86 FOREST AND STREAM. [Jak. so, 1897. 
^mti^ md §mu 
A WINTER CAMP ON WADLEIGH 
BROOK. 
Part I. 
One day last November a New Tork doctor himself in 
need of doctoring, a farmer from that part of Lake 
Champlain where the Adirondacks and Green Mountains 
come closest, a business representative of a great fence 
company manufacturing the one and only elk high, fawn 
tight and buffalo strong fencing for parks, and lastly a 
FoEEST AND STREAM man, came together by prearranged 
plan in the waiting room of the Boston & Maine Railroad 
in Boston, bound for the northern Maine forests. 
The doctor, the farmer, the fence expert and the news- 
paper representative dumped in one colossal pile their 
blankets, rifles and the miscellaneous assortment of boots, 
moccasins, heavy clothing and camp duflfle that figured 
in their baggage and exchanged greetings, while the 
omnipresent station loafers debated among themselves 
whether they were "recruits for Cuby" or "only another 
lot of North Pole cranks." 
It was a cold, raw day— that Nov. 21— and the air had a 
penetrating chill that suggested snow, resembltag in this 
respect the corresponding day in 1895, when the writer 
left Boston at the same hour andgwith the same pur- 
Eose in view. Then the snow had begun falling a little 
efore noon, before Portland was reached, and continued 
all the afternoon and evening and well on into the night. 
History repeats itself, and in this case the parallel was 
striking. 
At a corresponding point on the journey before Port- 
land was reached, one of the party looked up from the 
game of cards we were playing, in which the train boys' 
cinnamon wafers were utilized as chips, and announced 
that it was snowing, and when Portland was reached the 
ground was already white. 
Here we had hoped for a chat with Mr. Harrie B. Coe, 
of the Maine Central, who but for the exigencies of a 
presidential election would have been a member of our 
party, and who afterward was of invaluable service to us 
in the recovery of some lost baggage,, but fate willed 
otherwise. North of Portland the snow fell merrily as per 
schedule, and at Bangor there was already a venturesome 
sleigh or two on the streets. This was the first snow of 
the season of any consequence, and we couldn't help 
feeling that it had been precipitated for our especial 
benefit, 
In only one respect did our journey diflEer from that of 
the previous year, in that instead of a cold, cheerless 
wagon ride from the main line of the Bangor & Aroostook 
R. R, to Patten, we went this time by train. Otherwise 
the snow was about the same as last year. We enjoyed 
equally good hotel accommodations at the Patten House, 
and Herb Brown was on hand with the same intelligent 
team of black horses to take us back to camp. 
Sunday morning dawned bright and cold, with a shrewd 
wind blowing across the open fields through which the 
first part of our journey lay, and the road blown bare of 
snow for long stretches, which necessitated traveling on 
wheels instead of runners. 
At noon we stopped for dinner at Louis Cooper's house, 
twelve miles from Patten. Mr. Cooper has accommoda- 
tions for sportsmen both here and at a camp on Sebois 
Stream, a few miles away, and those who come for deer 
rarely go away disappointed. In summer there is good 
fishing in the two Shin Ponds, which are no great dis- 
tance off. The next cleared land is at Sebois House, ten 
miles beyond. This is kept by George Cooper, a brother 
of Louis Cooper, and here we spent the night. Under 
favorable conditions we might have gone through to 
Trout Brook Farm, ten miles further, in one day, but we 
had struck particularly bad traveling. The road had 
been worn deeply by heavy toting, and in places was full 
of water covered by ice that, while not strong enough to 
bear buckboard and team, was sufficiently thick to make 
it both hard and dangerous work for the horses pulling 
through. 
In this respect the following day saw a condition of 
affairs still worse. The horses were obliged at times to 
plunge through mud holes, breaking through viciously 
tough ice and sinking to their bellies at every jump. 
Under such conditions it was no wonder that they fell 
down repeatedly and were badly cut by the ice, and that 
we were the best part of a day in going ten miles. The 
remarkable thing was that we got through at all. 
That was a cold ride, but in the woods, despite the fact 
that the thermometer registered 20° below zero, the air 
did not feel so chill as it had in the open country at the 
start of our journey. 
Big Game vs. Small Guns. 
At Sebois House we met Frank McKinney, who has a 
camp at Hay Lake in a good moose and deer country, 
six miles or so south of this point. McKinney is the 
man who killed a bull moose last fall with a .22cal. 
