188 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[ivuech s6, im, 



A TRIP TO POPPLE CAMP. 



WITH the advent of cool September weather the Nesi;- 

 muks put aside their boat and tackle and began 

 to make preparation for that most fascinatinj? sport of 

 a.ll the year, bird shooting over a good dog. No mighty 

 hunters have we in our little band, nor dogs with worid- 

 wide reputations as bench or field trial winners, yet we 

 worry down a few birds during the fall; and as Charlie 

 Pierce puts it, ' 'manage to keep them off of i>8,' ' and get 

 no end of exercise and amusejnent out of onr eftorts. 

 And it's not terribly wearing on the birds unless it's just 

 after we have killed a cat or in some like manner removed 

 the hoodoo which seems to overshadow us. 



Of course the season could not be allowed to pass with- 

 out the First Annual Big Hunt of the Nessmuks." Dur- 

 ing the early fall we had been invited, through one of our 

 members, to pay a visit to the camp of Mr. E. D. Perry, 

 at Phillipston, and w« decided that no better place could 

 be found for our hunt. 



Oct. 17, g A.M., found ua all up and cussing a dismal, 

 cold rain wbioh drove us all back to bed. During the day 

 it let up a little and one of the Mrs. Nessmuks predicted 

 a fair day for the following one. then more rain. She 

 hit it exactly. 



Saturday morning we were off, the two Hicks with the 

 light team, Charlie and Half-Breed following with the 

 democrat and most of the duffle. 



We had arranged to meet at the "horse pasture'* as 

 soon after sunrise as possible: and before the sun was up 

 little Hicks had knocked down a •'woody''* in the '"green 

 patch'" just for a starter. Meeting at the "horse pasture" 

 we changed partners, little Hicks and the Half-Breed 

 heading for "Bryants" and the "Browning" cover, Hy 

 and Charlie looking after what might be in the "side 

 hill" and the upper end of "Browning." 



The next meeting was at West Rutland at 11 A. M., 

 where we were disappointed at not finding (::;harlie Pierce 

 at home, and so pushed on for Colebrook. 



As we came to our "best ground" we ran on to a party 

 from West Rutland, who advised us of Charlie's where- 

 abouts. One of them knocked down a pair of woodcock 

 in a strip of alders beside the road as we sat in our wagon 

 talking dog. The birds were beauties, as handsome a 

 pair as I ever saw, and their proud possessor was not at 

 all bashful about showing them. They made an impres- 

 sion on me somehow, and when the "pony team" turned 

 in a pair that night that must have been reared in the 

 same cover the coincidence struck me as singular. 



Just before reaching Colebrook we turned down an old 

 cartroad beside a cold brook and soon had the horses out 

 and feeding, and were busy looking after our own lunch, 

 which consisted of chicken salad, bread and butter, and a 

 cup of hot coffee. We carry our tools right with us for 

 this sort of thing when we are on a pilgrimage. Then we 

 started again, and passing through Colebrook took the 

 river road for Barre, celebrated for its annual cattle show. 

 Barre isn't the highest town in the State, but you would 

 never suspect but what it was if you a,i)proaGhed it from 

 the south or east. Leaving Barre we took the old Peters- 

 ham road and branching off crossed the Rutland brook, 

 stopping to hunt out the cover at its head. 



Fi-om here we crossed to "Moccasin Brook" cover, and 

 when we had partly hunted the upper end out darkness 

 began to fall and we struck out for Phillipstown, where 

 we axrived about 7 P. M, tired and hungry. Putting up 

 our horses with neighbor Miller we proceeded to establish 

 om-selves across the way at the Mecca of our long but en- 

 joyable drive, "Popple Camp." The owner of the camp 

 Mr. Perry, you nearly all know to be a sportsman, whom 

 it would be presumptuous for me to attempt to eulogize. 

 His camp, which is prettily situated in the center of the 

 village, next the church, is a plain story and a half old- 

 fashioned country house, its small, heavily-shuttered 

 windows looking out upon the village green. On the 

 ground floor of the house proper are five rooms. The 

 parlor, with its open fireplace, boasts a carpet which Mr. 

 Perry had made by guess. Any surplus he intended to 

 double under, but that carpet is nowhere doubled. The 

 walls are adorned with sporting pictures and mounted 

 birds, the latter the handiwork of the owner. Across the 

 hall is a large double chamber, back of this the kitchen, 

 dining-room and another sleeping room. 



In the ell are the sink room, pantry, woodshed, and 

 further back the kennels, all under the same roof. A 

 good cellar is underneath and an extra sleeping room up 

 stairs.^ The house is thoroughly furnished throughout 

 with dishes, cookin'g utensils, bedding, everything, in fact, 

 necessary, including a half dozen sixits of clothes if you 

 should chance to come in wet, and a pile of slippers, 

 hunting shoes, arctics, leggins, moccasins, rubber boots! 

 etc., that filled most of the kitchen, not occupied by the 

 stove. Over the front door is an arch which be ars the 

 legend "Popple Camp— Sportsmen Welcome." 



