38* 



9 



FOKiflST AJND 5TKKAM. 



was undoubtedly from tbe head of a large elk. There are 

 yet Using men in this country who remember the time when 

 it was a common sight to look upon an elk bounding through 

 these nam- forests. 



Bidding a short adieu to Canaan, we turned wesl 

 and, after a long day's ride through the mountains, we ar- 

 11 the Dry Fork of Cheat. River and went into camp. 

 This liver is teeming with bass, salmon, and some smaller 

 varieties of fish. Our camp life was uneventful, and, after 

 .1 short stay, we once more turned our steps in the direction 

 of Canaan. We camped there over night, and early uext 

 morning moved off to the plains which lie contiguous. Let 

 not the reader imagine I mean a prairie. Very far from it. 

 Here lies a broad, level plain, many miles in width, and rest- 

 inrr upon the top of a huge mountain, one of the largest of 

 the Alleghany range. It is almost level, free from trees, and 

 its suj face dot Ltd with rocks. Nothing higher than brush 

 obstructs the view, but the eye can scarcely find a spot which 

 is not covered with a rich growth of the whortleberry bush. 

 Save this, everything looks wild, desolate and barren— a fit 

 home for the panther, tbe bear and the venomom rattle- 

 snake. Upon the eastern side of the plain huge boulders 

 stand loitering on the brink of a frightful precipice, looking 

 as if they required but a slight push to send them over. 

 But here at least is one fair spot : a stream of inviting 

 water trickles down over the mossy rocks, runs through a 

 gently sloping piece of ground, and then takes its mad leap 

 over the precipice, Along its banks there is a rich growth 

 Of grass. Here will we make our camp. The horses un- 

 packed and tethered in tbe tall grass, we turn in earnest to 

 the work of camp-making. There is old Jack, with sleeves 

 rolled up, cutting forks and cross-pieces for tbe hut. Bill 

 and Wallace are gathering in wood and moss, Tom has the 

 frvin >■■- and is busy with preparations for sup- 



per, with the aid of blankets and poles a comfortable hut 

 is soon erected, having the front open, and covered with a 

 serviceable roof. While wo are putting on the finishing- 

 touches Tom announces supper. 



" Talk about hotel fare," says old Wallace, as he closes his 

 teeth on the plump breast of a young grouse, just hot from 

 the spit; "why, I'd sooner live herewith a good appetite 

 aud pleuty to satisfy it, than to luxuriate at Delmonico's on 

 entrees and champagne." 



'•Don't mention this meal, boys, "chimes in Tom, between 

 two bitesof fat bacon; " just wait untU to-morrow, aud then 

 if you don't turn up your noses at anything short of broiled 

 venison and wild turkey, why, I'll promise to treat you to 

 my last drop of the rosy." 



After we had yarned until the fire began to disappear in 

 the ashes, and our pipes had died out, a general move was 

 made for bed. The horses were examined, the guns covered 

 up and three of us crawled into the little hut and spread our 

 weary limbs on the soft bed of leaves and moss. No couch 

 of down could have been more acceptable ; and as for pil- 

 lows, Why, our saddles served tbe purpose admirably. Wal- 

 lace Was left on the outside to keep up the fire and look out 

 for the < , 



About midnight Jack went on guard, and we were all 

 aroused by his crawling over us to get out. We were wide 

 enough awake to hear Wallace admonishing him to keep a 

 sharp lookout, as he thought he had heard the screech of a 

 panther. Just at this instant a terrifying noise startled us 

 into B sitting posture. At first it came soft and low, like the 

 cry of a cat, and then followed a blood-curdling shriek, us 

 though it came from the throat of some tormented demon. 



" What the d— 1'a that?" said Bill, his hair fairly standing 

 uoaud bis body contracting into the smallest possible space. 



"I wonder if it could be Indians?" hoarsely whispered 



" We all crouched ud near the entrance of the hut and 

 breathlessly awaited a repetition of the horrifying noise. W e 

 listened for five minutes— for ten— a half-hour. No sound 

 came to us. Our fears vanished with the cause, and one by 

 one we dropped back to our old places aud dozed off. 