Stevens pistol, shooting the short cartridge and a charge 
of smokeless powder. 
He heard the moose coming, and standing behind a 
tree let him approach within 30ft. before firing. His first 
bullet went through the moose's heart, but the great ani- 
mal stood perfectly still, apparently uncertain of his 
enemy's whereabouts, till McKinney had fired a number 
of additional shots, all hitting near the same spot. Then 
he started to run, and the hunter followed, firing at 
every opportunity, till finally the moose succumbed and 
fell. The shots varied greatly in penetration, some stick- 
ing in the tough skin on the side from which they were 
fired, while others went completely through the animal. 
McKinney has the proud distinction of having killed 
his moose with the smallest regular cartridge made, and 
if any on© wants to beat his feat he will have to try a 
BB cap or an air gun; but he is not the only man who has 
killed this king of our game animals with a pistol, Wm. 
Cuvrins, the lumberman, a year or two ago shot and 
killed a large moose with a .32cal. Smith & Wesson ham- 
merless revolver, with a 3jin. barrel and the coarse fac- 
tory sights. Cuvrins is a man who travels through the 
woods a great deal in connection with his business, and 
he is a first-class shot with either pistol or rifle. He killed 
this moose at ten rods and only fired one shot, McLain, 
Jr., at Sourdnahunk Lake, shot and killed a large buck 
this fall with a .38oal. pistol at £t distance tha,t would be 
a fair rifle shot. This deer was shot through the heart 
and went no further than if hit by a rifle ball. There is 
food for reflection in the possibilities of these little 
weapons in the hands of expert hunters. 
Harvey's and Trout Brook; Farm. 
Five miles or so after leaving Sebois House we bad our 
first view of the East Branch Grand Lake. This is a 
beautiful sheet of water, surrounded by hardwood ridges 
and good hunting country, and also affording a magnifi- 
cent mountain view south toward Katahdin and the Trav- 
eler Range. At the head of the lake is Samuel Harvey's 
camp, and here we found deer tracks in the clearing right 
up to within 50yds. of the house, so thick that we thought 
they had been made by a drove of sheep. Harvey keeps 
no sheep, however, and his mutton is spelled with a v, 
except perhaps during the summer months. 
Four miles further, having meanwhile crossed the East 
Branch of the Penobscot above the lake, we swung across 
the bridge over Trout Brook, were whisked up a hill and 
down again, and with the customary flourish drew up in 
front of the hospitable door of Trout Brook Farm, here 
nestled behind a perpendicular mass of trap rock. This 
is a favorite point for sportsmen, within striking distance 
of moose and caribou and surrounded by an unexcelled 
deer range. On our way out we found at this place two 
genial Worcester sportsmen, Messrs. J. D, Morton and C. 
A, Middlemas, who killed three big bucks in less than a 
week. 
Jock Darling and Natey. 
Here also we found Jock Darling and his grandson, 
Natey Fogg, than whom I doubt if the Pine Tree State 
produces a better hunter for his years, or a better camp 
companion, Natey is a chip of the old Mock and has the 
same natural aptitude for the woods that characterizes 
Jock. Like poets and other geniuses, woodsmen are born 
and not made; also with the woodsman it counts for a 
good deal to come from the right stock. I suppose Jock 
is descended direct from Robin Hood, and the strain is 
the same with Natey. 
Jock and Natey had walked across from Sebois Lake, 
and at the farm secured a river driver's tent, 16ft. long, 
which was constructed like an Adirondack camp (or half 
of an A tent cut in two along the ridge) and a number of 
heavy quilts Smd blankets, cooking utensils and camp 
supplies. 
We shivered a little at the thought of sleeping out in 
that tent, which was all front door and the epitome of 
open-handed hospitality to the elements; but we had a 
good deal of confidence in Jock and were ready to take 
his word for it that we would not be uncomfortable. 
Fortunately we had taken especial precautions before 
leaving to provide ourselves with an ample stock of heavy 
clothes and the warmest Jaeger underwear that could be 
purchased, and plenty of it; so that in the coldest weather 
we could wear two or three suits at a time. As an actual 
fact, we were more often too hot than too cold, and the 
time the mercury went down to 23° below zero the fence 
man got up in the middle of the night and, standing under 
the cold, glittering stars, shed a layer or two of his sur- 
plus clothes, remarking that the night was so warm he 
could not sleep comfortably as he was. 
First Game. 
