356 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 13, 1887. 



Graham shot well up fnlly to his average if not better. He was 

 cool at all times and his run of 27 straight in an up-hill race was 

 really magnificent. His friends arc by no means disappointed in 

 him. Had they been shooting really Monaco boundaries,!, e., a 

 wire screen instead of a string drawn around from stake to stake, 

 Graham would have won ilie match, or tied at least, as he had 3 

 birds drop inside, hut found out across the string. Carver had 

 one besides one crippled bird driven across the line hy the colored 

 gatherer; this could not have happened had there been a wire net- 

 ting. One bird of the Doctor's was given as dead that called forth 

 considerable comment at the time and a protest from Mr. Graham 

 at the end of the match. The bird was hard hit, wing broken, 

 and running out of bounds toward the score. The gatherer made 

 a grab and tore out a handful of feathers, but the bird got across 

 the line. The referee decided dead bird, we presume on the ground 

 that as a dog was also used to do part of the retrieving and the 

 rule is, when the dog has once had hold of the bird it is a dead 

 bird; so with the man, he had had in his grasp the bird or at 

 least some of it and it was given dead. The protest should have 

 been made then and there and not at the end of the match, As 

 the referee was about to announce the result, Graham with con- 

 siderable feeling, we thought, made his protest. Dr. Carver re- 

 plied that he had come on here to shoot a fair and gentlemanly 

 match and that rather than be thought to have won unfairly he 

 wotdd shoot it over again. This Graham would not consent to, 

 and the referee mounting a bench declared the match in favor of 

 Dr. Carver, 86 to 85. We believe all bets were paid on that de- 

 cision. 



The Doc tor lost his 57th bird by not having his gun cocked, and 

 the bird soared away, even escaping the pirates outside, lor ( hey 

 were not expecting it, hearing no shot. 



Carver shot a Greener hammertoes, 71bs. 13oz.. with American 

 wood powder in first barrel, Eley's buff Sin. shells, loaded by Von 

 Lengetke & Detmold; in second barrel Curtis & Harvey's powder. 

 Graham shot a Lang, 71hs. 12oz., Shultz powder in Eley's green 

 shells, also loaded by same firm. Both guns 12-bore. 



The day was dark and threatening and quite cool, the wind blow- 

 ing from the trap to the score. They were a good lot of birds and 

 mostly strong flyers: some hesitated on the start, but attempted 

 lively action when they did get up. Carver took the lead on the 

 7th bird; at the end of the 75th he led five birds. Early in the last 

 25 the Doctor left the stand and shortly appeared with a black silk 

 handkerchief bound around his head, over which was his white 

 sombrero. He had been shooting in a black derby before. The 

 Dot tor's hair is closely shorn of the amber locks which, with 

 broad, light-colored sombrero, used to make him so conspicuous 

 years ago. Upon his return there seemed a marked contrast in 

 his shooting, when, owing to a headache or other cause, he began 

 to miss, losing his 78th, 82d and 84th birds. Things began to look 

 dusty. He then rallied and killed 8 straight, missing his 93d. 

 Many held their breath for Graham was doing marvelous exeeu- 



miss. leaving him but one bird 

 but the Doctor waB equal to the 

 ? cut down clean with the first 

 g his §200 by one bird, the score 



tiou, downing 20 birds will 

 behind. It was nobody's re 

 occasion, and the next 7 bt5 

 barrel, winning the race ai 

 standing 86 to 85 



Match between W. F. Carver, of Kansas, and Wm. Graham, of 

 England ; 100 birds each, Monaco rules, i. f ., 30yds. rise, 18yds. 

 boundary, both barrels. Win. Siegler, of Moutclair, referee. John 

 Erb. haudler of retrievers and furnisher of the birds. S 200 to 

 Graham if he wins. Carver's expenses from Kansas if he loses. 

 Dr W F Carver. .11)1111 2201 1 1 201 1 21 02020212) 1211 2112221 1 2201 11 1 221 



.21120101111211111211 12211121101220101111112101111121—86 

 Wm Graham. . . .12111011011911101110210201 1111111211111:3022:2221110 



01200201 1 :? 1 22202 1 1 1 J 1 021 1 1 222 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 2221 1 21 2111 2— 85 



2 signifies used both barrels and killed. 



