402 
L Ndv. id, 1898. 
Jamestown Hunting and Fishing 
Club, 
Maine Trig of 1898. 
No better fortune can Well befall a true sportsman 
than first to anticipate and then to realize, the full pleas- 
ures of a hunting trip to the great forests of northern 
Maine. I venture the assertion that in -ho part of the 
United States east of the Rocky Mountains can game 
ofsuch numerous variety as inhabits this State be found 
in greater quantity. Fortunate is he who can visit this 
great game field, for 'it is here that realization and anti- 
cipation come nearest to being synonymous terms- 
The Jamestown Hunting and Fishing Club is coitt : 
posed of twenty-four members, all lovers of the gun And 
md, who reside in and near the city of Jamestown, New 
York. It is the aim and one of the purposes of the 
club organization to take &n outing at least once in 
each year, either on a hunting or fishing excursion, to 
enable its members to realize the relaxation from busi- 
ness cares so necessary to the health and well-being of 
business and professional men. Several years in suc- 
cession our outings were taken on the Alleghany River 
in a house boat, and many delightful days have been 
spent in floating down the river and hunting and fishing 
by the way. In the fall of 1896 we visited the Adiron- 
dack Mountains in New York. Last year We visited the 
famous camps of "Jock" Darling on the Sebois Chain 
of lakes in northeastern Maine, going in by way of Pat- 
ten. The trip was a delightful one. and successful to 
the extent of our killing fifteen deer and one moose. 
The weather was very dry and the woods noisy during 
our entire stay, but our success was all We had antici- 
pated, and all were satisfied. 
Even before the trip of 1897 was ended did specula- 
tion become rife as to where the next outing would be 
taken. Everybody talked o£ Maine. Upon arrival at 
Boston, where we spent twenty-four hours, Dr. E. M. 
Scofield, president of the club, fell in with M. Abbott: 
Krazier, that prince of good fellows and noted taxider- 
mist, who lias a branch supply store at Greenfield Junc- 
tion on Moosehead Lake. He extolled the Moosehead 
Lake region as a great game country, and advised us 
to go there. Subsequent correspondence with him and 
others induced us to make that our objective point this 
year, so our guides were engaged, and having made all 
preliminary arrangements, the date of departure was 
fixed, and on tlie morning of Sept. 28. with joyous hearts 
filled with pleasant anticipations, and with the best 
wishes of friends who had come to the depot to bid us 
"Godspeed," we .boarded train 8 on the Erie Railroad 
bound for Greenville Junction via Boston. At 8 P. M. 
of the 30th we arrived at Greenville Junction, the end 
of our railroad travel, where we were met by Captain 
Samuel Cole, who had had charge of purchasing sup- 
plies, engaging transportation over the lake and mak- 
ing all necessary preparation for the trip into the woods. 
He told us, much to our gratification, that all pre- 
liminary arrangements had been completed, and that our 
provisions and the horse which we were to take into 
the woods for toting purposes were already at camp. 
We were then conducted to Moosehead Inn, where 
we were well taken care of for the night. At 8 o'clock 
the next morning we started on our steamboat ride 
over Moosehead Lake, on our way to camp, and the 
beauty of that clear, stiff, sunlight morning lent addition- 
al splendor to the most beautiful body of water and 
some of the finest scenery which most of- us had ever 
seen. The lake is nearly forty miles long, and from 
one and one-half to thirteen miles in width, and wooded 
to its shores. The shore line is very rugged and irregu- 
lar, and bays and coves are more than numerous. Isl- 
ands, large and small, are to be seen on every hand in 
great numbers. Some of the smaller ones are nothing 
but barren rocks, while others are sparsely covered with 
timber. The larger ones are wooded and range to 
several hundred acres in extent. One is said to contain 
3,000 acres. The hills and mountain peaks rise in every 
direction, particularly to the eastward. Half-way up 
the lake on the easterly shore Mount Kineo seems to 
rise directly out of the lake. Its southerly and easterly 
sides rise like perpendicular walls of rocks to a height 
of nearly 800ft. above it. On the northerly and westerly 
sides the slopes of the mountain are wooded and 
render it comparatively easy of ascent. Projecting from 
the southwesterly side of its base is a small cape, upon 
which is situated the Kineo House, built to accommo- 
date about 250 people, and several cottages. A most 
beautiful place it is. 