"Come out o' that!" shouted the last picket, as daylight 

 appeared; '• it's time you were off." 



Tom Wallace and Bill were soon off m search of game, 

 leaving Jack Lo cook the breakfast. Our hunters struck oil 

 toward the north. In that direction the ground was slight y 

 undulating and thickly covered with brush. When fairly 

 away from camp they formed what hunters call a breast, 

 separating- ami moving forward along parallel lines. The 

 line was "preserved bv signals, so there was no danger ol 

 shooting the wrong guuie. The ground was rough, and 

 d caution had to be exercised. Just about sun-up a 

 sharp whistle gave warning that game was afoot, and a sec- 



i>nrl Isih'i liiiii* 1 ' -I Iclhi.' ! T A'('UE : -t CUD. 



'■So much Tor thai" growled Tom. " Ten to one it was 



a ." but before the sentence was out tbe brush ahead of 



him cracked, parted, and out jumped an old buck. As Tom 

 raised his gun the deer made a short turn into the brush 

 jvain. Too late. But no, there he is again. Two jumps 

 will give a fair shot. A click-a flash -a crack, and all is 

 over Yea I heir lies a sleek old buck making hts last strug- 

 gle' An unearthly yell broke from Tom's, lungs as he 

 rushed' up and plunged his long hunting-knife into tbe throat 

 of the dying deer. Wallace was dispatched to camp tor a 

 horse, leaving the other two hunters to skin the deer Upon 

 reaching camp, Wallace found the hre nearly out, but no 

 6jgn« of Bill, On looking into the hut, however, he found 

 the idler fast asleep, with a pipe in one hand and a suspicious- 

 looking flask in the other. This was too much tor even he 

 stoical hunter, and, creeping softly up, he took Bill by the 

 feet, and whisked him out into the bright sunlight. Ihu 

 movement had the desired effect, aud William was soon 

 Imsy among the pans. It was not long belore our game was 

 lodged m camp, aud, after cutting and hanging it up in the 

 brush, we breakfasted. 



The hunter only experiences half his pleasure while en- 

 Ka - I in pursuing liis'game; the other half lie finds in those 

 defi-'htf.. hoursV.it around the camp-bre. Here he re- 

 S£m to, with eager interest, tbe events of the 

 ,l7s It was while thus comparing notes we were struck 

 with the curious fact; that many of the g ni | .ii.swehad 

 crossed led in one direction. As soon as dinner was over 

 Bill and Jack started out to discover the cause, Late in the 

 afternoon they returned, reporting that the paths led to a 

 lick, plentifully used by deer; and they also claimed to 

 have found a bear wallow. . 



; ht being might, these two worthies determined to 

 watch the lick. Tom and Wallace remonstrated in vain 

 against this unsportsmanlike proceeding; so they were left 

 nehind as guardians of the camp. , 



C Jong alter the. watchers left camp the moon rose clear 

 and bright Tom and Wallace piled more wood onto the hre, 

 lit th< rV- oreising pipes aud spread out tor a good talk. 

 It .was uoTlJug liforcW were startled to their feet. That 



horrible scream again. Nearer and nearer it came, until our 

 hunters reached for their guns and made ready for a shot. 



"By the beard of the prophet, we are besieged!" muttered 

 Tom ; "and what's worse, you may look out for every wolf 

 and panther on the plains, I knew that fresh meat would 

 bring 'em. Heavens! what's that?" 



"Only the horses stampeded," said Wallace, as he dived 

 into the" hut and brought forth a huge pistol; "aud if we 

 ain't quick they'll Trrcak their necks over the rocks." 



In five minutes more the horses were safely lodged in 

 camp ; and uow to await the denouement. All waB silent 

 for a minute, and then came S low, cat-like cry. 



" Keep still!" cried Tom, " I caught, a glimpse of them." 



Yes, sure enough, there was a genuine panther, and all 



our fancy had pictured him. Now and then we could see 



his long, dusky form flit across some little opening in the 



brush , 



" Now's the chance, Tom : aim at those two glaring balls 

 of fire." 