Two barrels used— Dr. Carver 42 times and W. Graham 43 times. 

 This includes birds shot on ground. 



Birds that fell dead out of Monaco boundary but inside the ordi- 

 nary 80yds. honndary-Dr. Carver, 0— the 15th, 20th, cidth, 74-th, 78th 

 and' 82d; W. Graham, 8 -the 9th, 12th, 20th, 23d, 55th, 57th, 65th 

 and 73d. 



Birds that fell dead outside the 80yds. boundary— Dr. Carver 2, 

 and W. Graham 3. 



Lost bird scored from not having gun ready— Dr. Carver 1, the 

 the 57th not shot at. 



Miss-fires — Dr. Carver 1, and given another bird. 



Dr. Carver killed 21 drivers, 24 right quarterers, 28 left quai ter- 

 ers, 9 incomers. 3 towerers and 1 hoverer. Missed 1 driver, 1 right 

 quarterer, 1 left quarterer and 2 incomers. W. Graham killed 26 

 drivers, 21 right quarterers, 22 left quarterers, 13 incomers, 2 tow- 

 erers and 1 hoverer. Missed 3 drivers and 1 incomer. 



Biggest string of kills— Dr. Carver 18; \V. Graharn 27. 



Dr. Carver had 20 birds from trap No. 1, 22 from trap No. 2, 15 

 from trap No. 3,29 from trap No. 4 and 14 from trap No. 5. W. 

 Graham had 21 birds from trap No. 1, 10 from trap No. 2, 23 from 

 trap No. 3, 23 from trap No. 4 and 25 from trap No. 5. 



Time of shoot — Two hours and 26 minutes. Jacobstapf. 



THE WORLD'S CARNIVAL. 



T HE World's Trap-Shooting Carnival, held under the. auspices 

 of the New England Shooting Tournament Association, will 

 be held at Wellington, Mass., May 30 to June 4. 



The Association has made an equal division of the Merchandise 

 Prizes, (value exceeding ,153,000), giving to the amateurs prizes 

 equal m value to those contested for by the experts. The con- 

 ditions as follows : 20 birds each day, excepting Saturday, will be 

 shot at, to go on record for the Merchandise Prizes. Total. 100 

 birds, the highest average taking the 1st prize, the next highest 

 the 2d, and so on. Ties to be shot off, as there will he no division 

 of these prises. As it is the desire of the Association to encourage 

 and promote the interests of trap-shooting, the entries to these 

 valuable prizes will cost the shooters only the price of the birds ; 

 hut an optional sweep, as announced in the programme, will be 

 shot, in each event. 



The committee in charge reserve the right to make any changes 

 in the progamme that will better suit t he shooters present. No 

 handicapping of guns, all shooting at 18 yds. rise ; ties to be shot 

 at 21 yds., and at 5 birds. There will be two sets of 5 ground traps 

 each, and three sets of 3 traps each, and extra sweeps will he m 

 progress all the time. Only one kind of target used each day ac- 

 cording to programme. Class shooting: all purses to be divided 

 into four monies— 40, 30, 20, 10 per cent., and all ties of four or less 

 to divide, except by consent. No shooter can shoot in both classes 

 for record for prizes, but amateurs may shoot in the expert class, 

 if they so elect. Charge of powder unlimited ; charge of shot not 

 to exceed 1)4 ok. " dipped " measure, Dixon standard, No. 1,108. 

 Ammunition for sale on the grounds. Refreshments furnished 

 on the grounds. A committee has been appointed to classify the 

 shooters. 



The Executive Committee have made every effort to make the 

 carnival a success, and from all parts of the country sportsmen 

 have announced their intention to be present, as the classification 

 of the shooters will afford the amateurs a good chance of winning 

 a valuable prize. 



The grounds of the Wellington Gun Club are located at Welling- 

 ton, on the Boston and Maine R. R., five minutes' ride from 

 Boston, and the shooting grounds within gun shot of the station. 

 The headquarters of the Association will be at the Quincy Hotel, 

 one of the best in the city, where special rates have been made 

 for all shooters attending the carnival. The secretary will con- 

 sider it.a favor to he notified by those intending to come. 



