The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-02
From the N. Y. Express,
Adventures in the North.
THE ADIRoKDAC MOUNTAINS.

John Cheney'S Cabin, !
June Is, 1847.
The Adirondac Mountains are situated at
the extreme head waters of the Hudson, in
the counties Of Essex and Hamilton, and a.
bout forty miles west of Lake Champlain.
They vary from five hundred to five thous-
and feet in height, and with few exceptions
are covered with dense forests. They lord it
over the most extensive wilderness region in
the Northern States, and as | have recently
performed pilgrimage among them, now
propose 20 give an account of what | saw and
heard during my expedition.
The tourist, who visits these mountains,
finds It necessary to leave the main road near
Lyndsey's Tavern on the Schroon. If for
tune smiles upon him he will be able to hire
a horse to take him in the interior, or per-
haps take seat in a lumber wagon but if
not, he must try the mettle of his legs. With
regard to my own case, fortune was non-com-
INITIAL for while she compelled me to go on
J foot, she supplied me with pair Of temporary
companions, who were going into the interior
to sec their friends, and have few days sport
in the way Of fishing and hunting. One of
my friends, (both OF whom were young men,
was farmer, who carried rifle, and the
other a travelling country musician, who car
iASNN u hNtlS' oul hlISI Jay tramp lOOh US
about fifteen miles, through billy, thickly
wooded and houseless wilderness, to the 30,
reas River where we found ruined log
shautcc, in which we concludcdt to spend the
night We reached this lonely spot at three
o'clock in the afternoon and having pre-
Niousy been told that the Boreas was famous
for trout,two Of us started after a mess of fish,
while the fiddler was appointed to the office
OF wood-chopPer to the expedition The b.
reas at this point is two hundred feet broad
winds through q woody valley, and is cold,
rapid and clear. The entire river does not
differ materially, as l understood, from the
point alluded to, for it waters an unknown
wilderness. | blibed my farmer friend to as
cent the river, and having pocketed variety
OF flies | started down the stream. Ipro-
cecded near half a mile, when came to
still water pool, which seemed to be quite
extensive and very deep. AT the head Oft,
midway in the stream, was an immense boul-
der, which | succeeded in surrounding, and
whence | threw a red hackle for upwards of
three hours. | never saw trout jump more
beautifully, and it was my rare luck to bas-
ket thirty four, twenty-one Of which averaged
three-quarters Of q pound, and the remaining
thirteen were regular two Founders, Salts
fed with my luck, | returned to the shantcc,
where found my companions, one Of them
sitting before blazing fire and fddling, and
the other busly employed in cleaning the
trout he had taken.
In due time followed the principal event of
the day, which consisted in cooking and eat
ing wilderness supper. We had brought
supply Of pork and bread, and each one hav-
ing prepared for himself pair Of wooden
forks, we proceeded to roast our trout and
InE E,, IL,
of the latter for seasoning, and leather cup
two following hours in smoking and telling
stories, and having made a bed of spruce
boughs, and repaired the rickety partition
which divided one end of the cabin from the
other end, which was all opcn we retired to
rcpose We had no blankets with US, and
an agreement was therefore entered into that
we should take turns in replenishng the fire
during the night. An awfully dark cloud
settled upon the wilderness, and by the mu
sic Of the wind among the hemock trees we
were soon lulled into deep slumber.
4 short time after midnight, while dream
ing Of certain pair ofeyes in the upper part
of Broadway, | was awakened by footstep
on the outside of the cabin. brushed open
my eyes, but could see nothing but the faint
glimmer of an expiring ember on the hearth.
l held my breath and listened for the mystic
rious footstep heard it not, but something
a little more exciting-thc scratching of "A
huge paw upon our slender door. In an eX-
ceedingly short time | reused my bed-fcllows
and told them what l had heard. They tho't
it must be a wolf, and as we were afraid to
tighten him away, yet anxious to take his
hide, it was resolved that should hold
match, and the farmer should fire his rifle in
the direction of the mysterious noise, which
operation was duly performed A large pine
torch was then lighted, the rifle re-loaded,and
the heroes Of the adventure marched into the
outer hall Of the cabin, when we found few
drops of blood, and the muddy tracks of
what we supposed to be a wild cat The ri
feman and myself then commissioned the fid-
der to make fire, when we again threw our
selves upon the hemlock couch.
The fiddler attended faithfully to his duty,
and in less than twenty minutes, he had kin
died tremendous blaze The brilliant and
laughing fame had such an exhilaratng in
fuence upon his nerves, that he seized his
instrument and commenced playing, partly
for tho purnose OF kpeDin0 off the wild ami