AestL It, 1903.]) 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Not a Fish Story. 
Washington, April 2. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Though the ancient fiJes of the Government are not rich 
in fish and game lore, yet occasional]}' there is found a 
faded paper relating tales of heroism, adventure and en- 
durance that "would stir a fever in the blood of age"— 
tales of the makers of the Republic that appeal to all good 
ana patriotic men, such as read and write for Forest and 
Stream, for doubtless good fishermen may be thus desig- 
nated. Now and then a gruesome story is suggested by 
a scrap yellowed with age. 
What scenes of vigil, stealthy pursuit, midnight foray 
and surprise are called up by the following: 
"Received September T2, 1780, of John Weitzel, three 
litmdred and twenty dollars in part of my proportion of 
the subscription that was raised in Sunbury and North - 
ri;nberland for the scalps that were brought in by myself. 
I. Cramer, Wm. Camplaell and Michael ." 
The price of scalps must have been pretty sleep or there 
were a lot of them. 
Doubtless after the Wyoming massacre the sense of in- 
security was so great and the people so incensed by the 
hoirible butcheries there perpetrated that heroic measures 
■were adopted by offering rewards for the red man's hir- 
sute adornment. 
Many of yom readers have hunted and fished along the 
route of that wonderful march of Arnold and his men 
through the Maine wilderness in the fall of 1775, and can 
appreciate the diflSculties troops would there encounter 
even at this day, but the imagination can hardly picture 
what that heroic band endured one hundred and twenty- 
eight years ago. 
I give below a copy of a letter from an officer of that 
expedition, written in old age to a comrade and friend, 
recalling some of the incidents of the campaign — written 
in the friendship born of perils shared by men of heroic 
mold. The writer was a prominent officer after the war, 
serving until his death, and men of his name and blood 
have ever since served the country in honorable and 
responsible stations. The letter is given verbatim et 
literatim et ■"spellatim," and is as follows: 
Washington City, March 15, 1816.— Sir;— I intended 
to write you a long letter to bring to recollection a num- 
ber of incidents on our assending the River Kennebec. 
We left the army lying before Boston on the Qth ot 
September, 1775 ; after marching to Newburyport we em- 
barked on board 19 schooners for the mouth of Kennebec 
River. 
We assended that river to Fort Western; there we em- 
barked part of our little army with provisions for the ck- 
pedition against Quebec. When we arrived at the head of 
the river one hundred and eighty of our Battoes were lost 
or had become useless; we carried three or four ever the 
Alleghanee mountain to the head of Hie Chaudiere River ; 
our march from that time was by land through, a trackless 
wilderness, one Boat only dessended the Chaudiere to the 
first French settlement, where we arrived without a 
mouthful of provisions. The French inhabitants having 
been apprized of our approach received us in the most 
friendly manner ; they had provided for us fine Potatoes 
£j)d Butter. We fed luxuriously on these and continued 
our march 75 miles to Point Levi opposite to Quebec. All 
the water craft had been destroyed or taken away hy the 
Brittish to prevent ouu crossing the St. Lawrence River. 
We, with some delay, procured Boats "of the Indians made 
of Birch Bark. With these we crossed the .St. Lawrence 
in the night between 2 ships of war which had been 
placed to intercept our passing. We landed at Walefes (?) 
cove and assended the heights and formed onr men on 
the plains of Abraham on the 13th of November, having 
been 75 days on our march. The incidents from that time 
to the 31st of December I will pass over. 
On the 31st at night, say 11 o'clock P. M._, we marched 
to the assault of the Town. We succeeded in storming a 
■Battery and made prisoners of about 70 men, commanded 
by a Captain belonging to the regular troops in the City. 