PROGRAM3IE. 



There will be four events each day, beginning at 9 A. M., viz.: 

 First event, open to all comers, 10 birds, 5 traps, entry $2.00. 

 Second event, open to amateurs only, 10 birds, 3 traps, entry 

 S1.O0. 



Third event, open to all comers, 20 birds. Straps, optional sweep, 

 $5.00. Score to count on the Merchandise Prizes. 



Fourth event, open to amateurs only, 20 birds, 5 traps, optional 

 sweep, 82. CO, Score to count on the Merchandise Prizes. 



Monday, May 30, will be LigowskyDay, the targets being Ligow- 

 sky clay pigeons, with Ligowsky silver cup as special prize. 



Arrangements will be made that teams wishing to compete for 

 Fort est and Stream Tbophy on this day can do so. 



Tuesday, May 31, will be American Clay Bird Day, shooting at 

 American clay birds ; special prize donated by American Clav 

 Bird Co. 



Wednesday, June 1, Blue Rock Day, shooting at blue rocks; 

 special prize watch and chain (value $150), given by Blue Rock Co. 



Thursday, June 2, Peoria Blackbird Day, shooting at Peoria 

 blackbirds, 



Friday, June 3, Lockport Bat Day, shooting at Lockport bats; 

 special prize field gun (value $65), given by Lockport Bat Co. 



On Saturday, June 4, $180 will be added to the prize in fourth 

 event. 



The officers of the Association are, B. S. Loveil, President: W. 

 R. Schaefcr, Vice-President; Edward Read, Treasurer; C. B. 

 Sanborn, Secretary. Executive Committee, Edward Read, W. R. 

 Sehaefer, A. F. Adams, Hermann Strater, C. B. Sanborn, H. W. 

 Eager, J. S. Sawyer, C. W. Dioiick, C. H. Gerrish, W. H. Allen, W. 

 L. Davis, O. R. Dickey, I. B. Wellington, T. G. Strater. Pro- 

 gramme. Committee, A. F. Adams, H. W. Eager. Dr. C. H. Gerrish, 

 H. Strater, .1. S. Sawyer. Classification Committee, H. W. Eager; 

 C. W. Dimick. C. H. Gerrish. 



Address: C. B. Sanborn, No. 29 North Market street, Boston. 



LONG BRANCH, N. J., May 7.-The West End Gun Club of 

 Long Branch held its final shoot on Monday. May 2. the end of a 

 series of five shoots for a gold badge offered by the club to highest- 

 score in possible ICO, each man to shoot at 50 glass balls and 50 

 clay-pigeons. Below will be found correct score of the five shoots: 



W D Campbell .19 18 19 20 19—95 Wm Lloyd IS 17 16 18 IS— 8£ 



Win C Price. .18 17 19 18 19—91 WHBennetLJr.lO 20 18 16 16—80 



Wm Green 18 16 18 18 18—88 R B Moore 14 17 15 17 15-78 



E Price 18 17 16 18 19—88 Wm Good win.. 12 15 18 17 16—78 



D B Bearmore. .16 18 19 18 18—87 E E Taber 18 16 13 17 18—77 



C Morris 15 16 18 17 16-82 Chris Murray . .14 10 16 17 15-72 



Geo Cubberley.13 18 19 18 19—87 J E Green 16 14 13 14 14—71 



A P Cubberley. . 17 17 18 17 15-84 W R Joline 15 16 15 15 9-70 



•Ino Price 14 17 17 19 17-84 P Daly, Jr 12 12 15 15 13-67 



J Van Dyke. . . .16 19 15 17 16-83 S Burtt 15 15 9 11 0-50 



Burtt did not finish, but has taken the leather badge by not fin- 

 ishing.— Philip Daly, Jr., See' v. 



SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., .4*pril 17.— Lincoln Gun Club, shot at 

 Alameda Point, fair weather, clay-pigeons, 5 traps, National 

 rules, 1 medal, Campbell and Bruns 21yds., rest 18yds. rise: 

 First Class. Second Class. 



