886 
[Nov. 12, 1898. 
An Alaska Game Country, 
Mr. Titos. C. Dunn, President of the Munina Alaska 
Gold Mining Co., who has just returned from 
Homer, Alaska, brings us word of the expedition made 
by Mr. Harry C. Lee, of Chicago, into a new hunting 
country, reached via Homer. A summary of the expe- 
dition 'is given in the subjoined interview with Mr. Lee 
by a Tacoma Post-Intelligencer representative. To 
Mr. Dunn we are indebted for the map and the two 
photographs here reproduced. One shows the remains 
cf bones of a mastodon found on Yukon Island. The 
other is of Mr. Lee, who stands in the center of the pic- 
ture, with his trophies, including moose, caribou, moun- 
tain sheep and bears. The country explored by Mr. 
Lee lies betVeen Chugachik Bay and Tustamena 
Lake. It is reached by way of Homer, which is in 
regular mail-steamer connection with Sitka. Indian 
guides may be engaged at Homer. The Post-Intelli- 
gencer report follows: 
"Among the arrivals on the schooner Nellie Thurston 
yesterday was Harry E. Lee, the famous hunter, of 
Chicago, who has spent three months hunting and ex- 
ploring in the wilds of Alaska, north and west from 
Cook Inlet. He visited localities that were never before 
seen by white men, and went up Sheep River forty miles, 
a feat that even an Indian has never dared attempt. He 
believes he has found the paradise of Alaska, from the 
s andpcint of gold, agriculture- and scenery, and is go- 
ing there next spring with an outfit and expert men 
to oren it. 
"Mr. Lee is wea'thy, and spends his entire time hunt- 
ing. In the winter he goes to the South. Mexico, the 
West Indies ard o her places; in summer he is found in 
Utah, Missouri, K msas. Illinois and nearly every State 
in the Eas:, and vill go from here to Salt Lake, and 
thence by way of Kansas City to Central Kansas, where 
he will try some n le dogs on quail and grouse. 
"He had been ,>lanning an Alaskan trip for several 
years, and went v\y there last June, landing at Cook In- 
let. He was in company that far with Dell Deweese, a 
weahhy hunter oi Canyon City, Colo., but there they 
parled company, Mr. Lee heading for Sheep River, 
against the advice of all the settlers there. He engaged 
the services of three or four Indians, got a boat and 
proceeded up that tortuous stream. Tlvs river empties 
into Kachekmak Bay, twenty or twenty-five miles from 
Homer, and is so swift and ful lof rapids that heretofore 
no boat could stand against it. The shores are hills and 
mountains so precipitous that they cannot be penetrated. 
Hundreds of miners had tried the ascent, but were never 
able to get up more than twenty miles, their boats cap- 
sizing and losing their outfits, provisions, and frequently 
their lives. 
"But the hunter's courage and skill got him through, 
and he was rewarded by discovering some extremely 
rich gold quartz ledges that he believes are the source 
of the gold that is washed toward Cook Inlet by innu- 
merable streams. From every mountain in that neigh- 
borhood Mr. Lee inspected the surrounding country 
and made maps of the great unknown district. 
"From one summit he discovered a large open plain 
that appeared to his astonished eyes like the realized Ar- 
cadia of an explorer in the wilds of Asia. Thirty by 
forty miles in extent, he says, with innumerable creeks 
running through it, and hundreds of springs bubbling 
up; woods, grass, beautiful climate and all — it seemed 
the most perfect place on earth. He found wild redtop 
grass growing 3 and 4ft. high, and huckleberries, straw- 
berries, raspberries and black and red currants in wild 
and luxuriant profusion. The soil was a rich loam, and 
the natural park abounded in all kinds of wild game, 
from grizzly bear, mountain sheep, elk, moose, caribou 
and deer to pheasants, grouse and snipe. And further, 
Mr. Lee says, he discovered a route that needs only a 
little work to make an easy road for horse or railroad to 
the' coast, less than forty miles away. 
"After spending a few weeks exploring the surround- 
ing country, the hunter returned to the coast, where he 
secured some men and sent them back to look after his 
mining interests. He has no intention of organizing a 
stock company, but will take his own expedition in next 
Mav, spending his own money and starting from Seattle. 
