New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-07-18
THE TRIBU n Z
Driving Trccs-s Night In The Woods.
Cn,re.pnndence OF The Tribune.

brought brave old hcmlock 10 the ground, an
10 confess the truth | felt more pity than for tn
poor game every day fetch down. The frs
stroke into the noble trunk sends Slight shivs
through all the green tops, but as stroke follow
stroke, the old king o. tic woods seems to dc
sp;sc your puny efforts and receives the blow
in silent contempt. But as fibre after fibre il
severed, and the very heart is reached and pierced
groan passes up through the lofty STEM.
Then comes a cracking, as if the very seat o
life was broken up, and the frightened thing
sways and s.aggcls moment as if TO steady it.
enormous bulk; then bows its tall head in sub
mission and without another effort, and with
shock that shakes the hills around falls TO the
ground. There he lies, with all his great arms
crushed under him, stretched liieless corse
along the earth; then all is still again. His
brethren nod and trcmblc moment above him.
This backwoodsman would call transccnden.
talism if he knew the meaning ofthe word about
as well as some of our editors. At all events,
there is no transccndentalism in swinging heavy
axe for half an hour to fetch o:a of these kincly
trees down.
But did you ever witness the process called
"driuing trees?" Don't imagine whole I" Dun
shane forest on the move, like a flock Of sheep
going to market. Sit down with me here ON
this side-hill, and look Off to that opposite noun
tain slope, Just above that black fallow, or as
they call it here foller.' There, in that deep
forest, ten as goodschoppers as ever swung an
axe have made the woods ring for the last hour
with their steady strokes and yet not tree has
fallen. But look! now one begins to bend, and
hark, crack. crack crash crash ! whole
forest seems falling, and gap is made like the
path of whirlwind. These choppers began
down and chopped up the hill, cutting each tree
half in two until they got twenty or more thus
half severed. They have not cut at random bui
chosen each tree with reference TO another. Al
length sufficient number being prepared they
fellcd one that was certain to strikea second that
was halt severed, and this third, and SO on till
fifteen or twenty came at once with that tremen-
dous crash to the ground. Here is abor-saving
without machinery. The process is called 6" drv
ing trees" and it is driving them with ven.
geance.
was equally amused at Il very simple plan of
getting logs from one town to another They
are cut in Winter /; and in the Spring in the time
Of ircshets are rolled into the stream and left to
bound and shoot along at their own speed. At a
fixed place poles are strung across the stream TO
stop them. But the same thing is done by ff-
teen or twenty backwoodsInen at the same time,
and enquired how in the melee each could dis
tlnguish his own logs. "Ah,' said the man
"they nrr nH ,nnrtodu r., - h.--
like sheep, was entirely new TO me, and some
what drol, could imagine the owners at the
place of rendezvous, d. c. of the logs selecting
them in somewhat the following manner One
cries out, "well, ncghbor Jones, Is that your
logs eyes" " How do You know " Oh,
it has my mark-cropped on both ears and slit
in the right; and here is one belonging to you
with bob tail and knot in the forehead
The other day | was walking along The banks
If stream which the recent rains (much 10 the
damage of my fshng,l had swollen, when l
came upon three men breast deep IN the torrent
cndeavorng to loosen one of these huge pine logs
which q previous freshct had stranded on ROCK.
They heavcd and lifted with their leavers, TILL
finally over it went with splash, and darted of
like mad creature down the stream. AS II
passed away, one of the men cast his eyes up
into the forest where stood leaning on my rifle,
silently watching their movements, and as
observed was a stranger he paused a moment,
then shouted, Hurrah for CLAY and FRELlNG-
HuysEN." | could not but smile, for, there as he
81 e. md
in the torrent, he was living exhibition OF the
genius of our own Government. Backwoodsman
though he was, he was freeman, and one OF the
sovereign people, ard hence isolated though nc
seemed to be, felt deep and personal interest IN
the great contest that was approaching. AS his
eye fell on stranger; his first thought was
well, what is the news-how goes the battle ~
and the next was, "he shall know what my SEN
,menls are at any rate, SO here's hurrah Tor
CLAY and FRELINGHUYsEN." May no worse cry
ever fall from the lips Of T. freeman.
day or two since | made an engagement
with an Indian to go out at night deer stalking
We were sure, he said Of taking one. Having
nothing in the afternoon TO do, and the pure all
and bright sky tempting stroll IN the solemn
woods, | shouldcrcd my rifle and started oil
After proceeding about mile, thinking of any
thing but game, was suddenly aroused from
my ,eyerie by the spring Of u deer Just ahead
looked up, and there with an archng neck an'
waving tail stood beautiful doc. Quick a
thought she dashed away, but when she had gon
about 25 OK 80 rods stopped again. At fist
could not sec her, for she had halted behind
clump Of bushes, but at length L saw Tcoo'S
spot, about the size of the crown OF my cap DC
tween the leaves, hcsitated TO shoot, Tor knew
It was the broadside, and one Of my small ou
let's (my rife carries 100 to the pound) Pian'e
there, might not fetch her down I'll she had ru
ten miles. However it was my only chance S
took steady aim, and fred. wild spFn
into the onen forest told me she was hl, Tor u