Campbell 010101011111101—10 Karney 000000100101000- 3 



Gate 00001 1010100 101— ff Nutz 000000000011101— 4 



Dunshee 0111.11111111011 — 13 Bovee 101100010000110 — 6 



Lee 110100001000100- 5 Holmes 10011101101.1101-10 



Ford 001101001101010— 7 Cohen 001000110000100- 4 



Schendel 00100001001(X)10- 4 Brown 011011100110111-10 



Bruns 110110011110001- 9 Horber 1000000000000U— 3 



Edler 0001)0110101011- 8 Penker 010011000100110- 6 



Parks 101111010111010-10 Wenzel 100010101010110- 7 



Richter 00110011 11 10010- 8 Quinton 001111110010101- 9 



Potter. 001 01H 00001001- 6 



The first class gold medal was awarded to E. Dunsh»e with a 



Was awarded second class gold "medal for one month. 



WORCESTER, Mass., May 3.— Sportsmen's Club had a beau- 

 tiful afternoon for their shoot at the Coal Mine Brook Range, and 

 there was a large attendance of members and spectators. The 

 sweepstake matches were unusually closely contested and excel- 

 lent scores resulted. The interest centered in the Davis-Russell 

 match at 100 clay-birds thrown from the open traps, in which 

 Davis proved an easy winner, leading from start to finish, although 

 Russell shot a very good uphill race. The total scores, 74 for Davis 

 and 68 for Russell, were exceptionally good, aB the new traps 

 throw the targets at a lively pace and in the most unexpected 

 directions, making the shooting extremely difficult: 



Davis 10110111010111011101-14 Russell ., .00000110111011011100-10 



11111101111101101111—17 11011110111111111001-16 

 11111010010110111111—15 11010011011111101111—15 



lionioan i iioiiono-14 111011101 iw 01110011—14 



11011001101111011110-14 01111100110011011011-13 



74 68 

 Sweepstake— 20 clay -pigeons from open traps: Oilman, Stone 

 and Smith divided first, Tongas second, Swain third, Dean fourth. 



PHILADELPHIA, May 6.— A party of ladies and gentlemen 

 went to Andalusia this afternoon for an afternoon's sport, the 

 guests of the Philadelphia Gun Club. The participants in the 

 match were Miss Rose Coghlan and Messrs. Patterson and Rob- 

 ertson, of the club. The match was shot undor the regulation 

 rules, o traps, and the birds were all good strong ones. After half 

 an hour's practice the match was begun. Mr. Patterson shot part 

 of the time with 30yds. rise and part with 27, the same as the 

 others. Only 10 birds each were shot at, and the result was a tie, 

 which was not shot off on account of darkness. FoUowing is the. 

 score: 



Miss Coghlan, 27yds 1001111011—7 



Mr Patterson, 27 and 30yds 1U1110100— 7 



Mr Robertson, 27yds H11I10100-7 



Miss Coghlan was delighted with her score, which was her first 

 attempt at pigeon shooting.. She is, however, a very clever rifle 

 and pistol shot, which accounts for her prowess. 



SARATOGA, April 25.— The Gun Club had its first spring meet- 

 ing to-day. Three new members, Messrs. Putnam, Meehan and 

 Pike, were elected, making the total club membership twenty- 

 nine. The shooting day, until further notice, will be Monday, at 

 3W o'clock. 



W H Bockes 111111011 1—9 W M Meehan 0101101101-6 



H HLeveugston, Jr.1111111101-9 R. M S Putnam 0011011110-6 



W L Pike 1001111111-8 J W Lester 0011010010-4 



SOLOMON CITY, Kans., May 5.— Semi-monthly shoot of the 

 Solomon Gun Club. 18yds., Peoria birds: 



Kraenchi UlOlOOllllOlll-ll Dewar U11U01 1111100-12 



Crooks 011111101110111-12 Shane 101000000100000— 3 



Edworthy 1111101H10110-12 Dewey v OOlOllOlOlOOw — 5 



JOHNSTOWN, N. Y.— At the annual meeting of the Johnstown 

 Gun Club, held on Monday evening, the following officers were 

 elected for the ensuing year: President, Giorge Yost ; Vice-Presi- 

 dents, Frank Northrup, S. E. Trumbull ; Secretary, James Y. 

 Fulton; Treasurer, James H. Hillabrandt; Captain, James Banta; 

 Lieutenant, James Pierson: Executive Committee, Frank North- 

 rup, Daniel McMartin, L. Hillabrandt; Scorer, Marcus F. Pierson. 