That afternoon we all went out for a short hunt, and 
twenty minutes after leaving the house Dr. Wright got a 
shot at two deer. They were on the jump, however, 
when he fired, and he did not score. To the fence 
man fell the honor of securing the first game. It 
was the following morning, and we had almost reached 
the spot selected for our camp on Wadleigh Brook, half a 
mile in from the tote road, when Hoisington, who was 
walking ahead of the team, saw some fresh tracks cross- 
ing the road. He followed them a short distance to in- 
vestigate, and presently saw a small buck standing under 
a tree 50yds. away, looking back over his shoulder. He 
knew that the deer was likely to take alarm at any in- 
stant, as he could hear talking and the noise made by the 
team behind; so he took a quick aim and fired. Several 
other deer near by dashed off at the sound of the shot, 
but the particular one at which he had fired fell within 
40ft. of the spot where he first stood. The ball had en- 
tered back of the near shoulder and quartered through, 
breaking the opposite shoulder. It was an ugly wound, 
and though the bullet had missed the heart, it had killed 
much more cleanly than the average of such shots, and 
thus at the very start vindicated the effectiveness of the 
little 641b. .30-30 Winchester from which it was fired. 
For supper that night we had juicy venison steaks, 
albeit not so tender as other cuts were later, but vastly 
preferable to anything else our larder afforded. 
The buck was very fat, and I doubt if venison was ever 
more truly appreciated. We began at the hindquarters, 
and little by little, through the medium of the frying-pan 
and boiler, converted the various parts to our use, till 
every shred of flesh had been devoured and only the 
bones remained. It took us a little more than four days 
to accomplish this result. 
In Camp. 
Our camp was pitched directly in the old tote road up 
Wadleigh Brook, and if any future visitor finds a par- 
ticularly smooth spot 12ft, or so in length in the road he 
will recognize our bed. Roads in this part of Piscataquis 
county are nothing to brag on as a rule, but we will back 
that 12ft, section to be equal to anything in the State, and 
we know whereof we speak, for we all labored individu- 
ally for its improvement. 
The foundation for our bed was of balsam fir boughs, 
and over this several sacks of straw were laid on, and on 
top of all a heavy quilt. The bed was about 7ft. in 
width, and the tent roof slanted upward from where it 
was pinned to the ground at the back to a height of 6ft. 
or so in front. Opposite and also at one end Jock 
erected wind breaks of boughs, supported by pole frame- 
works and slanting in toward the center, and on the 
fourth side a piece of burlap was stretched as a sort of 
door. „ , 
In the center of the open space between wmdbreak 
and tent the fire was built, and on cold nights the camp 
resembled a miniature volcano, belching a steady stream 
of fire and sparks from the opening in the top, 
In daytime the moosebirds were a constant source of 
amusement about camp. They made themselves at 
home from the moment camp was pitched, and investi- 
gated our belongings with their characteristic easy 
familiarity. Soft things that they could swallow seemed 
to interest them most, and they sampled every such 
article from Pears's soap to "moccasine." These birds, 
though their confidence is constantly abused, never seem 
to learn distrust of man. They perch upon the lumber- 
man's balanced stick just as confidingly as they did _ a 
hundred years ago, and when this backwoods humorist 
gives the other end of their seesaw a rap with his axe 
that shoots them 20ft. into the air they are just as much 
surprised as ever. 
We let the birds eat their fill of the soap, for we had 
plenty of that, and anyhow soap was not altogether es- 
sential to our life in the woods, but it was different with 
the moccasine. Our boots and moccasins needed con- 
stant greasing both to soften them and make them water- 
proof, and we used it for a thousand other things as well, 
so our one box of this precious article was carefully 
guarded. 
It was a specific for chapped lips and noses, though it 
must be acknowledged that it smelled better than it 
tasted, and this fact prevented our using it as butter when 
that staple gave out, although the question was seriously 
considered. It also proved a good gun grease, and we 
found it to be a superior lubricant for bullets when we 
came to reload some of our ammunition with light 
charges for partridges. 
The Burnt Lands. 
For a day or two we hunted about camp, seeing deer, 
but for one reason or another not meeting with success. 
Du Bois, while walking up the main tote road, saw two 
large bucks across Trout Brook, and wounded one very 
badly. This buck lay down almost immediately, proving 
the seriousness of its wound, but the approach of night 
obliged the hunter to leave it, and a snowstorm that tol 
lowed obliterated the trail before morning. 
