102 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
IAtjs. 10, 1901. 
— • — 
Mingo—A Silhouette* 
Mingo was brought from Rhode Island as portable 
property, a part of the marriage portion of his young 
mistress. When he came to his majority he came also 
to his freedom under the laws of our State, and then, 
somehow, he drifted into my grandfather's family, in 
which he held an intermittent membership for many years. 
In our early childhood my' brothers and sister and I 
believed him to be the only black man in the world, for 
there were no resident negroes near us, and our enlighten- 
ment first dawned when the underground railroad dropped 
a duskj' passenger at our house, which was for years a 
station of that subterranean thoroughfare. Whoever it 
was my sister saw, she ran to our mother with the news 
of the advent of "another Mingo." 
Time proved that there could never really be another 
Mingo for us, so fond of us, so kind, so indulgent, so 
forgiving, so leyal to our family, nor one so wise nor so 
funny with proverbs and saws for every occasion, sttch 
knowledge of signs, such mimicry, such tricks, such wit, 
mostly second hand, such a fund of unguessable riddles. 
There were then many old-fashioned free negroes in the 
North — alas, that there are none now ! — who possessed 
many of Mingo's traits and accomplishments. Others 
might be as blaek and as bald, but not one bore his proud 
and distinguishing marks on forehead and chin. These 
were two horizontal lines made by the teeth of his old 
master's stallion— a scion of the famous Narragansett 
breed. We never tired of hearing the story of this ad- 
venture, which Mingo told as often as asked, with the 
modesty becoming a hero, albeit a vanquished one. At 
least he learned how trenchant were such weapons, for 
he used them with effect on two occasions. One of these 
was an encounter with an Irish veteran who had fought 
with Wellington on the Peninsula. Mingo was victorious 
and was wont to declare, with a cannibalistic gusto. "The 
ol' Paddy's souse tasted swe-e-t !" 
None but he could make our kitchen garden, no one 
tend it so carefully nor compel such growth of vegetables, 
nor absence of weeds, even "pussly" would die for him. 
though when pulled by other hands it lived and grew 
with its roots in the air. 
He knew where the earliest "cowslops" grew, for the 
first dish of spring greens, always found the first straw- 
berry -that ripened in the pine meadows ; as why should 
he not, With eyes so keen they could detect every pin in 
the dirt of the road? It Avas one of his most enjoyed 
pastimes to hunt for these. He would walk slowly along 
the path or highway, with body bent and arms behind 
his back, until one of the sought-for treasures was dis- 
covered, when the stumpy black fingers would descend 
upon it and transfer it to coat lapel or the pin box of 
hollowed elder stalk, he. all the while, humming the 
plaintive measure of Bonaparte's march, in a deep, mellow 
voice that was the sweetest music to our untrained 
Quaker ears. 
He had profound knowledge of medicinal and edible 
roots and herbs, especially such as flourish in the shade 
of the woods, whence he brought pockets full and bundles 
of "sarsaparil pigmit," "jingshang." princess pine and 
wintergreen, and a delectable bulb that he called "a taller 
ball," fitly named, for it cleaves to one's teeth exactly in 
the agreeable manner of cold mutton tallow. For some 
reason he never fulfilled a promise to bring us "groun' 
nuts," concerning whose excellence we often speculated. 
A later acquaintance with this delicacy inclines me to a 
belief that we suffered no great loss by the postponement. 
He trapped "woo'chucks" for. their skins, which he 
taught me to tan in soft soap, so that they made the best 
of ball covers and whip lashes. He trapped skunks be- 
cause they were skunks, and for the oil, for their skins 
were then of no value but to the original owners. These 
animals were his only game. 
He was a devoted angler, so endowed with patience 
that he would sit all night in his boat, quite regardless of 
the assaults of mosquitoes, while he nodded serenely over 
his tightly gripped pole between bites, and was wide 
awake when a fish took hold. During one of these pis- 
catorial vigils Mingo caught a twenty-five-pound catfish — 
the largest, if not the only, specimen ever taken in Little 
Otter — and he proclaimed the achievement with a shout 
that awakened every sleeper within a mile of him. 
He went with me to the woods for my first fish pole, 
which he peeled with his tobacco-clotted jackknife, and 
when the horn beam sapling was partially seasoned in the 
April sun, he gave me my first lessons in the gentle art. 
They were simple enough, but I was very proud of master- 
ing them; to properly impale the worm, never forgetting 
to spit upon it; to sling the whistling line straight out to 
its full length; to deliver the ounce sinker with a re- 
sounding spang that might awaken the curiosity^ of all 
the fish in Little Otter; to wait patiently for a bite and 
then, hardest of all when it came, to refrain from striking 
until the same motion should tear the fish from the water 
and land it behind me after a parabolic flight the length of 
the pole and line. 