 Friday was designated as the regular day for the weekly shoot, 

 and to-morrow the opening day of the season ; the executive com- 

 mittee being empowered to name the day for closing. It was 

 decided that blue rock pigeons should be used for targets during 

 this month, and that they be shot at from the angles prescribed in 

 the Forest and Stream. Each member to be restricted to 25 

 targets at each weekly shoot. The executive committee was em- 

 powered to procure trie badges, to be shot for the ensuing season - 

 a club badge and a badge for the B and C class, to be held each 

 week by the shooter making the largest score, the club badge to 

 the member making the best average during the season; no aver- 

 age to count unless shot for at least fifteen times. It was also 

 decided that the club join the State Sportsmen's Association. 



M1DDLETOWN, (N. Y.), GUN CLUB.— At the annual gun club 

 meeting, held May 5, William Clemson, Esq., a gentleman who 

 has made guns and gunning a study, and is probably better posted 

 in the matters coming before an organization of this kind than 

 any other person the club could have chosen, was unanimously 

 elected President, The old-timer, "Potty" Worcester, was re- 

 elected Field Captain, and Wm. H. Crawford was elected Secre- 

 tary and Treasurer. The regular shooting season will open Thurs- 

 day, May 12, and continue as long as the weather will permit, 

 every Thursday afternoon. The public generally are invited to 

 join with the club in shooting, and those not washing to become 

 members, will be allowed to shoot by paying a small fee. It was 

 decided to hold a public shoot Decoration Day, open to everybody. 



~ f HE POUGHKEEPSIE GUN CLUB will hold its annual tour- 

 nament on Thursday, May 26, and prizes to the amount of $300 

 will be competed for, among which are a Colt's hammerless 8100 

 gun, Colt's $55 gun, lightning repeater rifle, revolvers, etc., also 

 an attractive list of sweepstakes. For programmes in full address 

 A. C. Gallup, No. 292 Main street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 



§mtaring. 



FIXTURES. 



The Royal C. C. will sail their Challenge Cup Race on Hendon 

 Lake, on June 11 , 1887, and invite American canoeists to attend 

 and compete. 



Mat. 



28-30. East. Div. Spring Meet, Haddam Island. 

 28-30. Hudson Meet, Croton Point. 



June. 



5, Oakland, Edwards Cup. 



18. Brooklyn, Annual, Bay Ridge. 

 25. New York, Annual, Staten Island. 



July. 



3. Oakland, Edwards Cup. 



4. Passaic Meet, Dundee Lake. 

 18-31. W. C. A. Meet, Ballast Island. 

 24. Oakland, Mayriseh Badge. 



August. 



1-12. Northern Division, Stony Lake. 



7. Oakland, Edwards Cup. 

 12-26. A. 0. A. Meet, Lake Champlain. 

 13. Lake St. Louis Chal. Cups, Lachine. 



September. 



4. Oakland, Edwards Cup. 



October. 



9. Oakland, Edwards Cup, Mayriseh. Badge. 



November. 



6. Oakland, Edwards Cup. 



December. 



4. Oakland, Edwards Cup. 



THE MYSTERY OF THE NORTH BRANCH. 



ONLY after long reflection did I conclude to write ibis its 

 veracity will be questioned, and I can bring no proof to sus- 

 tain myself, for all trace seems to have been swallowed up by the 

 earth. But ! will try to give a simple account of the strange ad- 

 ventures which befell me and my companions several years ago. 

 We three. Dale, Carson and myself have kept the secret well. 

 Perhaps if my intentions were known they would hold me to the 

 solemn agreement, which we entered into long ago, .and which 

 time has no power to annul. But at all events I shall keep my 

 peace and they shall remain ignorant of my intentions until thev 

 see this in print. There are times when I fancy it was but a 

 dream; and I can only convince myself of its strange reality by 

 glancing at a broken fragment of rock, inscribed with uncouth 

 and almost undecipherable characters. But looking more closely 

 the eye can distinguish, in rude figures, "Jidi/ a, 1778," and in 

 letters but faintly visible, "J icriic Urn (U the point of clmth." But 

 I am digressing, and must go back. 



