410 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov., ig, t8gS. 
tainly this would suit the sportsmen, even those of the 
most exacting class. All our shooting nowadays is more 
or less non-resident, and if a man may not take home a 
bird to eat, why should he go out to shoot it? At least 
half the sport is in coming home and letting on what a 
great fellow you are, to kill all this game that you dis- 
play. In this way a man may be a good deal of a 
hero at home in his own family, where they don't 
know him very well; but if he comes home and says 
that he killed a lot of game, but didn't bring home a 
bird for the dear ones he left behind him, aforesaid dear 
ones are apt to tell him he is another, and that he never 
did kill anything at all. In practice this clause of the 
law is violated very much and very often, and I have 
very little sympathy with a State law myself which allows 
a man to come and shoot birds, but not to use them for 
himself. If I kill my twenty-five quail down m In- 
diana, what shall I do, sit down and eat them on the 
spot? 
The Reward of Virtue. 
We have all heard of the good young man who, because 
he wa^good, one day found a purse containing $4,000,- 
000 in gold, and who was thus enabled to marry the 
daughter of the rich candy woman, whom he had long 
adored. Somewhat in this line are a couple of shooting 
stories which appear in the daily press this week, and 
which show how good a thing it is to be a true sports- 
man. In one case a hunter was chasing a rabbit, which 
took refuge in a hole in a stone wall. The hunter 
reached his hand into the hole after the rabbit, but 
drew forth, instead of the game, a long lost marriage 
certificate, which had, by reason of its absence, caused 
for some years a distinct family disturbance. In another 
case a poor but honest sportsman was out squirrel 
hunting. He shot and wounded a squirrel, and in 
return for his kindness the squirrel ran into a hollow 
tree. Reaching down into the hollow, the sportsman 
pulled out a box full of gold coins of ancient date, but 
of much intrinsic value. There are many of us who 
have hunted for many years and have never found either 
a marriage certificate or a box of gold, but we should 
not be discouraged. If we are good we shall perhaps 
some day be rewarded by some such discovery, 
E. Hough. 
1200 Boyce Building, Chicago, I1L 
Gun Flints* 
Orin Belknap's story of the old flintlock gun, which 
he found in a pile of rubbish, reminds me of a circum- 
stance which occurred away back in the twenties, in a 
newly-settled part of Erie county, New York. It was 
here that a man, while cutting out a new road, had 
occasion to roll out an old rotten log, which lay bedded 
in the decayed leaves and rubbish, under which lay a 
rifled gun, the barrel and lock covered. with rust and the 
stock mostly rotted off. Near by was a blacksmith shop 
built of logs, owned and occupied by an old uncle of 
mine, not so very old, however, at that time, as it was 
about seventy-five years ago. The shop was quite a 
resort on rainy days, and several men had gathered 
here, when along came the man with the old gun bar- 
rel, and stuck the breech end into the red hot forge, 
thinking perhaps by heating he might get the breech pin 
out. As it became sufficiently heated the barrel did not 
go off, but the charge did, and sent a bullet into one of 
the hardwood side logs of the building, barely missing 
two or three men in its course. The surprise could bet- 
ter be imagined than described. Of course there was no 
clue as to how or when the gun had been left there.. It 
had evidently been secreted for some purpose, and 
nothing more was ever learned about it. 
I am sorry that Mr. Belknap should have to quarry his 
flints out of volcanic rock, as it must come far short of 
the genuine flint. Cannot some enterprising member of 
the Forest and Stream family find some gun flints 
among some relics of the past age, and send the old 
hunter a half-dozen or so by mail? 
In my boyhood days, when I began my shooting, it 
was only flintlocks that were known or used, and every 
store kept gun flints in plenty, and they sold cheap, at 
one, two or three cents each, as near as I can remember. 
I never could learn how or where they were manu- 
factured from the rough material. There were two 
sizes, the larger for muskets and the smaller for the 
rifles, and they were nearly uniform in shape and had 
the appearance of being cut out. 