Voyaging with him on the placid stream, within sight 
of Shellhouse, I was well content, though the distance 
from the home fireside seemed full half the township. 
Presently I caught my first pickerel, when but for hi^ 
strong, helping hand the fish might have caught its fir^t 
boy, who was barely a foot longer than itself. Mins^o 
played his fish as the Irishman his fiddle, "by main 
.stren'th," As practiced by him, it was not a gentle art. 
If night overtook us before we had enough of fishing, he 
would build a fire of flood wood and we wo'ild dwell 
awhile on an island of light in the midst of a ocean of 
night— an ocean that I voyaged at last under safe convoy 
of my black consort, guided by the beacon light of home. 
If it came on to rain. Mingo would remark, with cheer- 
ful resignation, "We'll du as they du in Spain— we'll let it 
rain." The land of the Cid afforded iiim another saying 
in a threat to make the transgressors "walk Spanish." 
There were no evenings of more perfect enjojmient than 
those spent by the great kitchen fireplace when the home 
work was done and Mingo presided there, roasting ears of 
com on the slanted tongs and onions and potatoes in the 
hot ashes. On all these he kept a watchful eye, as well as 
on the blubbering camp kettle swung on its hook from the 
crane, while he told us of the grand old days in Rhode 
Island, when his father was elected governor of the 
negroes of the Commonwealth. Perhaps it was he whom 
his master, the real Governor of Rhode Island, told, after 
repeatedly defraying the election expenses of both, that 
one or the other would be obliged to decline the honor in 
future. Prince was the black dignitary's name, and it 
should have been his title, for he said that in Africa "My 
father had a gool iron pot an' gool iron 'tep 'tone." 
When our tidbits were roasted and we sat snatcliing hot 
morsels of them from burning fingers, Mingo propounded 
riddles that he alone could answer, for who could ever 
guess "A hill full, a hole full, can't ketch a bowl full" 
was dew, or others equally blind and senseless? If the 
secret had been previously imparted to one. he declared 
it with the pride of an original discoverer, otherwise 
Mingo divulged it with the air of an inventor. The even- 
ing's entertainment regularly closed Avith the performance 
of his three most popular feats — putting a lighted candle 
in his mouth, mimicking the chatter of a red squirrel and 
popping his cheek with his forefinger. Then he covered 
the fire with a heap of ashes and lay down for the night 
on his favorite bed — a buffalo skin spread upon the broad, 
gray, stone hearth, with a stick of firewood for a pillow. 
Notwithstanding the democracy of our rural com- 
raunitj' and the fact that in our family prejudice against 
color was considered a crime but little less cruel than 
slave holding, he had a fine regard for class distinctions, 
and held to a close observance of their proprieties. Any 
gathering of white people on "seventh daj^ evening" 
brought forth the contemptuous comment, "Sat'd'y night's 
niggers' night." It was the common custom for all the 
members of farmers' families to take their meals to- 
gether, but he could not be induced to sit at table with 
the "quality," though he held himself equal of hired white 
folks, and if a hired girl assumed airs did not hesitate 
to remind her that she "wa'n't nothin' but a pot wrastler." 
Upon occasion he claimed a sort of kinship with us, for 
once, when having drunk too deeply, he lay in the ditch 
and a passing samaritan offered a helping hand, he re- 
sented it as an unwarranted interference with his rights 
and cried out, "G'way an' le' me 'lone; I'm some o' 
Rowl'n' Rob'son's relation." 
When at last, full of uncounted years, he was quietly 
falling into the final sleep, a dapper young negro came to 
his bedside and asked if he knew him. 
"Who be yo'?" Mingo asked. 
"Mister Deming," was the answer. 
"Mister Deming !" Mingo repeated with withering con- 
tempt. "Oh. you get out !" 
Rowt:and E. Robinson. 
Fires in the Yellowstone. 
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Park, July 31. — 
Editoi' Forest and Stream: For over a month the weather 
in the mountains here has been unusually dry and hot. 
Everything is as dry as a tinder, and the consequence 
is that we have three very bad fires in the Park. Great 
clouds of smoke are rolling up from a fire started by the 
side of the road near the Upper Geyser Basin; it was 
started by a cigar or cigarette stub thrown from a passing 
Avagon or stage by a thoughtless person. A very bad fire 
in the Pelican Creek country was started by lightning. 