We soon had a fire going, the bedding aired and prepar- 

 ations were under way for dinner. One slice of steak 

 was the piece de resistance for four men, but that same 

 steak weighed Sflbs., and after we had trimmed the ends 

 so the cook could get it over the stove front, we arranged 

 the table and soon sat down. Then we adjourned to the 

 open fire place to talk over the events of the day and burn 

 a little of Dill's best. Every one had some pleasing ex- 

 perience to relate, even the Half-Breed, who had 

 missed a partridge clean, sitting under an apple tree, was 

 made to see the humorous side of it. It was probably the 

 first gun Half-Breed ever had in his hands outside of an 

 "M. V. M." musket, but when it comes to catching trout? 

 You don't want to fish a brook for a week after he has 

 been down it. They can't resist the wav he approaches 

 them. Everything has to come, trout, suckers, chiven, 

 pouts, all "pay tribute to his untiring zeal. The dogs came 

 in for their share of praise in connection with the day's 

 sport, and after each shot, successful and otherwise, had 

 been gone over to the minutest detail, the tire was 

 soQothered and we followed Charlie's example, who de- 

 clared his intention of crawling into his "payamas." 



Sunday morning opened with a northeast rainstorm 

 which increased as the day wore on. At noon we started 

 for home, where we arrived at 5:30. Soaked! Well, it 

 was twenty-eight miles in an open wagon during one of 

 the hardest and wettest rains I ever experinced. 



Well, the trip had been a pleasant one for all that, but 

 there still was an unsatisfied feeling about it, and a couple 

 of weeks later as Charlie and Hy were working up a shoot 



for Friday, Popple Camp was thrown out as a feeler. 

 This was Thursday noon, and it was argued that as the 

 weather clerk would only have a half day's notice of our 

 intention, he might not be able to cook up anything Very 

 bad for us on such short notice. 



Little Hicks and Half-Breed were telephoned, but they 

 could not get away till Saturday, so it was arranged for 

 Charlie and Hy to start Friday morning and htmt up, 

 putting in v^attlrday abolit Petersham and meet the pony 

 team at Moccasin Brook Saturday P. M, 



Pour A. M. Friday found Charlie and Hy on the road. 

 The first stop was made at the "side hill," and a woody 

 was downed in no time. From there they touched up 

 the upper end of Browning, and finished up the day be- 

 tween Cradle Rock and Petersham. Everything was in 

 order at the camp, and they were warmly greeted by Mr. 

 Miller, who informed them that they were just in time, 

 as he was going to have a "husking" that evening. You 

 who have attended a country husking know that they 

 had indeed "struck it rich." After they had cleared up 

 the supper dishes and "spruced up" by the aid of Mr. 

 Perry's spare himting shoes, neckties, etc. , they started 

 for the husking. Lanterns were flitting about the yard 

 and buildings, and evidently something of importance 

 was on the tapis* The barn floor was Ut up by a dozen 

 or more lanterns sUspehded from rake-stales stuck in the 

 hay mow. J^very school marm within a radius of ten 

 miles was there. Every man, woman and many children 

 who knew Kd. Miller was there, and soon the two Ness- 

 muks Were thei-e, right in the midst of it, making an on- 

 slaught on, the cornstalks which threatened an early 

 Itinch foi- all hands. 



How the boys did search for the red ears, and what a 

 wrestle they had in trying to secure the prize a red ear is 

 supposed to entitle them to. One in particular seemed to 

 have unusual luck in picking out red ones, but he ad- 

 mitted that he "come heeled." Charlie did not husk more 

 than twenty-five ears the entire evening, yet he had five 

 reds, while Hy stripped bushel after bushel— well, a good 

 many ears any way— and gave the search up in disgust. 

 Noticing a stray ear on the floor as they were clearing up 

 he picked it up and had the prize of the evening, a beauty 

 about 14in. long and the size of your wrist. None of 

 these of course were redeemed. After sampling Mrs. 

 Miller's pumpkin and mince pies they returned to the 

 camp, leaving a happy crowd in possession of the house. 



The next morning the hunt was continued. Birds were 

 scarce, The woodcock had mostly gone, and partridges 

 were not found in the usual places, but a suMcient num- 

 ber were bagged to insure a game supper for all hands. 

 The day was perfect. Ned and Karl, the setters, worked 

 to an "allspice," and a pleasanter day was never put in by 

 two hunters. 



Not finding the pony team at the appointed place, the 

 hunters pushed on for camp, dressed the bird --, got a roar- 

 ing fire under way, and were just preparing, to put the 

 birds away and broil a steak, when a warvvhoop Which 

 roused the enthe village announced the safe arrival of 

 the other two. 