It was on some rare occasions that I was compelled 
to break out my own flints, but they were ill-shaped, and 
sometimes I had to break up a peck of flint stones be- 
fore I could get one in shape to answer the purpose. 
Antler. 
Grand View, Tenn. 
One word in regard to Mr. Orin Belknap's quest for 
a genuine old-fashioned gun flint. As it happened, Mr. 
Hardy, of whom I have just spoken, showed me only 
a few days ago a few of the veritable old-time flints, and 
very interesting- and familiar they looked; and he 
showed me something much rarer, viz.. a couple of old 
hand steels, against which the flint was struck for the 
spafk which was to ignite the tow or punk for the 
kindling of a fire. I confess these last were unfamiliar 
to me, and I did not know their use till it was explained. 
I know another man who must have some gun 
Hints, and will tell Mr. Belknap his name if he cares for 
it. But will not some of the brethren tell us the source 
of the old supply of flints, and how they were given just 
that convenient form which they all had. Their manu- 
facture must have been a regular industry somewhere 
seventy-five years ago. My own impre'ssion is that they 
came from the chalk cliffs in the south of England, where 
the same quality of flint occurs- plentifully" in nodules, 
though some American source may have been drawn 
upon for the American supply. 
I have heard that the Kineo flint of the Moosehead 
Lake region was used at least by the Indians for fire- 
making and gun flint purposes. I feel sure Mr. Hardy 
could tell us about that. I have been told that Kineo is 
the Indian^ name for flint: also that it was the name 
of an Indian chief who made his favorite camp on 
Kineo cliff. 
It -seems tr> mt, by th* way; that nearly all the India"? 
of tradition were chiefs. One is tempted to wonder 
how among so many there were enough followers to 
make the chieftainship worth much. However that may 
be, count me as one who wants to know more "about 
trees" and "gun flints." C. H. Ames. 
Dreams and Dreamers, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
While many appreciative commendations must come to 
Mr. Mather for his admirable articles in Forest and 
Stream, to which I would add my own, yet mostly his 
must be the 
"Thanks untraced to lips unknown, 
That greet him like the odors blown 
From unseen meadows newly mown," 
which, in a greater or less degree, every writer receives. 
In his No. VII., Nov. 5, article, "In the Louisiana Low- 
lands," he speaks of the persistent peculiarity in his 
dreams of not being able, after game was sighted, to 
fire the gun, and has often wondered if this happens 
with other dreamers. My own experience coincides 
with his, and I think may be too general to be peculiar. 
An older brother, however, once had a different ex- 
perience. The gun of our earlier boyhood days was an 
old flintlock Queen's arm, that had the power to shoot 
off a tree top, and an almost equal reverse force. It 
was the idol as well as the terror of our young lives, and 
was carried over the New Hampshire hills with heroic 
feelings. 
One night, in the stillness of the later hours, there was 
a tremendous jar in our sleeping room, as if a heavy 
body had been violently thrown down. Paterfamilias, 
aroused by the shock, came rushing in just as my 
brother, in a semi-so'mnolent condition, was slowly 
gathering himself up from the floor to regain his place 
in bed. from which he had dropped a rrfoment before. 
Father exclaimed: "Bill, what is the matter?" to 
which Bill drowsily replied: "I dreamt I fired the old 
gun and it kicked me out of bed." It was emphatic 
enough to him to be peculiar. Corporal. 
North Chelmsfokd, Mass. 
St. Augustine, Nov. ri, — Editor Forest and Stream: 
In one of Fred Mather's Interesting articles a week or 
two ago he expressed a wish to .know whether any one 
but himself had been troubled by being unable to fire a 
gun when hunting in his sleep. 
"Misery loves company," and it may gratify him to 
know that I have had the same experience many a time 
and oft, and have been so savage that if the trigger had 
not been protected by a guard something would have 
given way. 
I have never been able to account for it, unless it be 
that because we hear no report we imagine the charge 
has failed to explode. Didymus. 
New York Sportsmen's Show. 