The whisper was followed by a loud report thatwent roll- 

 ing over the plain. The horses gave a snort, and all was 

 again silent. 



About midnight tbe watchers returned, claiming to have 

 killed a deer, which they couldn't find. Of course the claim 

 was only laughed at ; and, to be on even terms, we claimed 

 the death of "a panther, We were not disturbed again that 

 night, except by a drenching rain, and from this our little 

 hut gave us fair protection. " 



Soon after daylight we were aroused by a yell from Jack, 

 who announced that all our meat bad vanished. We found 

 no trace of the panther; but not fur away we discovered the 

 remains of the larder. Thus deprived of our venison, we 

 put our last piece of bacon before the coals. While break- 

 fast was preparing, Jack went to the licks. The evidence 

 of the night's watch was laid before us in the shape of a 

 small deer, which .Tack said he had found but a short dis- 

 tance from where he had shot at it. 



Several days were passed in successful hunting. Our 

 larder was filled with more meat than we could possibly 

 use, so we determined to quit deer and seek distinction in 

 the death of a bear. Several had already been seen, and we 

 knew there were plenty of them to be found west of our 

 camp. The appointed time arrived, and we were early in 

 the saddle. ATter traveling a few miles, the ground became 

 so rough that we dismounted and fastened our horses. A 

 " breast" was formed, and we moved slowly and cautiously 

 forward. Nearly the whole day had gone by without bring- 

 ing success. If was just approaching sun-down ; the smoke 

 from our camp-fire could no longer be seen. The sharp re- 

 port of a gun at last broke the monotonous spell. Tom and 

 Jack hastily pushed forward over an open bed of rocks 

 which lay in front of them. As they neared the brush at the 

 opposite side, they were brought to a sudden halt by a 

 strange noise. In another instant the bushes parted and a 

 large black bear came lunging toward them, a bloody froth 

 running from his huge moutliT Too much startled to shoot, 

 our hunters stood transfixed, while the boar checked up with 

 an angry growl. In another second old Wallace came hound- 

 ing out of the brush directly in the bear's rear. As he 

 glanced at the situation, a wild yell broke from his throat, 

 and the hear advanced. The spell was broken. Tom and 

 Jack raised their rifles. Bang! bang! and over rolls Bruin. 

 In an instant he was up again, and came growling and pitch- 

 ing toward the hunters. Our guns unloaded, the first 

 thought was to flee from the enraged beast. Before the 

 thought could 'be put in execution, we heard the welcome 

 ring'uf Bill's old rifle. Bruin wavered. Dropping our guns 

 to the ground, we drew forth our pistols and boldly rushed 

 to close quarters. Bang! bang! bang! the shots followed in 

 quick succession. The struggle was short; but never shall 

 1 forget those moments of wild excitement, or the triumph- 

 ant shout which went up as poor Bruin, riddled with bullets, 

 rolled over to rise no more. With the exception of one 

 or two rakes the hear gave us with his paws, our party 

 came off uninjured. 



The excitement over, we were unpleasantly reminded that 

 night was fast approaching. No time was to be lost, or we 

 would be lost also. Bill aud Wallace were left to skin the 

 bear and cut off a steak, while Tom and Jack started after 

 the horses. The horses found, Tom moved toward camp 

 and Jack started back to meet the other hunters. It was 

 now nearly dark. Hunters, in common with dogs, seem to 

 have an unerring instinct which guides then toward home. 

 They rarely need the compass, but travel over the wildest 

 plain, or through the densest forest, as though guided by 

 some unseen hand. It was with this hunter-like confidence 

 that Tom pushed forward, scarcely knowing whether he was 

 pursuing the right course, but feeling confident as to his ulti- 

 mate success. Finally his horse came to a halt. Tom leaned 

 forward and peered out into the darkness ahead. Yes, the 

 horse was right. There was the dizzy precipice, and there 

 the dark outline of the huge boulders. In doubt at least 

 as to which way to turn, Tom watt about to dismount when 

 the clouds broke away, the moon dispelled the darkness, and 

 there stood the little hut but a short distance away. To reach 

 it was but the work of a moment. A gun was discharged 

 for a signal to the returning hunters. In five minutes more a 

 bright fire shed its lurid glare far over the plain, and Tom was 



busy in preparing for supper. 