Such a supper as we had! Broiled partridge and wood- 

 cock with crabapple jelly, baked sweet potatoes, chicken 

 salad, bread and butter, chopped cabbage, and the in- 

 evitable crackers, cheeseand colJee for a finish. Gould you 

 ask more? We don't go in much for variety; vou know, 

 but we want something sUbstantialj then we w"ant lots of 

 it and a cup of "Nessmuk'* coffee and we are happy. 



Washing the dishes was deferred even longer than usual 

 this night, and after we had burned the last lump of sugar 

 we offered to back Charlie to beat the world as a hungry 

 man's ehef. 



After clearing away and washing the dishes and put 

 ting things in order we arranged a little dinner party, 

 with the help of Mr. Perry's spare clothes, which we left 

 in possession of the dining room to see that aJI went well 

 until our host should return. He has since asked Charlie 

 how he liked the way he had arranged his dining room. 



We all liked it immensely. I wonder how he liked the 

 way we arranged it. 



Sunday morning more rain, but not nearly so severe 

 as on our first trip, aaid after leaving Templeton we left 

 the scorm and the rest of the drive home was most enjoy- 

 able. Just above North Rutland we stopped and had 

 our lunch, arriving home about 6 P. M. 



And so ended our trip to Popple Camp, which every 

 one declared to be as pleasant an outing as they had ever 

 experienced, and if we don't look after some of the trout 

 streams in that vicinity another season we are very much 

 mistaken. "HaL, 



SOUTHWARD BOUND. 



WE have come 150 miles on our southward journey to 

 the land where the deer feeds in winter, where 

 the silver-tip never hibernates, where the mountain lion 

 breeds in February and where the big-horn has his line of 

 limitation— a beautiful land, limbered and. well watered, 

 but one upon which the farmer has not entered; neither 

 has it been explored by the prospector, nor has the shep- 

 herd any claim upon its verdant parks. We is a collective 

 noun, equivalent in this case to "We, Us & Co." The 

 firm is composed of Shoshone and his man Friday, of two 

 ponies and a p.ick mule, of a dog that is useless except 

 for pm'poses of companionship, i. e., to keep my feet 

 warm on a cold night, of firearms, grub and a camping 

 outfit. 



The trip would be most enjoyable if it were not for the 

 knowledge that we have yet a hundred miles to travel 

 over the snowy divides before reaching the "Dixie" of the 

 Rio Colorado, Rio Virgin and Santa Clara. If this inter- 

 mountain plateau were not so far up in the air, we would 

 find a very mild climate, but for the last hundred miles 

 our altitude has been from 5,500 to 6,500ft, above the sea 

 level, an elevation that assures a bracing and healthful 

 climate. Still, we cannot complain, for the weather 

 would be mild in New York or New Jersey. If a hay- 

 stack is handy we make a bed in it when night comes; if 

 not a rubber blanket and the tent under us, with a pair 

 of army blankets above is all that can be desired. When 

 we have no oak or pine our camp fire is of sage brush, 

 and when game is wanting bacon and hot bread keep us 

 from stai-vation. We have already taken the advice of 

 St. Paul and learned in whatsoever state we are there- 

 with to be content. But a man has no business to be 

 either cold or hungry in this country, for a more hospit- 

 able people than the Mormons of southern Utah would 

 be hard to find. 



We have not yet oonimeiioed fishing in ©arn^t, Our 



route has been along the highway and in the midst of 

 .settlements and ranches, but the mountains hate at nd 

 time been thore thaii three miles distant, and far lip theit 

 rugged sides we have more than once seen the bounding 

 deer. Jack rabbits are too common for shooting. Two 

 white hares have, however, fallen to our maa-ksmanship, 

 and;they have furnished two very savory suppers. 



Of the birds of the air we have not had a taste. Mag- 

 pies and snowbirds are all w^e have seen. This is not 

 because grouse are not to be found, but because we have 

 not looked for them. Twenty-five miles more and we 

 will reach the last of the long line of valley settlements 

 and our next town, after that will be upon waters that 

 empty into the Gulf of California. Twenty-five miles 

 of up-hill climb and then we must depend on our guns 

 for game. 



Among the hills through which we have passed the 

 mountain lion reigns and he is a beast for which the 

 hunter must be well armed. To the ilocks, and this is a 

 pastoral country, he does immense damage, but colts are 

 his favoi'ite article of diet. At Thistle station, where we 

 entered the mountain region, we saw two lions, just a 

 year old. The male measures 9ft. from tip to tip, the 

 female 8ft. 2in. They have been in confinement ever since 

 their eyes were open and have become accustomed to the 

 presence of man. But woe betide the unfortunate quad- 

 ruped that ventures within reach of their claws. Last 

 week an adventurous old mule went sniffing about the 

 cage. Ben's paw flew through the bars like a flash of 

 lightning and Mr. Mule retired minus a nose. I doubt if 

 the beast can ever be worked .again, excepting as a pack 

 animal. At Manti we saw a pair of kittens less than a 

 month old. Each stood higher than a Newfoundland 

 dog. 