This Avas seen from a boat. The other fire was started in 
Gibbon Canon, ten miles from Norris Geyser Basin, by a 
Mexican Avhom the soldiers are after to arrest. Every 
available soldier and all the other men are out fighting 
fire. To me the task looks hopeless unless Ave have rain 
to help the fighters. Capt. Goode has been out for sev- 
eral davs, and had the fires under control, as he supposed, 
but they broke out again. High Avinds during the day 
drive the fire through the timber faster than men can 
cut it off. Every stream and Avater course is so Ioav that 
little help can be had from that source ; besides, the fires 
rage far from Avater. Capt. Pitcher left this morning for 
the fire at Gibbon Canon, after telegraphing for all the 
men available. He has little kope of doing much more 
than has been done. Axes and shovels are about the 
only Aveapons of use in the Park now% Water buckets are 
the best "side arms" a soldier can carry— more use- 
ful than guns here.. 
The air is not as full of smoke as usually at this time, the 
Avind carrving it to the east out of the Park. The smoke 
that hides' everything Avhen it is thick here is from fires to 
the AvestAvard of the Park. 
Capt. E. Lindsley Avill soon be here with forty men of 
his troop from Ft. Keough. They Avill reach here about 
Aug. .5. and Avill go direct to the Geyser basins and fight 
fires if there are any left. 
The elk. mule, deer and antelope at the Springs are 
looking AvelL Onlv one young antelope has died so far. 
Work on the roads is progressing. A ncAV ditch is be- 
ing dug to bring Avater from Glenn Creek for Ft. Yellow- 
stone. Just noAV Avater at the Fort and Mammoth Hot 
Springs is A'^ery scarce. If fire should break out here 
very iTttle could be done to stop it. 
I saAv in a ride through Hayden "Valley about a month 
ago betAveen 800 and i.ooo elk— coavs and calves. They 
Avere in two bands, besides small bands of twenty to 
thirty. There is a very large crop of cah^es. Nine of 
the calves took our saddle horses for their mothers, for 
they left the band and came to Avithin a fcAV yards of us. I 
helped them a little by trying to call them. They did not 
run off Avhen quite close, but Avere standing still when Ave 
rode aAvay. Later. Avhen the packs came along, they had 
found the cows. ' 
I saw a good mauA^ mule deer and antelope, and the 
usual number of covotes hanging around them. Many of 
the doe antelope had but one young, shoAVing that the 
coyotes or some other enemy had found them. _ _ 
The Park is full of visitors; every Avagon and ng m 
the country seems to be in use, with more coming. 
There are noAV and then little local thunder showers, 
but they do no good. The lightning Avith them is apt to 
set fire 'to more timber. We are all hoping for a general 
storm of rain or snow. 
The Forest and Stream i» put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier as practicable. 
To Lake Chinquasabamtook.— !!♦ 
(Continued from jiage Vi.) 
Cooper's Camp is hemmed in by dense forests, which 
afford a safe retreat to the deer and grouse from the ad- 
vancing buckboard. After making arrangements about 
hauling our canoes over, Ave speedily forgot all our trou- 
bles before a blazing wood fire. The beds looked very en- 
ticing after sleeping out night after night, and the wel- 
come call to supper found us ready. The camp owner 
told us about a near-by pond that abounded with large 
speckled trout, and all doubts were dispelled at sight of a 
water pail full of the largest trout I had ever put my eyes 
on. They Avere all caught with angleworms, and must 
have averaged close to 2 pounds. The next day we were 
off in search of this Avonderful pond. We reached it, only 
to find our hopes blasted by the furious wind that tore up 
the surface. As if to add to our gloom, a fine buck Avas 
floating around, shot, no doubt, by some miscreant out of 
pure Avantonness. We returned to camp and passed the 
time examining our strange surroundings. The refining 
touch of Avoman Avas seen in the beautiful arrangement of 
floAvers that bedeck the main camp. Good fare, comfort- 
able beds and the best of fishing for lakers and brook 
trout make this a very desirable place for the old angler 
and his friend. Here they can rencAV their youth amid the 
merry_ti-out of Webster Stream, or the heavy-Aveights of 
the pond. Cooper hauls parties to Sordahunk Lake and 
AVebster Stream. The lake is only six miles from camp, 
and is one of the loA^eliest in the Katahdin region. Here 
you are Avithin striking distance of Slaughter, Kidney, 
Dacey and many others. Kidney Pond is much resorted 
to, consequently the trout run small. Most anglers Avork 
over as far as Little Rocky and then quit. Dacey Pond is 
said to hold some good ones; the trout aA-erage larger in 
the Slaughter Pond country. The tourist can make the 
ascent of Katahdin from Kidney Pond on a ncAV trail that 
Irving Hunt has bushed out. He has a nice little camp 
at the pond. Hunt's magnificent team can tackle 'most 
anything that comes along. You can be hauled to the 
West Branch, Sordahunk Lake or over into the Avilds of 
Slaughter Pond. Lost Pond (named by the Avriter) lies 
close up to Katahdin, and is as beautiful as a dream. 