We reached the head of the lake at the northeast carry 
about 11 o'clock, and our outfit was soon loaded upon 
wagons to be taken two miles across the carry to the 
west branch of the famous Penobscot River. Here we 
met the remainder of our guides, Bert Doty v James 
Reynolds, Adelbert Harrington and Herbert Keith, 
with their canoes and a bateau. It was over this same 
noted carry that Henry D. Thoreau. the great writer and 
student of nature, passed about fifty years ago on his 
travels through Maine, which gave rise to the publica- 
tion in 1864 of that interesting book written by him en- 
titled "The Maine Woods." The difference in his mis- 
sion and ours was the subject of thought and dis- 
cussion by us at the time. We were there for the pur- 
pose of destroying nature's handiwork, and he was 
there, without firearms, for the purpose of observing and 
studying nature for his own gratification and the en- 
lightenment of future generations. But one thought 
must have impressed us in common, and that the distance 
between the waters of those great rivers, the head waters 
of the Kennebec and of the Penobscot, only two miles 
apart, divided by a watershed which seemingly is not 
50ft. in height above either, and each draining its own 
great section of territory and playing such important 
parts in the commerce of the country. 
After taking dinner at Luce's Hotel, on the Penobscot, 
the canoes and bateau were loaded and we started, most 
of us on foot, for our guide* had about all the load they 
t':ou'ld rMVy, fctf bur destination, Carihou Gahi£, &h RilS- 
Sett Stream, thirteen ml leis away. Twb miles up, the 
river We Veaehed the mouth of the stream, and .ther^ 
had to ab'4'ttdota the bateau on account of the itaV'eity of 
wkter, and r&so'r't to caribea and h'orie 'power. It took 
Wo d&ys to reach camp, &nd still another to get all our 
paraphernalia in, We stayed the first night at Mitchell 
Camp, about two miles Up the stream from the river. 
Everybody was happy, for on the morrow the deer and 
caribou season would open. _ Inasmuch as the history 
of a hunting trip -is" largely made up from the p^rso'rtal 
experiences and reminiscences of the individuals com- 
posing the party, it will be Well 'to understand who made 
up the party. They were Dr..E. M. Scofield, Judge V. E. 
Peckh&m, Judge \\ % Wheeler, Surrogate E. E. Wood- 
bury. Assistant. District Attorney H. L. Hunt, Alderman 
C. M. Nichols, Dr. A. E. Smith, Dr. E. A. Scofield, ex- 
Superintendent of the Poor M. T. Howard, Dr. H. W. 
Davis, Carver Hidccker, B. K. Solidav, E. W. Brownelh 
John C. Thomas, Attorney R. A, Hall, E. E. Wilcox 
and H. K. Thornton. 
At Mitchell Camp we were the guests of. John Holmes, 
a very intelligent, elderly gentleman, who is employed 3.5 
clerk' to a lumber company, and has been. in the Woods 
a great many years. He treated Us. with the, Utfribst 
kindness, find greatly aided Its in getting in and. but. of 
the woods, holding his tote teams one whole day fo.r 
the purpose of helping us but. the next. .We "We're ill 
very hungry and ate favehously,. bht Judge .Peckham 
seemed to OVer'step the bounds of hospitality when, after 
eating at two tables,, he sat back and expressed regret 
that he had eaten., saying that he would like to eat again. 
The number of the .party and the paraphernalia that we 
had brought along had caused our guides to doubt our 
prowess as hunters of big game, and from all appear- 
ances they seemed to regret having engaged with us, but 
when after we had eaten and repaired to the front yard 
par'or and sung a few songs, each in his own VOhte-, 
tune and time, their disgust was evident, We Were 
quietly informed that such noise Would Scare all the. game 
out of the country. Well.. we promised to behave better 
when we Were encampfed, but gave them to under- 
stand that We were out for recreation and relaxation 
from business, and our good time wasn't dependent 
upon the quantity of game killed. I think the truth of 
this assertion was subsequently impressed Upon them, 
and I know that we enjoyed ourselves very inuch. 
The next day was spent principally in getting into 
camp and making things Comfortable,, although in the 
morning Dr. Davis shot a doe and Judge Wheeler a 
spikehorn buck. The latter was shot from a canoe 
on Russell Pond, on our way to camp. _ The following 
two days w r ere also used up principally in the work of 
camp-making, although some hunting was done on the 
second clay. Dr. E. A. Scofield killing a five-point buck 
having a very fine head. 
