286 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 8. 1868, 



to bis own. or thai it is uracil easier to change 1.1m; business 



at i •>■■ of man than to alter the laws of nature, 



These m-e the views of must of us upon lllis si,,f '- ,mt l 

 presume that the sportsmen of Maine, after a careful perusal 

 of this remarkable document will, if they discover the latent 

 law-making sagacity su modestly hinted at, send for "01 i- 

 bo" to remodel their game laws — all expenses prepaid- or at 

 least when he makes a summer raid upon their game preset \es 

 do him theseanl just ice of showing him the haunts of their deer 

 justbcl'oreoras soon as [ ■--': : n Is- fawns are dropped, in 

 order tliatliis camp ma'. nevei I t< k repis >n, 01 its occupant 

 an opportunitv of slaughtering the innocents. 



Forked Deek. 



Since wrftiDJ! the above f have received and read the 

 number containing the replies of J. F. Sprague and "Old 

 Tug" to "Olibo," letters that nol only reveal in unmistak- 

 able tones the spirit of the true sportsman, but also that they 

 are amply qualified to fight their own battles without any 

 I mce from tie outside. My only apology therefore for 



a. in ' the above is to assure the FOREST and Stream and 

 all - - aerous spirits who are striving to preserve our 



game l>y i :i;oyiug it in a manner calculated to leave a little 

 for those who come after us, that the views expressed by 

 them in the above mentioned articles harmonize perfectly 

 with our own. and thai we extend to them the right hand of 

 fellowship and hail them as brothers. F. T). 



Wan Francisco, Oct. UK 



ST. LOUIS SIFTINGS. 



r PHE hunting and fishing parly, composed of J, W. Peek 

 i iiiiftou, N. L. Wiekwire, Thos. Kirgin, James McClus- 

 key. Dick MeClure. .1. Fitzgibbons, J. Clark, Ed. Matthews, 

 Frank Mesker and two cooks. George and Jeff, who left the 

 city a week ago last Saturday, Oct.' 20, returned yesterday 

 monling from their camp "at the mouth of Peach Orchard 

 Creek, Ark., where it empties into Black Kiver. 220 miles 

 down the Iron Mountain Railroad, and seven miles from a 

 railroad station. The party was gone eight days, and would 

 have stayed a week or ten days longer if it had not been 

 (irowned'out by the high water caused by the heavy rains. 

 They bad a jolly good time, found fish arid game in abun- 

 dance-, and brought home quite a supply ot both. Before 

 leaving arrangements were made with nn ice firm in the city 

 tosoini a supply of icc to them on requisition by telegraph, 



but when called upon the iirm failed to respond', the result 



being that the icc firm loses several good customers, and 



tin trmmis of the members of tbepartj missed receiving a 



number of messes of line, fresh bass, perch and eroppie. 

 Peckingloii says they must have caught 2.000 pounds (or 

 splendid lish, a large portisn of which went to waste 

 for lack of ice in which to pick them for shipment. The 

 game consisted of squirrels, coons, tuikey, mink and duck. 

 gei se apt yet having reached that point. The gentlemen 

 weie all highly delighted with their trip, and only regret 

 that they were compelled to make their stay so brick 



The first evening of their irrivul down there, Peck in at on, 

 Kirgin ami Jctf went out ii.-hing in a small skiff and came 

 near being swamped when Peck caught Jumbo— that is a 

 large cattish, which is apparently about the size of the whal 



guileless man named 

 Jumbo was still alive 

 ■let saw him, but was 



strength ot the three 



des Jumbo, there are 



■ hen,! ,,f Mil Arkansas 



place as trophies of 



thai i- reported tO have .-Wallowed 



Jonah, a long number of years ago. 



yesterday afternoon when the rcpo 



getting weak. I: required the united 



men to pull him into the boar Besi 



stretched and dried 'coonskins and th 



Mack-tailed deer on exhibition at Pec 



the excursion. -V large mimbei of beautiful bass, pc 



eroppie were brought -home and distributed among mends. 



Tom Kirgin says they named their stopping place Camp 



Jumbo, ami thai ii is a delightful spot, with plenty of game 



in and oul of the water 



Tom tells of an Arkansas family thatjived on a clearing 

 of ahout two acres some three or four miles from their camp. 