The first good hunting day, however, all bands, in- 
cluding Jock, who, though in fairly good physical condi 
tion, has not since his long confinement in the hospital 
regained his old hardiness, set out for the burnt lands. A 
mile and a half up Wadleigh Brook from our camp wf 
had our first view of them, and here we jumped a largt 
deer that went bounding off up a hillside fifty rods away 
At this point the party separated. Natey, Dr. Wright 
and Du Bois crossed the brook with the intention o: 
working along the north side of the burnt mountain, anc 
then circling back and striking the brook near the uppe} 
dam; while Jock, Hoisington and myself were to huntth* 
country nearer the brook and perhaps eventually circl* 
around outside the others. 
Shortly after the parties separated we jumped threr 
deer that ran eset through the big open. As we watchef > 
them disappearing 500 or 600yds. away, looking for al 
the world like good-sized rabbits, we suddenly heard s 
volley of shots, and realized that we had driven thetn or 
to the other party. . 
That night around the camp-fire they did not seen 
particularly anxious to tell about the occurrence, bu 
they finally acknowledged shooting in self-defense a 
some deer that tried to run over them. They said thej 
were satisfied to have frightened the deer off and to havt 
escaped the threatened assault, but there was a certaii 
tone of aggravation in their remarks that belied thei. 
words. Later, at the station restaurant in Bangor, tht 
Doctor was noticed critically examining some murderouf 
looking clubs carved from birch roots. He said he wa 
thinking of sending one to Natey, but no doubt he wa| 
also regretting the fact that he did not have one alonj 
himself that day in the burnt lands. 
Jock soon gave up the hunt, as the walking was harii 
and his strength not equal to the task. 
Hoisington and Natey, while hunting independentlj; 
both found fresh tracks of several moose, and in eac ' 
case a large one was among the number. Both foUowC' 
their game till dark, and saw signs of recent feeding 
but neither got a shot. i 
None of the rest of us saw moose tracks, but while matj 
ing my way back to camp late that afternoon I stoppel 
a fair-sized buck with a bullet through the neck. | 
The Small-Bore Hunting Rifle. I 
Much has been said and written regarding the value A 
the small-bore smokeless powder rifle as a huntinB 
weapon. Personally I am a firm believer in its effective 
ness, though I do not by any means go to the extreme c 
calling it the best hunting rifle on the market. Then 
were two ,30-803 in our party, both carbines with shotgu! 
butts and Lyman sights, weighing 61bs. and 6oz, apiect 
These guns with the soft nose ammunition possesi 
tremendous hitting power, considering the light weight t 
the bullet, great accuracy, and an extremely flat tr? 
jectory, and moreover are free from any annoying recoi' 
Smokeless powder and steel- jacketed bullets have mad; 
possible the former paradox of accuracy combined wit 
flat trajectory, and killing power in connection with ligh 
ness. Smokeless powder also makes possible short ba 
rels, for the ignition is much quicker than with blac 
powder, and as I like a carbine on account of its ease < 
handling in the woods, I have an additional reason to t 
grateful to the new compound. 
Accuracy of sighting is of course dependent on the di 
tance between sights, but as I use Lyman sights I ca" 
afford to shorten my barrel considerably and still pr. 
serve a suflicient distance for all practical purposes. 
The .30-30 carbine will shoot into the same mark at *■ 
and 125yd8., and at 200yds, the drop is so slight that 
sight well up on the animal is sure to count. Owing f 
flip of barrel these carbines shoot higher at 125yds. tha 
they do at 25. At short range they shoot an inch or tw 
low. So much for trajectory. As to striking force, tl 
results obtained in actual service were thoroughly sati 
factory. I have already mentioned the effect on Hoi 
ington's deer. The other deer mentioned had a hole toi 
directly through the spinal column that one could pr 
his whole hand into. In view of the trifling size of tl 
bullet the result was nearly incomprehensible, Minur 
fragments of lead were scattered everywhere buried i 
the bone, but no single piece of any size except the ste' 
jacket could be found, though the skin on the opposii 
side was not broken, showing that the ball had gone r 
further. The bullet apparently had exploded, and ever 
separate grain of lead and steel had joined in the work • 
destruction. 
In the case of the caribou which Mr. Hoisington kille 
later on a different effect was observed. Here the bal 
mushrooming on a rib, had torn a hole through the an 
mat's heart that would easily have permitted the passajl 
of a, silver doUar. J. B. Buknhaii, 
[to be oontintied.J 