"Mr. Lee succeeded far beyond his expectations in 
bagging good game, and broughfback some of his finest 
specimens to have them mounted and placed in his 
museum in Chicago. He killed three mountain sheep, 
one of which is pronounced by authorities the finest they 
have ever seen. Three caribou are among his victims, 
and one of them has fifty-seven . points, which furriers 
pronounce remarkable, the average being but thirty to 
forty. He has two moose, but says he could easily 
have killed more if he wanted, and five magnificent 
grizzly bears, besides innumerable birds of many 
and rare varieties. Each of the animals was killed by 
one shot, as an examination of their carcasses showed. 
They were shot behind the ear. The hunter uses a .30-30 
. $ a ^rrp -Jfle whh soft bullets for animals and steel- 
pointed for birds. ' - . 
"Several times Mr. Lee narrowly missed losing Ins 
life Once he was scaling the side of a steep hili, starting 
from a narrow ledge, 2,000ft. above the bottom ot a 
chasm, and climbing from one projecting rock to an- 
other. He was in a particularly dangerous place and 
reached up to grasp an obtruding boulder. The stone 
brok«* off, and just as he was losing his balance he jam- 
med the butt of his rifle in a projection at his feet and 
held himself until he caught a new hold. 
•Mr Lie gave a vivid description of his experiences 
to a Post-Intelligencer reporter at the Butler Hotel 
last night. He says there is no necessity for anybody's 
beir>£r m destitute circumstances, and that all needed are 
health and determination for any man to succeed. T 
e« v d make $2x00 in a winter with my gun in that coun- 
try ' he says, 'and have the finest time on earth. The 
climate is fine, there being no cold winters, and the 
rtscurces are w : thout limit. In my opinion it is the 
garden spot of Alaska.' " 
The points from which the largest shipments have been 
made this year are Patten, Norcross and Greenville, 
which stations are tributary to the best hunting districts. 
Notes from New Brunswick. 
Fredericton, N. B., Oct. 31.— Why do not a few of 
the many successful big-game hunters who have taken 
out horns and health from Bluenose land this fall give 
us some account, in the luminous type of Forest and 
Stream of their experiences? Such stories are always 
of interest, and add to the sum of human knowledge. 
No two moose are ever killed in precisely the same way, 
and it is always good to hear about the mammoth 
moose who got away, and is still ripping up the roots 
and polishing his horns on the mountain side. There 
are no letters so pleasant to read as those from the 
true sportsman, who has enjoyed his trip, and who wants 
to share with you his reminiscent happiness. Here are 
the principal items in a letter dated Oct. 18 from my 
friend Mr. Charles S. Bird, of East Walpole, Mass.: 
"It may interest you to know that I returned from 
New Brunswick last week, being in the woods seven 
days only. I got the best head that I ever saw, twenty- 
six points, 57^ in. spread, and though not so large as 
some it was most perfect. I refused a shot the day be- 
fore I got this one because I did not like the head. I 
got my moose in the way I like best— next to snow- 
tracking. He was feeding in a small lake, and in order 
to reach him I had to crawl for about a quarter 
of a mile, much of the time over an open meadow. 
The wind too was partly in his favor, so I consider he 
had a fair chance. Long before I shot him he suspected 
trouble. All in all it was very exciting. Mr. L. F. 
Fales, of Walpole, was with me in the woods, and he 
got a very good moose head and a caribou. You rec- 
ommended to me some time ago George E. Armstrong. 
He is a most capable, honest guide, and knows the 
country thoroughly. Last summer I had him on a 
fishing' trip down the Nepisiguit, which is the greatest 
trout stream. I believe, in Canada. I wish you could 
pass a law holding the owner of a lumber camp re- 
sponsible for any moose meat found in his camp. Such 
a law would do much good, for the lumbermen kill a 
great deal of game." 
Mr. Bird's suggestion as to holding lumber operators 
responsible for game illegally killed is right to the 
point, and is one which I have already drawn to the 
attention of the Government. Such a provision ought to 
be especially effective in this Province, where nearly all 
the large operators are licensees of the Crown. 
For a very interesting letter from Mr. A. M. Brew- 
ster, of Newburyport, Mass., dated Oct. 28, the fol- 
lowing extracts are taken: , _ 
"Last year I had a most enjoyable trip up the lett- 
hand branch of the Tobique, and went through to the 
Bathurst Lakes. It was a trifle early for moose calling, 
although we succeeded in getting a very good sized 
moose, but his antlers were small. The trout fishing 
in the Bathurst Lakes is something I never before ex- 
perienced, although I have been down in Maine spring 
and fall, on fishing and hunting trips, for the last twenty 
years. My trip last fall gave me a little better knowl- 
edge of guides, so I made preparations rather earlier 
this summer, and engaged for Mr. Burley and myself 
four of the best men in the Tobique tribe 01 Indians, 
and they proved Ai in every respect. We were Tor- 
tunate in securing two very large moose, with ex- 
ceptionally fine antlers. There is one little matter of 
detail which I would like to have corrected, as it 
is always well to have things right. In one of your 
letters to Forest and Stream your informant places 
my moose at 52m. and Mr. Burley's at 56. 
