884 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 14, 189«>. 
IN THE CASCADES— III. 
The Waldo Lake Country. 
Waldo Lake was, on first impression, something of a 
disappointment to Mead and me. It was not so large super- 
ficially as we h d anticipated, being little more than a 
mile long and half as wide. But a more intimate ac- 
quaintance increased o respect for it vastly. We found 
it very deep — no one ki.ows how deep — and our observa- 
tions inclined us to the belief that it was longer perpen- 
dicularly than horizontally. The rugged and stupendous 
surroundings, too, had a tendency to make it appear 
smaller than it really was, as we found by drawing our 
hate down low over our eyes, so that we could see only 
the lake itself. I hardly think that it is of crater origin, 
although it may be. It was encircled by bare, rugged 
peaks except on the east, where a tiny outlet crept off, we 
know not whither, while another tiny stream came in 
from the west, from whence we know not. Between 
these peaks and the lake was a strip of sloping ground 
perhaps a couple of hundred yards wide, covered with 
gigantic trees. Near the head of the lake is a pretty little 
meadow probably five acres in extent, where the poor 
horses found an abundance of sweet grass. A gentleman 
at Albany told us that not long ago he had counted fifty- 
seven deer grazing there at one time, but they told us 
both at Albany and Detroit that the deer had left these 
high altitudes for the lowlands, that the bears had left 
for the huckleberry patches, and that elk were at all 
times uncertain, all of which proved only too true. On 
the way up and even about the lake we saw tracks of 
elk, cougar and bears in abundance, but we saw very 
little deer sign, and at the lake we found some other sign 
that about dispelled our hopes of getting elk. We found 
that a small party of Indians, presumably Warm Springs, 
had but recently passed that way, and elk and Indians 
don't neighbor much. There were the beautiful, fresh 
tracks of a band of fourteen elk that had passed the 
lower end of the lake recently, and there were the corre- 
spondingly ugly, fresh tracks of a band of five Indians 
that had passed over the same trail more recently. There 
was but one really profane man in our crowd and even 
he wasn't able to do the subject justice. 
Of course we had no dogs and the weather had been dry 
so long that still-hunting was a misnomer. Even when 
Hears and Christy passed the lake in August it was too 
dry for successful still-hunting. It had continued dry 
and our crowd had figvured on striking the lake at the 
September full moon. You know that all weather sharps 
are ready to bank on full moon storms any month of 
the year. And then too Mead had discovered that the 
autumnal equinox and the September full moon traveled 
hand in hand, and everybody knows all about the cer- 
tainty and severity of the autumnal equinoctial storms. 
Just think of it! full moon Sept. 211 Is it any wonder 
that our party should arrive at Waldo Lake on the even- 
ing of Sept. 21? It was simply because we were more 
shrewd and cunning than other hunters and kept track of 
the moon and the autumnal equinox — another exhibition 
of the superiority of mind over matter. We give the snap 
away now, for the reason that we are not at all selfish and 
desire to benefit the rising generation of sportsmen, give 
them the benefit of our superior knowledge, observation 
and scientific attainments. Of course it isn't often that 
you can catch the full moon anvl the autumnal equinox 
exactly together as we did, but tliey will doubtless be near 
enough together for all practical purposes. 
The fact that it continued as still as death and as clear 
as a beU all the time we were there, and still continues so 
at this writing (Oct. 20), proves nothing except that there 
are exceptions to all general rules, and Mead insists that 
the September full moon storm and the great autumnal 
equinoctial storm will both yet put in an appearance if 
people will only be patient and not try to hurry nature. 
There could be no prettier camping place than ours 
right at the head of the lake whero the little stream came 
in. The giant pines, cedars and firs grew as thick as they 
could conveniently stand right up to the water's edge, as 
they did all the way around the lake, and so, with plenty 
of feed for the horses, plenty of good water and plenty of 
game sign, we were all disposed to be very happy and for- 
getful of trouble and hardship, even of the P. Warmer 
itself. 
Having been compelled to leave most of our packs on 
the way in, there was no great variety of eatables for sup- 
per, but we swallowed our beans, bacon and coffee with- 
out a murmur. Mention of the P. Warmer made us all 
feel thankful enough for even what we had. 
The lake was like a sheet of glass, and the boys said 
they had found it in the same condition when they were 
there in August and that they then fished by moonlight 
with black flies. So we decided to wait until the full 
moon got up where it could look down into the lake and 
then try the experiment. In the meantime we set every- 
thing to rights in camp, prepared our beds and lounged 
around smoking and telling yarns in that easy, happy-go- 
lucky way, the full enjoyment of which is only appreci- 
ated by a set of congenial spirits in the mountains. 