 Th.- old man rode in on the sonicst horse he ever saw, 

 looked as if he hadn't anything tO cat for sis weeks— horse 

 and man both— anil inquired (that is. the man did) if he 

 could do anything for the party. They engaged him to ride 

 to the station every day to get the mail, although Heck says 

 he knew he would' be liable to prosecution for cruelty to an- 

 imals Cot account of the Lorsc, not the man). Some of ihe 

 party visited the old man's cabin and they reported they 

 never saw such poverty in all their lives, and when they 

 came to leave Kirgin and Peckingloii each gave him three 

 suits of old clothes, taken along for a change in ease of get- 

 ling a wetting, and the parly, having livid on game and fish, 

 gave the family what provisions there were left, consisting 

 or five sides of* bacon, two barrels of bread, a barrel of Hour, 

 B barrel of corn meal, a couple of sacks of potatoes and a lot 

 of coffee, sugar and salt, together with some pots, pans and 

 cooking Utensils. The old man and his wife were affected 

 to tears; 



Among Ihe children was a bright-eyed boy "going on" 

 eleven vears of OgC v. ho didn't know his A, B, 0's — inflict 

 had never heard of t hern. Mr. N. E. Wiekwire, who is a 

 prominent building contractor, took a great fancy to the 

 youngster, and having no children living, desired to adopt 

 him. This wish was made known to the old man, and the 

 advantage' thai would accrue to the lad duly set forth by 

 Kirgin and Peekington. The old man deliberated for some 

 lime and then, in that i>eeii!iar drawling tone of voice, so 

 common in Arkansas, saitl : "Sf-Q-0; I t b-i-n-k I'll k-e-e-p 

 h-i-in in lliew-o-o-d-s." 



The party intend making another trip doton to the Black 

 River. 



Tom kirgin got spilled oul of a canoe while out one day 

 ' Vh-lnader went to the bottom, blithe nftcr- 



s awful tired wlieu ho arrived in the city, 

 2 o'clock in the afternoon. 



nth and Pine, received a postal 

 ton. who. with nine oilier gen (Je- 

 ll of Poach Orchard Creek on 



ting and tishitiL excursion a few 

 are catching plenty of fish and 

 game, Will send up a cargo of fish ns soon as we can get 

 ice, and be sure to distribute them among friends of whom 1 



will .-end you a list. I caughl the largest bass oJ the party, 

 they all,' wiih Capl. Brooks's lin . We udl be back 

 whenwi gel home, {Peek says the Black Kiver is a fisher- 

 man's paradise. 



Capl:. Hies and a party of St. Louis anglers will start out 

 on an e.\ tended angling tour in a few days. 



Mr. F. Chandler, G. T. A. of the Missouri Pacific and 

 Wnb.asli, lias i--tn-d a circular r.o the Missouri Pacific agents 

 at points iu the Indian Territory and to Iron Mountain 

 ugents, asking for particulars as to the game and fish to be 



and hi 



Oct. 



30 Iron 



J. W. 1' 



men 



Weill d 



>wn to tl 



Blacl 



River 



Ark., ot 



days 



.go. _ 1 



'e< k SflJ - 



found in the vicinity of each station, with questions as to 

 express and post offices, local game haws, dealers in sporting 

 goods, markets for game, and hotel or other accommodations 

 for hunters. The information contained in the replies re- 

 ceived will be carefully compiled for the use of the hunters 

 anei fishermen who patronize these two roads, and will be 

 scattered abroad as inducements for sportsmen to travel via 

 the, Missouri Pacific and Iron Mountain lines ht search of 

 game. 



Tiie g.'as,, ball shooting matches have closed for the season. 

 The sportsmen are now- doing their shooting at live game in 

 the field. 



A great many ducks were captured last week by St, Louis 

 sportsmen. The part v visiting Black Kiver had* -ueh good 

 luck that, another party left for the same locality on the 30th. 



On October 22 a frightful accident happened to William 

 Sheridan, a youth of seventeen years, residing at No. 1115 

 Brooklyn street, this city. lie started early iu the morning 

 for a hunt in the Illinois bottom with Both© Mends, and was 

 engaged in that sport, when his gun exploded, lie was in 

 the act of aiming at something at the time, and his arm was 

 extended so that his left hand held the barrel of the gun 

 about midway of its length. The explosion tore his hand 

 completely off, and he was badly burned by the powder as 

 well. Ills friends took charge of him, the wound was band- 

 aged and he ways brought, home as soon as possible, Dr. 

 Bernays was summoned and he dressed the wounded member. 

 If the patient escapes lockjaw he will recover. 