The exact reverse is the case, mine being 56 
and Mr. Burley's 52, although his moose was 
father heavier than the one I killed. I must 
tell you what close connection I made with the animal 
in question. We reached our destination Sunday after- 
noon, Sept. 18, and the next morning I started out 
before breakfast with my guide, and inside of ten 
minutes had my moose down in the river. The old fel- 
low was standing on the edge of the deadwater and 
watched for us from the time we got into the canoe until 
I commenced shooting, although we had no idea a moose 
was in sight until we stepped into the canoe for our start. 
This is even a closer connection than Mr. Houghton, 
of Boston, made, who got his moose within half 
an hour after breakfast. I read your articles in Forest 
and Stream with a great deal of interest, and from re- 
ports think there must be a small army of American 
sportsmen in the Tobique country this fall. There is 
no danger, however, that the country will be overrun, 
as the trip up either the left or right hand branch 
is rather a hard one and takes about a week from 
Andover to accomplish. It is a fine trip, however^ and 
one of the most beautiful countries Lever visited." 
The veteran Braithwaite still keeps up with the proces- 
sion. Messrs. Gordon Parker, W. H. Fowle and Dr. 
Chalmers, of Woburn, Mass., arrived from the Crooked 
Deadwater on Thursday with a hayrack full of horns. 
Each member of the party secured his full complement 
ut moose and caribou. The three caribou heads were 
unusually good specimens, the points numbering thirty- 
four, thirty-two and thirty respectively. Mr. Parker's 
moose, as previously reported, measured 58m., and is 
perhaps the best specimen ever taken in the Miramichi 
country. Mr. Kidder, of New York, is now in the 
woods with Henry. 
Frank Bartlett, the well-known Doaktown guide, 
shot a moose last week 6ft. loin, high at the shoulder 
and with 42m. horn spread; also a caribou with twenty- 
nine points. If any of your readers want good snow- 
hunting I can unreservedly recommend Mr. Bartlett. 
George R. Sheen, the C. P. R. Pullman conductor, was 
sighted going west on Friday, accompanied by a very 
large moose. Mr. Sheen will have the head mounted 
and present it to the Knights Templar of Maiden, Mass, 
Capt. Sears, brother of Mayor Sears, of St. John, had 
very good fortune on his trip to the headwaters of the 
St. John, securing specimens much above the average 
of mocse and caribou. 
C. A. Cates. of the Elgin & Havelock Railway, has 
returned from a three days" hunt in the Canaan woods, 
the proud possessor of a 48m. moose head. 
Local sportsmen are aroused over the dire results 
produced by the amendment in the game law in regard 
to the sale of partridges. Two years ago the Legisla- 
ture passed a section prohibiting the sale of partridges, 
but at the last session of the House a majority of the 
members (chiefly those representing rural constituencies) 
repealed this section. The result this fall has been a 
gruesome slaughter of the innocents by pot-hunters. 
Not less than 2,500 brace have been sold to dealers in 
Fredericton alone. The local covers are almost de- 
nuded of this noble bird. One must go into the 
deep woods now to secure a respectable bag. 
Deer seem to be gradually increasing in the western 
counties of the Province, yet not so rapidly as might 
have been expected. It is believed that the wildcats, 
which are very numerous in York and Charlotte, are 
responsible for the demise of a great many deer, especial- 
ly of the young. The woodcock flight, which is now 
nearly over, has been fully up to former years. The 
birds have been large and lusty, nearly all over 8oz., 
and occasionally running as high as 10. 
Mr. Edwin B. Holmes, of Boston, reached Frederic- 
ton this afternoon after a three weeks' hunt on the upper 
waters of the Nor'west Miramichi. Mr. Holmes was \ 
about as well satisfied with this life in general as any one 
who has been seen in these parts for several moons. 
He not only had in his possession a moose head spread- j 
ing 54in., but an exceptionally large and shapely cari- 
bou head. His guide was the well-known woodsman 
Arthur Pringle. ( 
The Gueggas' country, which is on Little Sou west 
Miramichi waters, is fully maint^ni^cr the high reou- 
tation it secured last year. Dr. Caille's party of three 
gentlemen killed two moose, three caribou and two 
bears. The moose heads were small. One of the cari- 
bou heads, with thirty points, was particularly fine. 