Here you recollect we were surrounded by three or four 
times our number. General Montgomery hf-.ving been 
killed. The whole garrison was turned ?gainst our 
column. After holding the Battery we had taken several 
hours we were made prisoners, except a few; you and L 
were in the column commanded by Arnold. You recollect 
that in the attack we had six small mortars in the sub- 
Ijcrbs of St. Roe, six shells were frequently in the air at 
the same time from our little Battery under the walls of 
the City. The Brittish were at the same time throwing 
shells from the City and their 32-pounders Avere playing 
on us at the same time. Their shot and shells flew harm- 
less over our heads, but they Idlled and wounded about 
90 of our men with their musquetry as we approached the 
Battery mentioned, and notwithstanding our lo.sp of men 
the march of our column was not stoped a moment till 
we reached the Battery and took possession cf it Such 
an attack and defence exhibited a night scene of exquisite 
sphmdor and the senses of sight and hearing were saluted 
if not gratified. It is now forty years since that interest- 
ing event happened; time has silvered our heads. This 
daily reminds me that I am now an old man, I am 75 
years old — 15 years probably older than you. I hope wc 
can both look back and forward and console ourselves 
that we have done our duty to our country Eiid that we 
will never shrink in prosecution of that duty while life 
shall remain. 
Most of our companions are gone before us. A kind 
providence has protected us — this ought to awaken in our 
hearts tlie finest sensibility. 
With esteem and respect, 
Your Ob't servant, 
(Signed) 
Major. 
P. S. — ^I recollect all the names of the Cadpt:* who vol- 
untarily attached themselves to our little army in that 
expedition. 
Besides yourself, there were Matthias Ogden, Peter 
Grubb, Eleazer Oswald, Matthew Duncan and Aaron 
Burr, of which two only are now living — ^yourself and 
Aaron Burr. 
(Signed) — : 
The men composing that band were a strenuous lot, 
many of them living on the remote frontiers battling with 
the wilderness and wild beasts and wilder savages.. Som'vi 
of them dwellers by the ocean, where they wrested n 
scanty subsistence from a tempestuous sea and a re- 
luctant soil. Who shall say that if Montgomery had not 
fallen or if the fire ship had accomplished its prrpose, the 
stars and stripes instead of the cross of St. George wo-Ulu 
not to-day float over the citadel of Quebec. 
"Their bones are dust, their good swords rust, 
Their souls are with the saints, we trust." 
'J'heir spelling may not conform to modem crthogra- 
piiy, but they wrote with their swcrds in unmistakable 
and imperishable characters the words IndepeVidence and 
E Pluribus Unum for our beloved and God-forever- 
blessed country. P. Ention. 
— ^ — 
Flxttffes. 
April 8-U.— Atlantic City, N. J.— Show of Atlantic City Kejinel 
Club. 
April 8-11. — Seattle, Wash., Kennel Club's show. 
April 14-17.— Sharon, Pa., Kennel Club's show. 
May 19-21.— Montreal, Can., Canine Association's show. 
May 29-30. — Hempstead, L. I. — Open air show of Ladies' Kennel 
Association of America. 
Oct. 6-9. — Danbury, Conn., Agricultural Society's .show. 
Nov. 3-6. — New York. — Annual show of Ladies' Kennel Associa- 
tion of America. 
The StfentJoas Life. 
That life in general in Chicago is strenuous, is pas- 
sively accepted by the outside world ; that life there in 
the kennel world in particular is particularly strenuous, 
the following, published in the American Field of last 
week, in reference to the recent Chicago Kennel Club's 
bench show, affords ample proof: 
"For expert handling of placing benching this per- 
formance beats the record, and we had intended to 
illustrate what could be done by a 'before and after' 
picture, for Mr. Oldham had stated that he expected 
the benching on Tuesday afternoon; but the light was 
too poor, and the photographer said he could not get a 
good negative. 
"In connection with this a most regrettable circum- 
stance occurred. The general manager of the American 
Field, in the pursuance of his vocation, while in the 
show building Wednesday afternoon, was assaulted by a 
member of the bench show committee without any provo- 
cation whatever. Whatever suspicions may have been 
entertained as to our manager's motives, they were 
entirely without foundation, for, as is well and univer- 
salli' known, both the American Field and its management 
have always deinonstrated by their acts, tangible donations 
and through the coluinns of the American Field that they 
stand only for the right, the ennobling and elevation of 
sportsmanship. 