In August, 1884, we made our first canoe trip down the North 

 Branch of the Susquehanna. The country was new to us. and 

 this added a keener enjoyment to our trip. One evening at sunset 

 we were floating along through a mountainous country. That re- 

 gion is all mountains, but just at this point they were unusually 

 steep and towered high on both sides of the river. We were look- 

 ing for a camping place, but our search had been unsuccessful, 

 and now the sun was below the horizon, and a dusky shroud had 

 already begun to envelop the landscape. Darkness would soon 

 be upon us. The steep mountain sides offered no protection. Ab- 

 ruptly descending into the river they afforded not even a foothoid 

 along shore, much less space to erect a tent. So we floated along 

 too tired and weary to trouble ourselveB much about it. 



Carson and I were skirting along the one shore while Dale Was 

 far across on the opposite side. It had suddenly grown darker, 

 and Dale and his canoe were lost to sight in the blackness which 

 shrouded the distance. But all at once a shout rang out. echoing 

 and re-echoing among the mountains, then a second, and then a 

 third. We headed across and, nearing the other shore. Dale's 

 figure loomed into view. "Look here, fellows!" he exclaimed, 

 "Here's a small gravel bar; we. can drive stakes, and hold the tent 

 up somehow." We paddled nearer, but suddenly encountered a 

 swift current that nearly carried us past. A few vigorous strokes 

 and our canoes grounded on the lower end. The mountain was 

 steep as ever, but just at the foot lay a strip of gravel hu ge, 

 enough to hold us comfortably. The current dashed past at a 

 marvelous rate of speed. It was now very dark, though we knew 

 the moon would soon be up. Under the circumstances we. could 

 hardly he very choice about camping, and with a feeling of relief 

 we stood up in our canoes and stretched our cramped limbs. 



And now happened a strange thing. Dale was at the further 

 end of the bar. He rose up, placing both hands on the side of his 

 canoe to steady himself. As he did this his paddle dropped into 

 the watfeE and was borne swiftly off. Hastily seizing mine, which 

 1 passed to him, he pushed off, and the current whirled him away 

 We saw him swiftly floating toward the mountain walls just 

 below. We saw him in the dim light lift his paddle from the 

 water, and then, just as we expected to see him stern the current 

 and paddle up toward us, he disappeared completely from view. 

 We rubbed our eyes, but to no purpose; he was gone". The space 

 between us and the edge of the mountain was vacant. Could it be 

 a delusion? A moment ago he was there is full view, and now he 

 had vanished completely. Had the mountains swallowed him up? 

 But hark! What was that? . 



"Help! help!" rang in our ears. What a horrible sound! So 

 near apparently, and yet as if it came from the very bowels of the 

 earth. 



"Help! Help!" Again it rang out in agonized tones. It was 

 Dale's voice. We hesitated no longer. Off we shoved with the. 

 current, and straight down toward the solid wall it carried us at 

 terrific speed, if we struck our canoes would split from end to 

 end. , 



Carson was a little ahead. I had hastily thrown him a Hue, and 

 be was towing me behind. And now the lofty mountain, amass 

 of blackness, loomed threateningly above us, and then we seemed 

 to pierce right through it. We scraped and bumped over rough 

 rocks till our canoes threatened to fall apart. The dim light sud- 

 denly vanished and we were plunged in utter darkness. Dale's 

 cries for help, magni fled a thousand times, ringing despairingly 

 in our ears. It, was all too horrible to realize." Where were we? 

 The current was swiff as ever and we were gliding between rocky 

 walls, for our can oos would scrape first on one side then on the 

 other. 



'■We are under ground," cried Carson. His voice fell on my 

 ears like a pistol shot, and echoed and re-echoed with numerous 

 reverberations, which grew fainter and fainter, and finally ceased 

 altogether. It was the horrible truth. The current w as hearing 

 us every second further away from light and life and hope, and 

 dragging us down, down under the eart h, to what end we knew 

 not. 



The air chilled us to the very bones, and the darkness— no words 

 can describe it. I was side hy side with Carson now, and Dale 

 was just ahead. 



