense of mv good friend Robert Perrio, of 

 Third Lake House. Knowing Mr. Perrieas I do, il would 

 be very difficult, to convince me that the story is as stated 

 by "Piseco." And yet I don't, want to say, or even believe, 

 that he would make a false, statement, but will suppose that 

 he got a had bargain, felt very much aggrieved, down on 

 everybody, and had to "boil over or bust." Mr. Perrie's 

 statement is briefly told. "Piseco" came to hiin at a season 

 when all the guides were engaged, every man of them. He 

 was so informed, and then told of a lad that he could get 

 who was able to row about, but knew nothing about guid- 

 ing, and, it being Hobson's choice, he bad to take him or 

 none. lie was disappointed in his bargain, as he might 

 have expected, but he would have been wiser and happier 

 if he had passed it by without getting into print. 



So much for the guides, and it's all gratis on my part. I 

 love the honest faithful fellows for their merits, and could 

 not bold my peace. 



1 went into Brown's Tract. via Boonville.earlyinJune, and 

 spent a pleasant three weeks there with my 'son, and then 

 turned back to my daily round of work, better, fresher, and 

 abler for my toil— brain clear, blood purified, liver cleansed, 

 iron infused info my system and "set up" in good shape, 

 warranted to run. Changes have occurred since mv last 

 visit; George A. May, the genial landlord of the llulbcrt 

 House, Boonville, lias sold out 10 George H. Beck, who 

 promises to do his best for the sportsmen and visitors to 

 Brown's Tract who may give him a call. Death has made 

 another change; Bart iTalliday, one of the old time guides, 

 died late iu May and was buried at Boonville. He was well 

 known, respected, and much sought after by sportsmen. 

 He has dropped his paddle anil gone over his last "cany." 

 and now he rests from his labors. 



One other change, and 1 don't like it, a steamboat has been 

 put upon the Fulton Chain of Lakes. To be sure il is "only 

 a little one," and very slow at, that, but, without wishing 

 John Meeker any injury in person or purse, I shall not ex- 

 press my regrets if he finds it profitable to give up the job. 

 The Adirondack boat is good enough for me yet, notwith- 

 standing my little tilt with "Nes r smiik" last 'year— "he is 

 wedded to his idols, let him alone," you can apply that 

 scripture to either or both of us. J, P., Jn. 



IN BOSSIER PARISH. 



BY QUO. D. A1.F.X VKJJEIt. 



ON Friday, June 30, 1883, in company with my esteemed 

 young' friend, William Mercer, I set out to'his hospit- 

 able home, near Clark's Bayou, some eighteen miles south 

 west of Minden; having prepared myself with everything 

 necessary to enjoy several days of sport in both hunting and 

 fishing, ' 



As we. drove ovpr the bridge across the bayou. Mi . Mer- 

 water is in fine condition for catch- 

 ing a good troll for black 

 beyond the bridge found us at his house, 

 fortunately, was on Red River visiting her 

 Ted her to return before 1 should leave. 



eer remarked, "T 



ing perch, and just right fi 



bass. 



Mrs. 



sistei 



Nc 



the part 1 



At bis 

 Mr. Bodf 



lc expe 

 uld ha 



f the bachelo 



j do the honors of the house and act 



by, I met my old friends Dan Cole and 

 nier- not old in the sense of years, for both are 

 d keen hunters and fishers. One of our Min- 

 deuites, young Mr. Sugdell, was there also, who joined us 

 the next day hi fishing/ 



Early the next morning we were up. rigging poles, pro- 

 curing bait, and saddling horses, though our spirits were 

 considerably dampened bv fears that the heavy rain which 

 fell during the night would have muddied the water and 

 destroved 'the prospects of a very successful fish. 



However, Mr. Mercer said should it be the ease, he 

 would return to the store, gel some lrccdmen and his seine. 

 and. by soiug down to the mouth of the bayou, where it 

 iplies into Lake Bisterieaii, we should not be disappointed 



n havii 

 On 



-; ma 



,- pe 



eh 



nd I 



letting to the Ui 

 o prevent the 

 tog bank perch 

 ed 



5 fo 



id il ju 



Bd 1 



lat. 



strike. Iahuge disgust 1 laid the* 

 minnows, it "was as trasu cessl 

 gave it up as a bad job, and furnei 

 with red worms and sawyers for \\ 

 was rapidly pulling out and filling' 

 Mr, Mercer did tiie same An hi 



id.fi.: 

 the trolls, yet not 

 le-eye from biting. 

 s. but not a bass would 

 aside and tried the live 

 as the trolls. Then I 

 my attention to fishing 

 ircii, which Mr. Sugden 

 is sack, 

 ui 's sport had filled our 