When the boys were there in August they had for guide 
a young fellow by the name of Jim Wright, born and 
raised at Molalla. He still lives there. I know him and 
his people well. He is a thorough mountaineer and a 
great talker. What he can't tell you of the past history 
and future prospects of the Molalla country will never 
bother its historion. 
Molalla is noted far and wide for the numerous person- 
al encounters that have taken place there, and its death 
roll from violence is a stain upon its otherwise fair name. 
Jim proudly rehearsed all these to the boys and among 
other things reviewed in detail a recent encounter where- 
in Billy Patterson was the hero. "Billy Patterson! Are 
you quite sure that it was Billy Patterson?" asked Mears 
and Christy in the same breath, "Oh, yes," replied Jim. 
"You see it was like this;" and Jim proceeded to give 
them the story all over again of how Billy had cleaned 
out the whole gang, although pretty well used up him- 
self, "Now, Jim," said Christy, "you may not be aware 
that the whole world is anxious to know the name of the 
man that struck Billy Patterson; can you ttll us pos- 
itively who struck Billy Patterson?" "Of course, I can 
tell you," said Jim, "you see, it was like this;" and 
then he would tell the story over again and implicate a 
half dozen toughs, but he couldn't just exactly tell which 
one actually steuck Billy Patterson. Jim told the story a 
great many ticnes in his attempt to fasten upon the guilty 
mm aod thought they were aU more qt less guilty, but he 
finally settled dovra upon Jack Maloney as the man who 
actually struck Billy Patterson. "All right," said Christy, 
"be sworn." Jim hesitated, and preferred to affirm, 
"Very well," said Christy, "you, Jim Wright, do solemn- 
ly affirm that Jack Miloney was the man who struck 
Billy Patterson, and this you do under the pains and pen- 
alties of perjury." "What is the penalty?" inquired Jim, 
now on the anxious seat, "Hanging by the neck until 
you are dead, dead, dead, and may God have mercy on 
your soul!" responded Christy. Jim weakened. He was 
pretty sure, but didn't propose to set either his foot or his 
neck in it for a doubtful notoriety, and so the world may 
never know positively who the man was that actually 
struck Billy Patterson. Jim is a conscientious boy, and 
for mv part I think it was Jack Maloney. 
By 9 o'clock the moon was on the lake. It was an en- 
trancing sight. The lake looked like a sheet of molten 
gold fringed with emeralds and set among gigantic uncut 
stones — a fair and radiant jewel in sweet nature's imper- 
ishable casket. We had watched the lunar gilding of the 
jagged peaks from the rising of the moon; had seen it 
gradually — almost imj)erceptibly — melt along down the 
rugged walls and spread its spectral light out over the 
narrow valley, and doubtless every man of us appreciated 
the novelty of our environments and the beauty and ro- 
mance of the occasion. It seemed as if nature was trying 
to entertain us with an unusual exhibition of gentle and 
pleasing effects, but we could not forget that, possibly, 
for thousands of years nature had thus silently and 
serenely amused herself in these solitutes and blushed 
unseen of mortal eyes, as the modest maiden toys with her 
charms and blushes at her own lonely loveliness in the 
reflecting glass. Oh, ephemeral man! how prone you are 
to appropriate nature's beauties and bounties as creations 
for your especial happiness and edification; forgetful of 
the fact that they were when you were not, and that they 
will be when you are mouldering, insensate dust! 
Out upon the placid lake we stole in pairs, appropri- 
ating the log rafts which previous anglers, possibly 
Warm Springs, had conveniently left at our service. And 
never in our lives had we enjoyed finer sport with the 
finny denizens than we found that night on the silent 
waters of moonlit, spectral Waldo Lake. It was delight' 
fully entrancing, such as I imagine the true angler sees 
when he dreams that he is dead and fishing over on the 
other side. I have fished for nearly forty years, but never 
before had I fully realized or appreciated the delights of 
ghost fishing. 
We used dark flies. My string was made up of black 
gnat, black hackle and the Mead, The Mead, of course, is 
a light fly, but I desired to experiment a little, and while 
ordinarily the Mead is a very taking fly, the trout of Waldo 
Lake seemed to prefer black flies by pioonlight. 
They were all rainbow trout and run from 8 to 18 in., 
very gamy and fine. An hour and a half fllled our 
baskets to overflowing, and we went to camp well satisfied 
with the prospects so far as trout were concerned- 
S. H. Greene, 
PoETLAND, Ore. 