A number of sportsmen in pursuit, of ducks Visited Hal 

 Island. October 27. They bagged a sufficient number to 

 make their trip highlv interesting. 



The Excelsior Gun Oiub held "a grand free-for-all sweep- 

 stakes shoot at Rinkelville October 28. in addition to a num- 

 ber of oilier contests, in which only members participated. 

 Special prizes were presented to the winners in the club con- 

 tests. 



Wild geese were heard cackling one evening last week as 

 they were Hying over the city toward the south. This be- 

 tokens cold weather. Camp Bell. 



A NOVEMBER IN CAMP, 

 r S "* H E following journal was written in lead n-.-neil on each 

 I date, alter going into camp at night, the' write.- being 

 often wot and tired, and the thermometer sometimes below- 

 zero. The Forest and Stream is indebted for the diary to 

 the courtesy of Dr. Bernard Gilpin. The entries an- as fol- 

 lows: 



Left Digby, Nova Scotia, November I. at one o'clock in 

 the afternoon ; camped that night one and a half miles from 

 Morgan's Settlement (sixteen miles from Digby), old man 

 Morgan and all hi- sons came to see ,,s in the evening: had a 

 game of cards and a chat. 



November 5. —Left at light: got to .Me-lan-skc-getcho 

 (Rocky Lake) at three P. ML; pitched camp. 



6th. — Two Indians, brothers of my hunter, came this 

 morning, gave me some beaver meal, and m return I gave 

 them some bread; then they started for the settlement with 

 two Indians I had hired lo bring the grub so far. Bus} now- 

 fixing- canoe and packing up; lei"! at twelve, noon, but' found 

 when we got to the lake that it was covered ail over with 

 ice, with the exception of some holes. (Ice cuts a conoe like 

 glass). Camped; the boys weni after mad-wis. i, /-., porcu- 

 pine; -tayeil iu camp and read. They saw a fox about fifty 

 vards distant, could baveshol it easily, so much [or being 

 lazy. 



Sunday, 7th. — Very cold, wind northwest ; broke up camp 

 at seven, ami alter breaking the i< e with a long pole for 

 about Sixty vards gol into clear v.al-T: paddled (low n Rocky 

 Lake (Meja'p-ske-getche) for about (hive miles, facing the 

 wind— hard mi the lingers and ears— then turned up South 

 Branch io Cope-choose Falls; portaged two hundred vards, 



still going upturned into GuaW-we-getche-Way-ael KM :wo 



miles. At the first portage Steven got dinner, and "the Indian 

 and 1 w. -r.i hark iw.i miles alter mv sheath mid knife the bold 

 Steven had left. (That fellow 'would lose his cos if thev 

 were nol lied to him). Flash, that is my little pup. put his 

 foot and leg into a mug of hot tea just now, and made things 

 lively for a time. 



Portage of three hundred vards. still going up, Passed a 

 new beaver house and set my first trap; hope it will not be 

 bad luck. Came into Guaw-wo-gcieh- and camped. Just 

 now i stopped the Indian and 9teve from having a game of 

 cards. Said I, "Boys I will put this down in the Journal.' 

 Steve scratched his head, and .-aid he was sure itwasMou 

 day; Indian said. "Mabv old Devil will put it down too." 



Nov. 8. -Left, camp at nine o'clock, paddling througl: 

 Big Pine Lake (Guaw-we-getche). I ran the canoe slap on a 

 rock, jumped out and lifted her off, but it was a near squeak; 

 water was nice and warm; saw fresh beaver signs, and anew 

 house: paddled in Little Pine Lido- (Gaw-we-ga-geeach). At 

 the bead Steve gotdinncrwdiileMaiticllluit's my hunter) went, 

 to set ti]i an otter trap. Steve shot a partridge while we 

 were gone for dinner, and I another one for breakfast. Setup 

 seven' traps; watched for beaver, but, though we could hear 

 them plainly in Ihe house, could not get a shot. Came back 

 to camp very cold, fee bothered us a little again to-day. 



9th.— Portage one mile to Dish Lake (Which-quod-lara- 

 niteh); paddled past Smith's Rock, so called sin< c January, 

 1874, at which time Smith and I hunted there, and I found 

 him curled up beside the rock after dark to die, so he said. 