Trout are very numerous in most of the ponds, but seldom 
exceed three-quarters of a pound. The crowds are .giAdng 
the preference to the Katahdin region. They are on the 
right scent, as no section in Maine can compare Avith it 
for magnificent scenery and fine mountain trout. I hope a 
decent class of anglers Avill folloAV my adAace, but I sup- 
pose some others Avill nibble at the bait I have held out. If 
they come, may their cheap, split bamboos snap betAveen 
the ferules, their hooks and leaders go up at the critical 
moment, and, last, but not least, may they Avind up their 
outing hy falling into the clutches of the game Avarden. 
With this digression Ave vvill noAV return to Camp Cooper. 
We Avere noAv to sever our connections Avith the out- 
.side Avorld and take to the "bresh" (as Kingfisher has 
it). The region Ave proposed to invade has no camps or 
somber farms to fall back on in case of need, so turning 
our backs on .civilized beds, buckboards and roads, avc 
paddled out on Telos Lake. The prospect for the day was 
anything but reassuring, as the Avind Avas getting up. 
This made us do a poAverful lot of thinking, for the Big 
Lake Avas close at hand. Moosehead, Chesuncook, Cham- 
berlain, Eagle and Churchill lakes stretch themselves as 
a barrier betAveen the east and Avest. The steamer has 
robbed Moosehead of its terrors, but navigation on the 
upper lakes is still in a Avild and primitive state; the 
voyageur Avho attempts to cut across country has gen- 
erally to reckon Avith one or the other of them. A furious 
Avind is likely to descend at any moment ; under its influ- 
ence the peaceful surface of the lake changes as if by 
magic into Avrathful white caps, that threaten disaster 
and death to the unfortunate canoeman caught out far 
from a sheltered headland. The holloAv roar of monstrous 
AvaA'es brealcing on the rocks, to the shrill accompaniment 
of the gale, may Avell appal the stoutest heart. Under 
these conditions none but a reckless fool will give battle 
to this giant of the Avaters, and he will be quickly con- 
signed to a Avatery grave, or else hurled contemptuously 
on the beach Avith his belongings, a madder and a wiser 
man. 
We Avere now fast approaching Chamberlain. This lake 
is tA\'elve miles long, and in some places three miles in 
width. It is not a very attractive body of Avater, as its 
shores are quite Ioav, and this gives the Avind a pretty 
good sweep. Leaving Telos and Telosmis in our rear, we 
dreAv near to this Cerberus that stands guard betAveen 
the East Branch and the Allegash countrJ^ _ 
All doubts as to our reception Avere quickly dispelled. 
At the display of the grinning teeth of white caps and 
the ominous sound of breaking waves, determined to make 
the head of the lake by sundoAvn if possible, Lyman_ and I 
took possession of one canoe, leaving Cram to shift for 
himself. I had for my mat* a man of great experience, 
who can be depended on to meet any emergency that may 
arise. A roll of blankets Avith a board for a back rest 
constituted my seat in the boAV._ The boAv seat is a dan- 
gerous one in rough water, iintil the knack of balancing 
has been acquired, otherwise a lurch of the canoe may fire 
your OA-erboard, as there is practically nothing in "front 
to catch hold of. Paddling out into the turmoil of Avaters, 
Ave soon found plenty of excitement and danger in dodging 
the attentions of the big felloAvs. They raced in like wild 
horses, each with its white-crested mane, and flung them- 
selves upon us, causing the canoe to pitch and lurch fear- 
fully. Meeting their attacks boAV on, we foiled every at- 
tempt they made to board us, but if the canoe had ever 
struck a sunken rock Avhen it settled in the holloAv of the 
waves, the chances are Ave would have had to swim for 
the shore through the raging Avaters, AA^hich Avould prob- 
ably haA-e claimed one of us at least as a victim. We made 
as much use as possible of the sheltered headlands ; but 
sooner or later Ave had to come out and face the music. 
Keeping up the fight for about four miles brought us 
opposite the Lumber farm. Any attempt to cross over 
to the opposite shore and add to our stock of provisions 
would have consigned us all to the bottom of the lake, as 
nothing short of a miracle could keep a canoe fro.m cap- 
sizing amid the big Avhite caps that had invaded the center 
of the lake. All this time Cram had been toiling along 
bravely in our rear, having about as much as he Avanted 
to do to keep his canoe right side up. Passing by the en- 
trance to Mud Pond, we soon came in sigtit of the locks 