The current was not so swift, and the channel had evidently 

 widened, for our canoes struck no more on the sides, and our pad- 

 dles stretched out at arm's length touched only the empty air. I 

 leaned over and drew a small bullseyc lantern from my forward 

 hatch. A moment more, and its bright rays shone out and illu- 

 mined the darkness. All around us was empty space, and above 

 us as far as we could see. We were on an underground lake; how 

 large we could not judge. We were moving rapidly, too, for sev- 

 eral times we shot past limbs of trees floating on the water. 



We caught, up Math Dale, and, floating three in a row, we held 

 a council. To go back against the current was simply impossi- 

 ble. We were far away from the entrance by this time. One 

 thought kept our spirits up. There must surely be an exit for 

 such a body of water, and by trusting ourselves to the current we 

 would ultimately reach the open air again. Then a spirit of ex- 

 ploration took possession of us and relieved our minds so much 

 that we made a lunch off a box of potted ham and crackers. We 

 had evidently been the chance discoverers of this cavern, for in 

 size it appeared to be. great. One thing was unaccountable. Hew 

 could it have escaped notice? We had entered it in the dark. In 

 daylight, it must be in plain view. It was too knotty a question 

 for us" to solve, so we gave it up, and turned our attention to more 

 serious things. 



Long afterward I came to a conclusion which was probably cor- 

 rect. The entrance, which must have been narrow, ran in a few 

 feet and then turned somewhat abruptly. Darkness prevented 

 further view, and the few stray fishermen who came that way 

 never gave it a second thought. An ordinary boat could not have 

 entered. It had barely admitted our narrow canoes. 



Dale now lit his lantern. We were assured of light, at all events, 

 for we had a bottle of oil, plenty of matches, and even a dozen 

 small candles besides. Our provisions comprised boiled ham and 

 tongue, a variety of canned goods, groceries, plenty of crackers, 

 and half a dozen loaves of bread purchased that day at a farm 

 house— enough to last us a few days anyhow. 



The current now varied, sometimes very swift and then at times 

 Bluggfish, Once or twice we passed rocks on either side of us, and 

 finally our light shone on steep ledges, which at first some dis- 

 tance apart, soon closed in on us and narrowed down to a channel 

 probably 20ft. wide. Now and then rocky shelves appeared a few 

 inches above water, and at times our light shone into dark gal- 

 leries which ran back into the mountain. Once we saw a roof 

 above us covered with stalactite formation which glittered )ike 

 diamonds in the rays of our lanterns. For the most part nothing 

 was visible above only black, empty space. 



Suddenly a cry from Carson broke the stillness. Even now I 

 shudder to think of it. "Look! Look!" he shrieked. "What is 

 thatv" His finger pointed to a square-shaped massed rock prob- 

 ably 16ft, high. It sloped toward us and on the flat top lay the 

 skeleton of a man, the bones whitened with age and the grinning 

 skull presenting a fearful contrast to the black rocks around if. 

 The arms wore folded on the breast. Several stone vessels stood • 

 beside it. It completely unnerved us and instinctively we grasped 

 our paddles, and not until the dread apparition was far behincl us 

 did we draw a full breath. We trembled all over and our fright 

 did not leave us for a long while. 



Even our perilous and strange situation did not drive off the 

 feeling of weariness which now oppressed us. I looked at my 

 watch. It was 12 o'clock. No material change had taken place in 

 the channel. We still floated between rocky walls which extended 

 up beyond our vision. Sometimes the. channel widened, consider- 

 ably, but trusting to the current we floated straight on. 



About half past twelve, I think, wo floated into a pool of some 

 width, and drifting near one shore our light fell upon a gravel 

 beach. We mustered up courage enough to land. It ran hack 

 some 20ft. to the wall of rock. It was only about 30ft. long, but 

 hack from the center, a gloomy-looking hole pierced the rock evi- 

 dently extending far in. It was just large enough to admit a man 

 standing erect. We were too much exhausted to give it any at- 

 tention, and wrapping ourselves in our blankets we lay down on 

 the outstretched tent. 1 found it impossible to sleep and tossed 

 about uneasily. 



It was a strange scene. Our feeble lamps shed a sicklyrfare on 

 my sleeping companions and upon our canoes pulled half way up 

 on the beach. It could not pierce the darkness iu front of us, and 