Our camp consisted of a good log house, in size about 
16 by 20ft., built by Captain Cole for a Mr. Jackson, of 
New York, in 1893. It had a cook stove, good bunks 
and a table: a cosy log hut about 6 by 8ft. in size, built 
at the same time for the use of guides. Then we had 
two tents with sheet iron stoves, one 12 by 20, and the 
other about 10 by 12. This hut was taken possession of 
and managed by Judge Peckham, who, after getting 
in about ift. of boughs and an old kettle with a small 
hole in the bottom for a stove, and finding a cover for 
it and stove pipe, did indeed have as comfortable quar- 
ters as any Nimrod could ask. The hospitality of this 
hut was also enjoyed by Dr. Davis, Hunt and Thorn- 
ton, and a merry crew Avere they. The kettle weighed at 
least 25lbs., but is now a relic in the Judge's office in 
Jamestown, wdiere it will serve as a gas stove. 
Camp had scarcely been made when the only incident 
occurred to mar the pleasures of the trip, and which 
cast a gloom over the entire camp. Mr. Howard, who 
had been sick himself so that he had not been away 
from camp, received a telegram by special messenger 
one evening just about dark announcing the serious 
illness of his wife, and calling for his return home. 
Knowing that Mrs. Howard had been in poor health for 
some time, the worst was feared. Mr. Howard started 
for home at 3 o'clock the following morning, and on 
arrival found that his wife had passed away the day 
he left camp. It was a great shock to him and to us, 
because Mrs. Howard had been better and more comfort- 
able when he left home than for a long time before, and 
strongly insisted upon his going. 
It would be useless to undertake to recall all of the 
interesting incidents of the trip, and it would not be 
profitable to relate them if I could. Dr. Davis is a 
great case to circle, and sometimes he circles to his 
own discomfiture: I remember meeting him one even- 
ing about sundown on an old road about one and one- 
half miles from .camp, and traveling away from it. I 
asked him what he was doing there, and he said he was 
on his way to camp. I laughed and asked him if he 
wasn't lost. Just then he looked up and saw a bridge 
across the stream away north of the camp. A sort of 
sickly smile crept across his face as he said he knew 
where he was, he could see the bridge, and then re- 
versed his course and started on his back track for 
camp. He was stopped and given a seat in the canoe. 
Carver Hidecker is an old lumberman. He one 
day started out to hunt a bit (quite an unusual thing 
for him) along a newly blazed line, leading to Little 
Russell Pond, intending to meet his companions at the 
pond. He wandered off his course, and then endeavored 
to take a short cut to the pond. When he discovered 
himself he was in one of those fearful blow-downs com- 
mon in northern Maine. He failed to find the pond, but 
arrived in camp some time during the afternoon. He 
still insists that it was the pond that got lost and not 
himself. On another occasion he was out 'with a guide 
and both became queered, but on this occasion he sat 
down and perused a novel, while the guide did the hunt- 
ing to discover themselves. 
Mr. Thomas, the patriarch of the party, being sixty- 
eight years of age, saw more game than all of the 
boys. Besides seeing a large number of deer, he saw 
two caribou, seven or eight moose and a bear. He 
had his principal experience with the bear. The bear, a 
very large one, was seen standing beside an old tote 
road with her head and forward shoulders extending into 
the road. He Rrkd.anri she fumbled to tn© ground, blit I 
got up 1 And wabbled off into the swamp. Investigation 
revealed the fact that the bear was seriously injured, and ' 
was bleeding considerably, but as there was no snow* 
it was impossible to follow her but a short distance. J 
Mr. Thomas was using an old .44-40 Winchester, and it J 
didn't do the execution necessary to bring this large „ 
game to bag, as would likely have been done by bne bf j 
the modefn Strorig shooting ghn§. 
Assistant, District Attorney Hunt had his experience; 
.with a 'caribbu. He had two standing shots. The cari- 
bo'u was standing broadside to him in an old road about 
twenty rods distant. He failed to kill or hit, said he was J 
nervous. His statement wasn't doubted. This nervous; 
feeling has at times come over others, as I am in- jj 
formed. 
Dr. E„ M. Scofield killed the only moose which Was 1 
taken by o.ur party. Tlie head Was riot large, nor a y&fy 
good Specimen, but as it was the Only bne the Doctor' 
ever killed, or Shot , at, he was naturally gratified at re- 
sults, especially as he fired all his shots at a range of 1 
from seventy to eighty rods. He used a .30-30 smoke-«l 
iesS, and is in love with ih , , , . , 
R. A. Mall, in company with James Reynolds aS guide'/ 
probably had the most exciting experience. He Was eH-'< 
camped on Scott Brook, with a. few. companions, ti.k} 
ing a shprt side-hunt. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon 
he and his guide were on the brook in a canoe, when, 
they discovered a monstrous bull moose standing in the 
water. The guide had no gun, and Mr. Hall was using 
a .44-40 Winchester, and something was wrong even 
with that, as it was totally wanting in penetrating force. 