The fifth annual exposition will be given by the Na- 
tional Sportsmen's Association, in Madison Square Gar- 
den, New York. March .2 to 11, 1899. The managers 
announce an intention to give a genuine sportsmen's 
show, abounding in features and demonstrations of life 
in the woods. Prominent among the most interesting 
features will be an artificial lake, 75ft. long, 40 ft. wide 
and 8ft. deep, containing 200,000 gals, of water, for the 
purpose of holding water polo, swimming contests and 
other competitive matches of interest to sportsmen, as 
well as for the exhibition of launches, ducking boats, 
canoes and yachts. 
The water sports will be under the supervision and 
management of Mr. J. E. Suflivan, president of the New 
Jersey Athletic Club and secretary of the A. A. U. ; Mr. 
Harry Cornish, of the Knickerbocker Athletic Club, and 
Mr. Samuel Armstrong Nelson, who have been promi- 
nently identified with athletic sports for many years. 
Log cabins and tents, presided over by experienced 
guides and hunters, properly equipped, portraying life 
in the woods. 
Sportsmen's camps will be represented by their owners, 
who will entertain their friends. 
Indian camps, occupied by families of Indians engaged 
in building canoes, snowshoes, bead work and basket 
making. 
Revolver and rifle ranges will be under competent 
management, who will arrange matches and tourna- 
ments. Bowling alleys will be under the management of 
experts. 
Association championship and other events at inani- 
mate targets will be held on the roof of the Madison 
Square Garden, under the skillful management of Mr. 
Elmer E. Shaner, who is recognized as the manager of 
this class of sport. 
Dr. Heber Bishop will represent the Association in 
Maine and Canada. 
Big game park, enclosing in a miniature forest live 
specimens of buffalo, moose, caribou, elk, deer, ante- 
lope and other large game animals, mostly prized by 
sportsmen. Native game birds, live specimens from all 
sections of the country. Native game fish will form a 
very attractive exhibit. 
It is the intention of the management that the decora- 
tions will be in conformity with a sportsman's ideas. 
There are many other features under consideration that 
will make this show probably the best one that has 
ever been held in this country; it certainly embodies 
features that have never been .attempted at any other 
show, and wi 1 ! be -the onlv Foortsmen's show in this 
country in T899, Mr. J. A. H. Dressel is the secretary- 
treasurer, 280 Broadway. New York City. 
New Brunswick Grouse Market. 
Sr. Johns, N. B., Nov 5. — This year the Provincial 
Government have withdrawn the restrictions re selling 
partridge; consequently the market is flooded; every 
countryman , is snooting birds for the market. This 
will exterminate th?S noble bird in a season or two in 
Nr'v Brunswick. H. H. H. 
A New Brunswick Moose. 
Edmundston, New Brunswick, Oct. 8. — Several 
parties have been out after moose in our country, and all 
* have succeeded in getting their game. Two boys from 
this town were out three days, when they got a fine 
moose, bringing the whole animal home with them; 
another townsman was out two weeks with the same 
results, each reporting plenty of moose and caribou, but 
not many deer. 
John Eagles took his wife along with two guides for 
a trip after a moose. He chose a route by water all the 
way, excepting one carry of four miles. Before reaching 
the lake they started a moose and saw him, but were 
not quick enough to shoot. Reaching the lake at 2 in 
the afternoon, tents were pitched and preparations made 
for a stay of some days. As sunset drew near they 
got into the canoe and paddled across the lake, about 
half a mile. The moose call was given, and they stood 
quiet listening, but no sound broke the- stillness. Again 
the peculiar sound rang forth, but nothing took up the 
answer except the echo. After waiting the proper 
time, again they sounded the eik-eik-eik-coughoo-o-h. 
Before the echo died away there was heard from the 
hilltop the hoarse bellow they were so anxious to hear. 
Down the hill he came, like a torrent in its wrath, seem- 
ing, by the sound of breaking wood, to be crushing 
everything in the way. Soon he came out into the 
open in all the pride and vigor of his forest life, standing 
a perfect picture of nature's majesty, reveling in his 
might, unconscious of fear. Jack, who is really a good 
shot, was rattled. The magazine of his Winchester was 
quickly emptied, and not a shot touched the moose. 