 But brought him to all right when we got lo Gilpin's Island 

 (Mini-goo), ahout four hundred vards distant, ray old camp- 

 ing place. When we got there this time we found some 

 molasses hid there since September last, which was very ac- 

 ceptable, as cook brought rancid bitter and we could not eat 

 it, (Pork-fat and molasses goes nigh). Baked bread ami 

 started for Teag-nitch Lake, but at the pottage saw fresh 

 beaver signs and house, so we thought we would try them 

 to-night Did so, but no luck, beaver have been frightened 

 too much this fall; set a trap and came to camp. Flash is 

 creatfun iu the evenings: beat Mallie four games of cards, 

 Steve three. Good night. 



Wednesday, loth. — rust after we left Gilpin's Island saw 

 some Shell ducks. Made a big mistake this trip thinking- I 

 would see lots of ducks; Indian soon explained, lakes too 

 full.no feed, gone to salt water. Portage of one mile lo 

 Teag-nitch Lake, the- biggest lake in ihe county, being six 

 miles long, but narrow';' it is the headwaters of Tuskel 

 Kiver. Yarmouth county. As we paddled down saw a raff : 

 began to suspect Bates, a celebrated hunter, had been hcie; 

 kepi on past Dead Man's Point, where one, Newall Mouse, 

 an Indian, died. Indians still tell how three of them went 

 trapping anil hunting, and left this one to get wood and fix 

 up camp; when thev came back found he" had taken a fit 

 and beaten his head' to pieces on the ground; how they went 

 out and brought eleven back tor the bndv. Heavy snow 



stoi'OI came on, could not travel; it was in March ami thev 

 did not bring snow -shoes. Oul of grub, At hist seven 

 started, leaving four there; how the Jour suffered, and at 

 last tried to get out; how they were found by the returning 

 seven, hungry, frost-bitten, and one poor fellow buried upio 

 the snow. Had to be dug out, was insensible, but 

 time they brought him around. Tiie first thing he asked for 

 was a chew oi tobacco. It is a fact. After he bad chewed 

 awhile, said, "^ow bring along your bread. " It is an old 

 story now, but 1 can vouch for its truth, as no , 

 hunter was one of the party. 



Got to the foot of the lake, walked over a pottage of three 

 quarters of a mile to the dead water: found certain signs 

 iliat Han-:, or some one. had been here, so-started back for 

 the old camp. Coming back 1 got so cold had to ask the 

 boys to go ashore, make a fire, and warm myself; would 

 you believe it, after we made the fire till e 

 UV6 or six yards from it and sat down, not one bit cold. 

 I am not what you would call tender either. Got bark 

 to the old camp safely: very glad, as we were" going to 

 have a storm, 



Thursday, 11th.— Came on to rain about twelve; rolled 

 myself in the rubber blanket; slept it out, Eight o'clock 

 —had breakfast, raining still — Indians playing cards: 1 

 reading; no go out. Twelve o'clock — midday— The blokes 

 are. all asleep, except me, even Flash. It has stopped raining, 

 think there will be a chance to set up some I 

 afternoon if it does not blow too hard. Camp life is a ln/.v 

 one, nothing to do but smoke and read. My island is a 

 beautiful place, tall hemlock, pine, and sprue- tree all 

 around, the water looking rough and wild through them. 

 Three o'clock. — Cannot slay inanylongei. know I will gel 

 wet through, but can't help" it, Fixed up three Lra 

 set lliem about the lake. Found the trap we set the di hi 



foregone, but it was too rough and windy to loos 



will hunt it lip to-morrow. Got back toe'amn soaking wet. 



Friday, 13th.— Started this morning to look after the 

 beaver: awfully cold; looked for i ton when I 



gave him up. "Made a fire. Heard a cry from Ihe Indian — 

 Ye-yc-yeighee; knew that he had found him ; paddled over. 

 It was a very large one, caught b_\ the forefoot— our first 

 beaver. Came to camp, where we are now Skinning Mm. 

 intend starting out, as our grub is most -one. Mid lay- 

 Went to look after our oilier traps on Guaw-wa getche; got 

 a mink; it is the largest on,- 1 eve. saw; also, b at ottel 



have lugged off one of our traps, Tie v are too light; will 

 fix them up alter this. Looked till it was time to gel back 

 to camp. Steve cat so mueli beaver meat at dinner thai be 



has made himself sick. Babies learn by experience Indians 



are very superstitious. A little owl tiiey culled c ethl 



isawwii) came around the camp to-night and commenced lo 

 hoot Indian said anybody that mock, ,1 i; Would surely get 

 burnt thai night: be was in earnest, for I could not get him 

 lo, nor would he Id pae 



Saturday. 18tb. — Breakfast. -d on beaver-tail, it goes high. 