The guide rowed Mr. Hall up to within 30 or 40ft. of the 
moose, and he then commenced pumping the lead intol 
him, Eleven shots were fired at him in the water and 
upon the shore, rtntl . probably ev'efy One iiit hiiih 'Anw 
yet he got aWa.y. The next day thfey. followed the] 
moose a lbng Wiys„ but .were Unablp to find hihi, ML! 
Hall says .tlie b'hly time the niobse showed any evidence ' 
of being hurt was when a shot struck him jtlst back' 
of the ear, when he shook his head , and started ,tb 
charge. Both Mr. Hall and the guide say that tHfc, 
spread of his antlers was at least 5ft- . . J 
Judge Wheeler killed his second bkek and secured a 
fine set of antlers. , I mention this because of the fact 
that the Judge has but one leg, having lost the other in 
celebrating the victory of Harrison in 1888. and to| 
show you that a man of pluck and energy can kill game 
in Maine even though he be thus greatly handicapped. , 
Mr. Soliday had charge of the culinary department, 
and the responsibility resting upon his shoulders was 
enough to crush any ordinary man, but he withstood it 
all. and how we did live! Such meats, such johnny 
cake and bread, pies and any number of other good 
things! Yet notwithstanding all this responsibility he 
found time, to kill his two deer, and one was a buck 
with a beautiful set of horns. 
Dr. Smith, who cahnot live any length of tittle without 
his "toast bread," killed his two deer Within hallooing 
distance of camp-. 
It Would cease to be interesting and make this article! 
too long- to follow' the fortunes and hick or i]l-iUck ol 
each individual member. Altogether we killed twenty- 
nine deer and one moose, besides a goodly supply ol 
ruffed groUse, which were delicious for a change of 
diet. We saw one bear and another was driven out Oj 
an old hunter s camp, three caribou, sixteen moose alie 
approximately 500 deer. Many were the standing shots 
at deer offered at a range of from five to eight rods 
which were not taken. They were does or fawns, and we 
had no use for them. Several good opportunities were 
offered for seeing and observing moose. The writer, ir 
company with Bert Doty, the guide, sat on the shor* 
of Little Russell Pond one evening just before sun- 
down and saw a cow moose come out into the water ami 
heard her call. In a short time a spike bull came out! 
and the two had a splash and play in the water. Ther* 
going ashore they romped up and down the bank; 
Shortly after a bull, with a fair set of antlers, came otv 
of the woods. The smaller bull was driven away, and 
the remaining two went into the water for a time, then 
went ashore again and more romping. Finally the co\\j 
went into the brush along the shore and the bull took tc| 
the pond and followed along down beside the bogi 
splashing and making the water fly tremendously as hd 
ran. The cow finally ran into the woods, and the but 
returned to the pond. Here he stayed the greater pari, 
of the night. We camped by the shore of the pone 
that night by an open fire, without blankets, because w(. 
were six miles from camp, and it was too far to re-i 
turn. We could probably have killed the moose, bu'j 
did not attempt to do so, as the season was not openl 
We had no canoe, and made no attempt to stalk thenn 
Our mission to the pond was to see what the game pros- 
pects were, with the intention of returning later and bring ! 
ing in a canoe if everything was satisfactory. This we 
did, but did not happen to see moose. After the moostf, 
season opened we did considerable hunting around the 
pond, and saw much sign made during the differen;, 
nights, but as the weather was cold and raw, and thi 
wind blowing every night, we did no night hunting 
Dr. E, M. Scofield and Mr. Thomas had like opporttr 
nity of observing some cow moose in another pone 
near camp, and several were seen in Russell Pond bj 
different members of the party. 
Camp was broken Oct.' 19, and we arrived at home or 
the 22d, in time to register, after spending a very pleas- 
ant day in Boston. 1 
In closing, let me say that we were more than 1 
pleased with our guides. They were, one and all, ex-) 
tremely courteous and obliging, and anxious to dci 
everything in their power to make our trip successful 
and pleasant, and fully succeeded in so doing. We can 
cheerfully recommend them to anyone desiring the ser- 
vices of guides. 
Every member of our party has commented upon the, 
hospitable manner in which the people of Maine re- 
ceive and entertain their guests from without the State 
We were, one and all, royally received and entertained 
by those with whom we came in contact, and made tq 
feel that we were welcome to visit the greatest hunting 
and fishing grounds of this country. We expect tc 
return. E. E, WooPBtJRr, ! 