While the firing was going on the game was only 50yds. 
away, but while the gun was being reloaded the moose 
had moved further away. This was bad for him, as the 
former bullets had been going over him, and he had 
gone just far enough so that the first shot hit him in the 
shoulder; the next struck him back of the shoulder in a 
vital part; when he began to sway like a great tree just 
before its fall, and down he fell right in his glory and 
prime. Truly I felt sorry to see the life taken so quickly 
from the great, magnificent beast. Then more moose 
were seen, and two caribou; but they were not molested, 
as they were not wanted. 
All the meat was brought in, and Jack and his wife 
departed for their home well pleased with his ten clays' 
vacation and his moose hunt near here. 
S. J. Raymond. 
Died while Bear Hunting. 
S. E. L. Grews, an Englishman, of Mingo, West 
Virginia, died of cold and exhaustion on Cheat Moun- 
tain on the night of Oct. 27. He, with three companion -,. 
had pursued a bear in a light tracking snow all day. and 
at dusk his companions left Him in sight of his house, 
their ways diverging". He was found the next morning 
dead within a few hundred yards of the place his 
friends had left him. He was in a sitting posture at the 
foot of a tree, with his gun across his lap. The evidence 
at the inquest was to the effect that he seemed no more 
tired than the rest of the party. 
It is believed that his death was due to overtraining. 
Sept. 24 he ran a Marathon race of twenty-four miles 
from Mingo to Marlinton, over two mountains, in two 
hours and fifty-nine minutes. He had trained for two 
months for this race. He told some of his friends a 
short time before his death that he could not run five 
minutes since the race. 
His friends believe that he was tired to death, but was 
too gritty to show it, and those who knew him think 
this is the solution of the trouble. He had a peculiarly 
strong pride in not showing distress in athletic exercise. 
The deceased was twenty-six years, old, and had lived 
in America for six years. He was much loved and re- 
spected by all who knew him. He was the owner of a 
fine grazing estate. The night was bitterly cold, and 
there was considerable snow on the ground, the point 
being nearly 4,000ft. altitude. 
Marlinton, W. Va. 
Currituck Ducks. 
Currituck, N. C, Nov. 6. — Editor Forest and Stream; 
As predicted by your correspondent some days ago, 
the shooting at Currituck, which opened Tuesday, Nov. 
1. was excellent. The day was a fine one, with a light 
breeze from the northwest. I give below a few bags 
made on the first day, which shooting was repeated with 
few exceptions on the second. Hon. Pierce Hampton, 
158, 114 of which were redheads; Humphries Lewark, 
80 (50 redheads) ; James Hampton, 81 (50 redheads) ; 
while the writer bagged 33, nearly all redheads. This is 
an average of the bags made, and the number killed 
all over the Sound would foot up about 3,000, with per- 
haps 2,500 the second day, or Thursday, Nov. 3. 
For some unaccountable reason, all the ducks are in 
the north end of the Sound. The food is abundant 
everywhere, and we do not understand it. There was 
only - a sprinkling of canvasbacks the first two davs. but 
the weather is rather warm for them yet. As I write 
I can see from my house large flocks of redheads coming- 
in, and anticipate a keen day's sport to-morrow. Al- 
together I think we shall have a good season. 
More Anon. 
That Sly Old Coon. 
Enough has been said already to disprove some one's 
statement that the raccoon cannot be trapped save in 
one way, and never in the woods; yet another instance 
drawn from my own limited experience may be of inter- 
est to some. Once when a young fellow I set a line of 
deadfalls for mink along the bank of Louis Creek, under 
the direction and with the help of an old fur trapper. 
The traps were made with a straight smooth sapling for 
the fall, shutting evenly upon short bed pieces of like 
diameter between four smooth guide stakes, at the ex- 
tremities a cob-house of weathered strips or bark. When 
set the fall was upheld by an upright, which rested on a 
spindle which held 'the bait of muskrat flesh. When 
completed the whole affair looks quite woodsy and un- 
suspicious, but no pains were taken to eliminate or dis 
guise the taint of human sc?n+. When T leoked +h^ 