Soon everything had been put in order for the night, and all 

 our party were seated around the fire. Our bread ran short 

 that night, aud we began to talk of breaking camp. But I 

 suspect there were other and BtTonger reasons. Old Wallace 

 was continually suggesting that our supply of spirits was al- 

 most exhausted, and that we ran great danger from the rattle- 

 snakes, it is but justice to say, however, that he was very 

 liberal in his notions about the few drops that were left, al- 

 ways maintaining that we should drink it all at once, for it 

 would " taste just as good now as at any other time." And 

 then there was a yearning for sweethearts, and a longing for 

 the clean garments of civilization. We determined to take 

 our departure on the morrow. 



The day broke clear and bright. Everything was bustle in 

 camp— cleaning guns, packing, scrubbing pans, and a dozen 

 other thingB occupied our time. 



In the midst of this preparation we were treated to the 

 sight of two fine deer passing through our camp-ground, al- 

 most within gun-shot. Not even this temptation long delayed 

 our work. By ten o'clock everything wa3 in readiness. The 

 horses stood packed and ready to be mounted. We drew up 

 around the ruins of our little hut, which now presented a for- 

 lorn appearance, and solemnly buried the hatchet. A Utile 

 banner was raised over the hut, and, as it unfurled to the 

 breeze, a loud shout went up from the departing hunters. As 

 wc descended from the plains, a short halt was made, that we 

 might take a farewell glance at our camp. There stood the 

 little hut, with its banner fluttering in the soft breeze ; the 



smoke from the dying camp-fire slowly ascended into ob- 

 scurity. We turned our eyes from the spot where so many 

 happy moments had been passed, aud slowly wended our way 

 down the rugged slope. 



For Forest and Stream and Bod and Gun. 



primitive: Pennsylvania. 



CLARION RIYEK rises in the interior of the State of 

 Pennsylvania, and runs in a westerly direction through a 

 rough mountainous region, and connects with the Alleghany 

 waters 00 or 70 miles above Pittsburgh. The P. and E. R. R. 