[to be continued.] 
o. o. s. 
Wife and daughter had gone on a visit, the house was 
empty and silent — save for the ticking of the clock — 
when I unfolded the Forest and Stream of Oct. 3, pre- 
paratory to enjoying my treat alone and without a fear 
of interruption. 
Turninsr quickly to see who among the "Men I have 
Fished With" was to be my companion for the day, my 
eye fell upon the inimitable sketch of Geo. Eaynor. 
From the tragedy of his introduction into the great world 
beyond his childhood home, I followed on with bated 
breath along the story of his sad life's journey, through 
all the record of his unfailing courtesy and patient hero- 
ism, and when the final leave was taken of the dear old 
gentleman, and he was left to the 
"Calm for those who weep, 
The rest for weary pilgrims found," 
I was glad indeed that no one was present to note criti- 
cally whether my eyes were wet or not. 
This is a story to cause one to think better of his kind, 
and to prompt him to resume his load and the journey of 
life more uncomplainingly. And how shall we thank 
this modem wizard who weaves so potent a spell? Name 
a bicycle club for him? Certainly. And count me a 
member, though I never mounted a bicycle. 
And then came, like a bolt from a clear sky, the word of 
the passing of O. O. S. I had hardly the heart to break 
the news to my wife and daughters, to whom he had, a 
few weeks previously, sent a collection of the most beau- 
tiful sea mosses I ever saw, mounted on cardboard. Need 
I say how, henceforth, they wiU be prized in our home? 
I had for a number of years been in occasional corre- 
spondence with him, and had learned to regard him as 
one of the truest members of the great Forest and Stream 
family. We had begun to wonder at not hearing from 
him for some weeks, when aU so unexpectedly the sad 
news came. 
"For what is your life? It is even a vapor which ap- 
peareth for a little time and then vanisheth away 1" 
Orin Belknap. 
Two Deer Apiece. 
Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 2Q— Editor Forest and Stream: 
I returned last Tuesday from two weeks spent wit h Jock 
Darling at Saboois Grand Lake, and found Darling, al- 
though a sick man, a genial host during the time we 
spent at the home camp. After three days of bad weather 
we left the home camp, and taking tents, fepent the bal- 
ance of our time, on the 3d, at Grand Lake. We (Mr, E, 
D. Hall and myself) got what deer the law allows, but no 
moose or caribou, although signs were plenty and fresh. 
I saw some moose, but failed to get a shot at a bull. 
Altogether I consider my first experience in Maine an 
entire success, though I did not get the coveted moose 
horns. Our guides, good fellows both, were courteous, 
skillful and indefatigable. In fact, hotel proprietors, 
teamsters and every one with whom we came in contact 
were of a very different stamp from men I have met with 
on some of my hunting trips in the West and in our own 
State, Paul E. Bonner. 
The FoRKsr and Stebam is put to press each week on Tuesday 
Oorresponderuse intended for publication, should reach us at th^ 
latest by Mondaj/, and as much earlier aa practicable. 
LIVING MASTODONS OF ALASKA. 
Miners and Stick Indians who have come out this fall 
from the headwaters of the White River, in Alaska, 
where they have been prospecting for gold, bring almost 
conclusive evidence of the presence of living mastodons 
in that isolated region. For instance, the testimony of 
such veracious witnesses as those residents of Denver, 
Colo., who were interviewed as recently as Oct 15 by 
editor Eugene C, Stahl, of the Juneau News, himself a 
conscientious naturalist of no mean abilities, is not to be 
flippantly disregarded; nor the collateral testimony, 
which is more than circumstantial, furnished by traders 
and intelligent Indians who profess to have seen the ani- 
mals and their massive footprints. These Indians, who 
are indomitable hunters, have been stimulated of late by 
the demands for fresh meat by the 1,000 miners, who are 
now working the Yukon tributaries, to pursue their 
quests for game into isolated and inaccessible regions 
hitherto unknown to man, and until this year repeated 
attempts of prospectors to penetrate the country have 
failed. 
The location of the Mastodon country, according to the 
sketch map of Wm. Ogilvie, of the Dominion Survey, is 
about midway between Mt. St. Elias and the Yukon River, 
and 100 miles due north from St, Elias, and less than that 
from old Fort Selkirk and the mouth of Stewart River 
and Forty Mile Creek, where hundreds of gold miners 
have been prospecting for ten years or more. The White 
River is an affluent of the Yukon, whose course is due 
north. That it should never have been visited is not 
remarkable, unless the trappers and wood-runners of the 
old Russian-American Fur Co. may by possible chance 
have gotten there in years gone by, and that mastodons 
may have chosen this inaccessible seclusion as their final 
stamping ground and still survive is also not improbable. 