Busy packing up; intend moving out today after we have a 

 hunt lor our lost beaver. Have bunted all over the lake, 

 cannot find him; this has been an unlucky d-iv all through; 

 forgot onr traps this morning, forgot them again. At. the 

 last portage Mallie forgot hi- knife, and al dim:, e line- I 

 left mine there: had io paddle back jus: how. ' 



Sunday-, iith.--L.-n camp as soon as we could -ee a 



long tramp to-day If I warn to s,-. »< - to-nigh lio'i 



duck, afterward eight partridges out ol nine shots with a 



rifle, taking the heads oil' each lime. 



Steve took the bow paddlcjusl now -o as I could rest for 

 awhile. Ran our canoe on a rock ami took a piece out 

 as big a- both my hands. It was •: good thing we wen- 

 near shore, as sin'-, would have filled iu four minute" 

 Patched her up and stalled again (io! down to Me lap 

 se-ge|che all right; cooked .limn r and stalled f -e home. 

 twelve, noon. Got to Digby half-past eight, DonM know 

 how many miles it is, but we did not slop fifteen minutes 

 on tin- road; could not eat anything when I £01 home, 

 ami was pretty lame next mOrnibg; Iot-Cnd goitigback on 

 Thursday next. 



Thursday. Nov. lb.— Left at eight o'clo 

 gan'sat twelve, midday, where we met hunter and got din- 

 ner. Left there at half-past twelve. Brought a Wal i 

 me this time. Got to a lumber cam]) at six.' when 

 roughly but kindly received. 



19th"— Got away at eight ; very bard I raveling an ' raining: 

 had to make a fire' and eat some bread anil e,' . h, ,,i, 



we got to Me-lap-ske-getchc. which we did at thl lod 



Lake frozen over, had to cut our way through; tOi 

 hours; got to camp wet through and cold enough , 



30th.— Left camp at nine o'clock; mon ' , 



tired of it, besides it is really dangerous, for if yi 



to upset vot; would not be able to get to shore. Turned up 



to ' eutche Falls; fixed up o.-im e; [jo la «t more 



ice: concluded it would be beat to aipatthC I -':-. i Wi3|i 

 it would eil herfrei ip-or rain. 

 Bunday, 21st. — 8tayed in camp while die boys went up 



Gnaw we -edge w ay'Seboo. lo see tin: leaps and bring them 



down hen-. ,-,s | inomd going up the other branch, den 



my big bound, is with me." -j- - ;, but will run home 



the first chance. At half-past two o'clock the hoys 



with a heaver. Sai I all hikes frozen over, but not strong 



enough to bear thorn, Shot a partridge in, lit a 



23(1.— Broke up camp at nine o'clock: vci\ cold, more 

 ice; al the foot of a big rapid set up four mini-: I 

 one wild eat. My rig is three pair oi toekfB 



jumper, thick pilot cloth reefer, pants, mittens., [l 



'.-old. Soon after leaving had to pole tp >t --e- 



two miles; soon off came mittens, Deefer, Jumper, and at 

 last even mv hat; it was warm work, and beautiful 1 ;. n 



ing; often just .me mlsatroke would have up-soi tbe a -. 



paddling u'p still we came tO Kusln Lake, tried to break thl 



ice, but it was too thick; put the canoe on wheels, i, • . spruce 



boughs, and hauled her over with all 0U1 dutll 

 Aloft left us here: hope he will have a pb-.isanl run bona 

 forty odd miles. Left the cuime. walked Over tO Whrcll- 

 qtiod-laru -nil.chc; found il all fi'o/.en o:m; i.ie-.l very hard 

 to get 10 my island, but. at last called the bovs oaek. as it WAS 

 too dangerous: camped in sight ol I !m I lie Yankee 



said when he came to town, he was down here and bound 



to put her through; I am out here and intend to 



Very cold: not a bit colder in mid-Winter. Tl 

 Writer's would have a hard time to-nighl. Had 

 six. the first we have eaten since leal faSl ( l"' ray par 

 (ridge, did no* lease much. 



SSd. — At nine o'clock in the morning weni flow 

 the ice, it was tour inches and a half thick. ^ b 

 think of that, for SSd November? Bud 



of any oue going on the large lake before one month IfttCI , in 

 tact 'not till attet Xmas. Walked over to mv is.!.-, 