 now passes over the head branches of this stream. The ex- 

 ports here are lumber, coal, tan bark, etc. Clarion River 

 was first named Toby's Creek, and subsequently known as 

 Stump Creek, and finally became Clarion River. This river 

 valley is neither more nor less than a continuous succession of 

 gorges from the mouth up to 70 or 80 miles, and was sparsely 

 settled some more than sixty years ago, by a class of men 

 whose occupations were somewhat different from most of 

 pioneer settlers ; men who had pushed their way into these 

 isolated regions, moving their families and household goods 

 in canoes (dug-outs) propelled by setting poles. Here was a 

 generation born and raised of men who were noted for their 

 gigantic size and muscular strength, and also for honesty and 

 integrity. They were ever ready to help a friend and equally 

 ready to fight an enemy. Earminghere waBnotto be thought 

 of, the steep mountain sides reaching down to the water's 

 edge leaving no river bottoms except some small patches 

 which were few and far .between. These small flats were 

 nearly on a level with high water mark and contained from 

 one-half to two acres each. These were called rubbing bot- 

 toms from the fact that elk and deer had used the places for 

 rubbing and scraping since time immemorial. These flats 

 were destitute of timber except small saplings which were 

 girdled and killed as fast as they grew up, which accounted 

 for the absence of large timber. These patches were mostly 

 appropriated by the early settlers for building sites, raising 

 potatoes, garden vegetables, etc., it being about all the land 

 that could be used for such purposes. Their means of sup- 

 port, beBides hunting, were supplied by their semi-annual 

 trips down the river with small rafts of white pine logs, 

 which they would cut on the mountain brink and slide into 

 the river, and when securely rafted run into the Alleghany, 

 thence to Pittsburgh where they found a ready market. These 

 trips were made at the fall and spring floods. A Stump 

 Creek raft consisted of 75 or 80 pine logs securely fastened 

 together and loaded with a few thousand shingles more or 

 less, a few bear skins and venison saddles, two large canoes 

 attached and four men, presumed to be joint owners in the 

 whole stock. All these Stump Creek fleets would arrive at 

 Pittsburgh nearly at the same time, where the rafts and load- 

 ing were exchanged for bacon, buckwheat flour, coffee and 

 various other articles for family use. Here the canoes were 

 brought into requisition. Each two heing coupled together 

 side by side and fastened by cross ties, thus fitting out a craft 

 capable of carrying four or five thousand pounds weight, aud 

 with three or four men-power attached would make good 

 headway against any current, thus transporting their com- 

 odities back to their inland homes. The work of propelling 

 these loaded crafts against the current was somewhat slow 

 and laborious, and Unrequired ten or fifteen days to complete 

 the journey back into the interior. But they bad no freight 

 bills nor hotel expenses to pay, as they Invariably boarded 

 themselves and camped on shore nights. These freight canoes 

 were carved out of the best quality of white pine trees, and 

 were from fifty to sixty feet in length, while those that were 

 used for light weight were of smaller dimensions, made light 

 and thin, and showed much artistic skill in style and finish. 

 They were evidently the most efficient craft, that could be 

 used in those inland waters. They were generally propelled 

 by setting poles, and a Bkilled canoeman would take in two or 

 three hundred pounds weight; and make four or five miles an 

 hour against a strong current. 



There was another class of men who frequented those 

 primitive hunting grounds. They could not properly be called 

 sporting men ; they usually hunted large game and did not 

 seem to have any permanent abiding place, but were general- 

 ly at home when night came whether in cabin or camp They 

 were thoroughbred hunters, and invariably carried a Loncas- 

 ter rifle, which in those days was claimed to be a very perfect 

 rifle. And here let me confess a lingering partiality for the 

 old Lancaster rifle. 



I recollect one man who had his residence here wlicse habits 

 and calling seemed to have been different from most of those 

 backwoods settlers. He was an educated German by the 

 name of Wynecoop, whose family consisted of his wife and 

 two small boys, aged eleven and thirteen years. Mr. Wyne- 

 coop was a man of large intellect, and was possessed of con- 

 siderable historic knowledge, and rare conversational powers. 

 This man had pushed his way into the heart of the wilder- 

 ness and located on a small tributary five miles distant from 

 the river. His cabin door was open to every stray hunter, 

 and many rich Birloins and choice bear steaks found the way 

 to his table. 



Mr. W r . was not a hunter, either in theory or practice, and 

 it waB often a source of much wonder and speculation in the 

 mind of the writer what the motive or inducements were that 

 caused this man to isolate himself and family in the heart of 

 those solitary wilds. The two boys, Sam and Joe, were 

 special favorites among the hunters that usually congregated 

 there. They had become experts in catching trout, and had 

 caught some 'coons and hedgehogs, and were daily hearing 

 discussions on the subject of hunting ; and these young Nim- 

 rods were determined to bunt larger game. An opportunity 

 waB soon presented, not as good as they could wish, but they 

 were bound to improve it. If I recollect aright this was in 

 the month of October; the hunters generally returned on Sat- 

 urday nights, and on Saturday morning Mr. W. and wife de- 

 cided! to visit the nearest neighbor, who lived at the mouth of 

 the creek five miles distant. As a matter of course the trip 

 was made in a canoe. The boys left afhome immediately set 

 about preparing for a hunt; but lo and behold! the father 

 had for once taken the rifle and nothing remained but an old 

 musket, which in those days was called Queen's arm, and had 

 a powerful large bore. This had been thrown aside as useless, 

 having a poor Took and generally missing fire. They rigged 

 it up during the day, substituting a new flint and loading with 

 a heavy charge of powder, and not having buckshot they put 

 in a handful of small rifle bullets which the hunters had left. 

 Thus armed they started out determined to watch a dee*lick k 

 that being the best they could do under the circumstances, 