Carl Pickhardt's party of three was also very success- 
ful. Dr. Gerster the first dav on the grounds killed 
a moose with a horn spread of S5in., very heavy, with 
large blades. Mr. Pickhardt secured an exact mate for ( 
his moose of last year, the spread bring 52111. The 
party also killed three caribou, of which the best speci- 
men' fell to Mr. Pickhardt. Caribou were very numer- 
ous, while moose seemed not so plentiful as last year. 
One bear, which was sighted, broke for cover and beat 
out the Winchester. The guides, Fd and John White, 
of Littleton, did effective work 
Oswald L. Simpson, of New York, and H. F. Dodge I 
and Joseph Carleton, of Mount Vernon. N. H., who I 
spent a week or ten days hunting in Queens county, I 
passed through St. John on Wednesday. They had ex- I 
ceptionally good luck, having shot three bull moose and I 
a deer at Congo Lake. One of the moose is said to have 1 
weighed Q561bs. when dressed. The spread of the antlers 
was S3in, The carcass is being taken to New York by 
Mr. Simpson, who will have it mounted. Mr. Simpson [ 
savs that his party bad in John Taylor, of Canaan, an ex- 
cellent guide. The party saw twenty moose and fifteen 
deer while in the woods, as well as several bears. 
Frank H. Risteen. 
A Hunt with Gen, Brooke. 
Early in November, 1893, we had a heavy snow in the 
Rocky Mountains, which lasted several days. After the 
weather cleared off and became settled. I started out' 
one morning on horseback to look for bears. Up in the 
mountains where I went the snow was isin. deep. Tak- 
ing in a wide circuit westward, about ten miles from the. 
ranch at the furthest point, I had found no tracks, and 
was returning homeward, about five miles distant, when 
I crossed the trail of an old bear and two cubs— a cinna- 
mon bear, as the hairs brushed off along the trail in- 
dicated. The trail was at least three days old. Theij 
roughest country to be found is the kind through which 
bears take special delight in traveling, and as that, local- 
ity was famous for roughness, I tied my horse to a 
tree and started on the trail.. 
This was about 1 o'clock, and by "cutting across lots 
and following fast till 4 o'clock I found myself not; 
more than twenty-four hours behind them. Being satis-; 
fied then where they were heading for. I started back toj 
my horse, thinking to start early next morning for Big 
Creek Lake, about six miles from home, where I was 
confident I would find their fresh trail. 
Just when it was getting dark I hove in sight of the 
ranch, and there on the meadow of my nearest neigh- 
bor, Elick Hilton, was a fair-s : zed village cf campers., 
I could see at a glance it was a Government outfit, but o-w 
a larger scale than we were accustomed to seeing. Riding' 
up to Elick's house, I inquired what was up. 
"That is General Brooke and a part of his staff on 
their way out for a hunt. He came here this morning 
about 9 o'clock on his way into ihe mountains: and 
as none of his men were familiar with that locality, he 
asked for a guide." 
•Elick recommended me as a successful guide, but 
explained that I was out hunting. The General at once, 
ordered that they camp there and wait for my return. 
On learning this, I was disappointed, for I had great 
anticipations of fun with the bears for the next day; but 
the novelty of accompanying such an outfit, with the 
knowledge I could gain, was an offset for the disap- 
pointment. That night after supper I went to the Gen- 
eral's tent and we agreed on terms. The next morning 
they were astir long before daylight, preparing to pack 
up, for their entire outfit was carried on pack mules. 
There was the General and frnr of his staff who were 
to do the shooting — three Indians as guides in hunting, 
one of whom was the General's favorite guide and 
scout, who has a reputation. He is a half-breed, com- 
monly known as Bat. I make special mention of him 
because he was to me an interesting character. The re- 
mainder cf the men. about twenty-five in number, were: 
packers, cooks, hostlers and general helpers. The ani- 
mals consisted of ninety- four pack mules, ard about 
thirty mules and horses for riding. Is seems that trios 
of this sort w*re made every year for practice and ex- 
perience for the men. : 
When I saw the tents all standing at 7 o'clock in the 
morning, I thought it would be impossible to get started 
before noon, fcr to rack that number of mules with! 
from 200 to 350lbs. each seemed like an immerse urder-l 
taking to me, who had never seen Uncle Sam's packers 
at work. -In just one hour from the time they com-, 
me^ced packing the first mule everything was packed 
ready to start 
1 