So we have traveled through holiday week. Every 

 settlement through which we have gone has had its 

 dance, these have been our diversion. In good, saintly 

 settlement'!, where Gentile sentiments have not entered, 

 but one round dance is allowed during the evening. 1 

 have just come from a good orthodox ball, and has^e seen 

 nine consecutive quadrilles. They call them quadrilles 

 in this country. Heaven only knows what they would 

 be termed in any other portion of the footstool. The cos- 

 tumes, the strictly original figures, the pigeon-wings, and 

 the liigh stepping, have never been equalled, can never 

 be surpassed. I would rather go to a Mormon dance than 

 to a circus, which is saying a great deal, as I have not 

 been within reach of a circus for five years. But dances 

 must be left behind, as well as the daily paperp. We are 

 two days from the Salt Lake papers now, and at the last 

 town on our route that enjoys a daily mail and that comes 

 sixty miles by stage. The settlement where we expect 

 to camp to-morrow night has a tri-weekly .service, and 

 then into the wildernesB where mails are unknown. 



ShoshoJSe. 



RlCtfJI-EtD, trtah, Jan. 1. 



GOONS PREY ON RABbITS. 



Editor Forest mid Stream: 



Some winters ago I arose one morning to find the 

 snow had melted all night, and the first thing that 

 popped into my head was to go coon hunting; and after 

 an early breakfast, accompanied by a colored man with 

 a good axe, and two good hounds we started. We had 

 no trouble to find plenty of tracks of different animals, 

 and when about a mile from home we ran across a large 

 coon track. We had no trouble to follow this fellow, for 

 he soon left the woods and made for a thicket; we fol- 

 lowed through this thicket, about two hundred yards 

 wide, and came to a f lover field. Just at the edge of the 

 thicket we came upon a rabbit about half eaten. The im- 

 pression in the snoW was as plain as could be, a7]d there 

 was no other track there except those made by the coon 

 and rabbit. The rabbit tracks terminated there. There 

 was no sign of a chase; the coon was going soutli and the 

 rabbit came from the east and geemed to have run right 

 in the coon's mouth, as the coon did not seem to vary any 

 in his course, nor did he take it to any spring and wash 

 it. He simply ate about half of it, and left the remainder 

 right there and went on across the clover field, We fol- 

 j lowed him to some open woods about a quarter of a mile 

 , and went to a large elm tree. Failing to find any tracks 

 I leading from this tree we proceeded to cub it down, and 

 ^8 soon as it fell the dogs told us that our wofk was not 

 in vain. He was one of the largest Coons I eter saw, and 

 I was surprised to find him so fat, this being in March: 

 That the coon killed and ate the rabbit 1 have never had 

 the slightest doubt. I cannot say though that they make 

 j a business of it; this coon had no doubt been in his den 

 ' for a month on account of bad weather, and was hungry. 

 I wish now 1 had made a post-mortem examination of 

 him, but did not think it necessary. L. S. E. 



S ED ALIA, Mo. 



Editor Falsest and Stream: 



I have just read Mr. Lathrop's interesting letter in cur- 

 rent number of Forest and Stream in answer to my 

 criticism of a former letter on the subject of coons prey- 

 ing on rabbits. 



In his conclusion Mr. Lathrop offers to enlighten me to 

 the best of his ability on any questions concerning coons, 

 and I take this opportunity to profit by his offer. I am 

 interested in coons and the study of hibernation, but 

 have not had Mr. Lathrop's advantages of observation. 

 And here let me say that I never objected to l^b:. Lath- 

 rop's "practices." The authority for that statement rests 

 with the intelligent compositor. What I said was in re- 

 lation to the premises from which Mr. Lathrop argued 

 that coons catch rabbits, If Mr. Lathroyj had followed 

 up the track of the animal— coon or what not — that killed 

 the rabbit and found it in reality to be a coon, then 1 

 should have had no difficulty in believing that coons eat 

 rabbits; but since Mr. Lathrop did not mention killing 

 any coon the day of his discovery, the proof of his asser- 

 tion did not seem to me above question, 



I know perfectly well that coons do not go into a state 

 of hibernation at a given time to remain so till the season 

 is over; that they do not conform to an orthodox calendar 

 of feasts or fasts, but I have seen it stated that when they 

 come out on warm nights during the winter they never 

 eat, and my experienoa has heretofore confirmed this, 



I have tracked a nwmher of coonB this winter, but at no 