"As a consequence of the unwarranted assault suit has 
teen commenced in the Circuit Court of Cook county for 
$25,000 damages in the case of George W. Strell, plaintifl', 
vs. Frank Brown, Samuel Snm.merfield, Harrv J. Ca'^sadv, 
Philip Henrici, Jr., C. A. White, Caleb B._ Whiteford and 
rhe Chicago Kennel Club, a corporation, defendants, 
which proceeding the American Field, with the knowledge 
it possesses of the circtimstances, heartily approves. We 
trust our friends will share this sympathy with us; it is 
imaterial to us whether our enemies do or not." 
The Tell-Tale Tail* 
A WRITER, in tracing *the ancestry of the dog to wolf 
and jackal notices typical differences in the cast of their 
eyes, their body colors and markings, the habit of turning 
around before lying down, and other interesting peculiari- 
ties ; but he does not mention the tnost striking and infal- 
lible way of distingushing them, namely, by the fashion 
in which they carry their tails ! 
Wolves and co3'otes have a sneaking way of carrying 
their tails low, almost dragging on the ground, while 
dogs carry their tails up ; and the further removed they 
are from the feral type the higher they carry them. Shep- 
herds and collies, which retain many of their racial char- 
acteristics, carry their tails lowest of all; setters and 
pointers a degree or two higher, stiffening out straight 
when drawing on game ; terriers and hounds elevate their 
tails to the spinal line; St. Bernards and Newfoundlands 
affect a curve over the back, while pugs actually come to 
a full twist. An old plainsinan could tell a wolf or 
coyote as far as he could see him ; and in buffalo days 
this was a most useful indication of buffalo herds being 
not far away. These predatory creatures always followed 
a moving herd. Chas. Hallock. 
— ® — 
The result of the early trials between Shamrock I. 
and Sir Thomas Lipton's new boat demonstrate that 
Mr. Fife's latest production is much faster in every 
particular than the old boat, and Ave may now look 
forward to some very close and interesting racing next 
summer between the American defender and the third 
Shamrock. 
The boats had their first trial on March 31 in a light 
breeze. In windward work the new boat sailed much 
faster and pointed higher. The boats were out five 
hours, and sailed some forty or fifty miles, the experts 
who followed them were more than pleased with the 
new boat, as was Mr. Fife and Sir Thomas. Shamrock 
III. was fast in stays, and left the water very clean and 
made little fuss under the bows when moving through 
the water at a good rate of speed. 
The two Shamrocks had their second trial on the 
afternoon of the first of April. Both boats were tried 
with club topsails, and there was a fresh breeze blow- 
ing. It was rather unusual to set a club topsail on the 
new boat on her second trial, but as all her standing 
rigging was thoroughly tested and stretched on Sham- 
rock II., by having a season's use, there was little fear 
of a breakdown. The result of the second trial was 
very satisfactory. Shamrock III. showing her heels 
to the older boat in the fresh breeze. A squall came 
up about four o'clock, and the boats doused their top- 
sails and ran back to the harbor. 
On April 2 the two boats had their third trial. The 
boats again carried club topsails, and at first the: 
breeze drew out of the lochs rather fresh. In the. 
windward work the new boat again proved herself bet- 
ter than Shainrock I., but in the running and reach- 
ing there seemed to be little difference between them,, 
and Shamrock III. did not get away from the old boat: 
very fast. 
Shamrock is far too new to be in perfect tune, but; 
she has got to show greater speed than she has already 
done before she will be a very dangerous competitor 
for Constitution, not to mention our new boat Re- 
liance. 
Cruise of the Rambler. 
"Winner of Second Prize in Forest and Stream" Croising 
Competition. 
BY WILLARD B. cook, DENVER, COL. 
After clearing Morse Island the breeze flattened out 
and was succeeded by an oily calm. The tide was ex- 
tremely strong, and for four hours we drifted steadily- 
back toward Victoria; as the reader will notice by- 
consulting the chart. Our senses were sharpened and 
on the alert to discover the least trace of a breeze, and 
presently the writer imagined that he could detect a 
disagreeable odor in the air. Appealing to the Law- 
yer "for confirmation, the latter replied, "Smell some- 
thing dead? No wonder. Dead calm!" 