Indeed, their actual living existence at the present day is 
essentially necessary to explain the phenomena of the 
numerous buried deposits of remains of this anittial which 
have been discovered in Siberia and Alaska, not only of 
bones and tusks which Eskimos have made articles of 
barter for generations, but of well-preserved carcasses 
so fresh that the sled dogs of overland Arctic ex- 
plorers have repeatedly been fed upon the flesh — car- 
casses which were supposed to have lain refrigera- 
ted and undecayed for centuries, but which it is 
more reasonable to believe, under the new testimony and 
revelation on the White River, have been buried within a 
comparatively recent period of historical time. Washouts 
along the deltas of the Lena, Mackenzie and other Arctic 
rivers are constantly revealing masses of mastodon tusks 
and bones; and deposits are often found in just such bogs 
as overlay the country adjacent to the White River head- 
waters, where the animals have been drowned and mired 
by hundreds by some flood or cataclysm which has over- 
whelmed them. On the heights of land which separate 
the tributaries of the Yukon from the affluents of the 
Pacific Ocean they would be quite exempt from such a 
catastrophe; and as they have moss, grass, browse and 
fodder in unlimited supply in their present habitat, and a 
temperature cold enough to suit and plenty of water to 
drink, credulous scientists will be ready to believe, from 
the evidence adduced, that a remnant of this huge crea- 
ture, long supposed to be extinct, still exists within possi- 
ble access of human habitations and a resident population 
of at least 1,000 miners, traders and furriers. 
These are not empty fabrications or frivolous supposi- 
tions, forsooth, because the Stick Indians, who are the 
most wide-awake and intelligent aborigines on the border 
of British Columbia, have averred that not later thatt 
five years ago such animals had been seen by them. One 
of the Indians said that while hunting one day in that 
unknown section he came across an immense track, sunk 
to a depth of several inches in the moss, which was 
larger around than a barrel. Upon striking it he fol- 
lowed up the unusual trail, which to all appearance was 
.very fresh, and tracking it from one gigantic stride to 
another for a distance of some miles, he came in full 
view of his game ! And what game ! In dismay the 
hunter gave one single look, and then fled as if pursued 
by the evil one. 
Now the Stick Indians as a class are the bravest of 
their race, and with no other weapon than a spear have 
been known to attack and slay the St. Elias grizzly. 
But the immense proportions of this new kind of 
game, as told by the adventurer himself to one 
of the Denver ' prospectors already referred to, 
both startled the hunter and filled him with 
great fear, brave as he was, and he imagined 
that tiis only safety lay in swift and immediate flight. 
He described it as being larger than Harper's, the post 
trader's, store near Forty -Mile Cre^k (Harper & McQues- 
tions), with great, shining, yellowish tusks, and a mouth 
large enough to swallow him at a gulp. He said the ani- 
mal was undoubtedly the same as were the huge bones scat- 
tered all over that section. Mr. Harper says there is no 
reason to doubt the narrator's veracity, and he himself 
confirms the statement. Manifestly the whole Yukon 
country was inhabited by these animals at a very recent 
period. Hundreds of their massive skeletons are found 
along the creeks, projecting partly from the sands and 
mingled with jams of flood wood, with which they were 
no doubt simultaneously engulfed when the flood came. 
Below Forty-Mile Creek the skeletons are very numerous. 
Hundreds of tons of tusks have been carried from Alaska 
to Siberia by the E3kimos in the course of trade, and the 
deposits are by no means exhausted. The intense cold 
freezes the banks solid, and renders their exhumation a 
tedious task. Charles Hallook, 
Member of the Alaska Historical Society, and 
author of "Our New Alaska." 
American Ornithologists' Union. 
The fourteenth congress of the American Ornitholo- 
gists' Union convened in Cambridge, Mass., on Tuesday, 
Nov. 10. The reading of papers formed a prominent 
feature of the meetings. We shall have a report of the 
meetings next week. 
Game Laws in Brief. 
The Qame Laws in Brief, current edition, sold everywhere, has 
new game and fish laws for more than thirty of the States. It covers 
the mUre country, ia carefully peeipaxed, and gives all tb^ stiootenf 
^n^ solera reaufrs, 8^ vdvertiseQieai 