Along in the afternoon a slight breeze came up 
from the south, and we laid our course for Reid Har- 
bor. On the way we regaled our guests with tales of 
the delicious spring chicken to be had at Reid Har- 
bor. These tales fell on willing ears. The Lawyer 
became enthusiastic over the prospect, and thought 
it would be a good plan to stock up with live ones on 
our departure, remarking, "We ought to have no difH- 
culty in keeping chickens alive in the hatchway." As 
we approached the harbor the breeze failed, and we 
towed the last mile. A large salmon trap occupies 
the west side of the entrance, but there is plenty of 
room left to beat in or out. 
Reid Harbor is about one mile long by one-quarter 
of a mile wide. It is completely landlocked and sur- 
rounded by heavily timbered hills. It has a soft, 
sticky bottom, with a uniform depth of 4 to 6 fathoms, 
and deep water right up to the banks. Fruit of all 
kinds, eggs, milk, and chickens can be purchased here 
reasonably. On the north side of the island and 
separated from Reid Harbor by a narrow strip of 
land, is Prevost Harbor. This is somevi^hat shallower 
and has sandy beaches. The scenery is even more 
beautiful than Reid Harbor, but I do not consider the 
anchorage as desirable. 
The next day we climbed to the top of a hill 640 feet 
high in the middle of the island and were well repaid for 
our trouble by the magnificent view to be had in all 
directions for a radius of 30 or 40 miles. Words cannot 
do justice to the beautiful panorama presented by this 
Icwely inland sea dotted with hundreds of wooded islands 
ranging in size from a few feet across to as many miles. 
We descended the hill on the opposite side as it looked 
easier, and as we were very thirsty approached a farm- 
house and asked for a drink of water. The woman who 
answered the knock asked excitedly, "Did you see any- 
thing of the bull?" We replied in the negative. "Well, 
you better look out for him. He killed a horse yester- 
day." This inspiring information banished all fatigue and 
materially accelerated our return, besides permitting the 
writer to again perpetuate his favorite saw, to-wit : "One 
is never safe except on the water." 
When we got back to the Rambler the barometer had 
fallen and late in the afternoon a strong wind came up 
from the south. Quite a heavj'' swell came in the harbor 
as far as where we were anchored, and as the motion 
was disagreeable we got up anchor and towed in under 
the shelter of a point where we were well protected. 
Then we took the launch and hugging the lee of the shore 
until nearly to the mouth of the harbor, we ran out into 
the force of the wind and squaring away raced with the 
big swells coming in from outside. The motion in a 
small boat with such a following sea was exhilarating to 
a degree. When on the crest of a swell its momentum 
ridded to our owm speed, made the launch appear to fairly 
leap forward as though shot from a gun. I have often 
read of the Kanakas riding the breakers on surf-boards 
and imagine the sensation must be somewhat similar. 
I'ry it sometimes if you have an opportunity. 
The next morning (Sunday) we weighed anchor and 
started, with a strong wind from the southwest. Mind- 
ful of the sailing directions of the British Columbia Pilot 
we essayed first to negotiate the channel north of Spieden 
Island, as we had to buck the tide, which is very strong 
between Spieden and San Juan Islands. As soon as we 
brought Spieden Island abeam it shut off all our wind 
and left us becalmed. Then the tide took a hand and 
backed us out until the wind got another try at us. After 
see-sawing in this way for half an hour we gave it up and 
tried the south channel with better success. As soon as 
we cleared the north point of San Juan Island we found 
the wind to come from the southeast, which made our 
course to Friday Harbor a beat to windward. However, 
as the ebb tide split on this same cape we had the tide 
with us the rest of the way. 
I have almost always found the wind strong and 
squally in this San Juan channel. The tide made a short 
choppy sea in which we plunged a good deal. The 
squalls came in puffs every minute or two which required 
the man at the wheel to keep a watchful eye to windward 
and luff into them promptly. We soon took in the jib- 
topsail and could have comfortably carried a reef in the 
mainsail, but we were in a hurry and carried on until 
she laid over to about her limit. Starting the main sheet 
just a trifle is frequently as good as a reef if the wind 
is only blowing hard in puffs, but with a steady hard 
wind there is nothing like a reef or two for comfort and 
safety, and yet during ten weeks of almost continuous 
