Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-11-24
Pictures of Forest Life.
BY DOWN EAST LUxBERMAN.
(coNrINUED.9


she circum stances. Soselimes we CON
struct what are termed dry sinfceways,
which reach from the upper edge of Il
precilice down 70 the base of the hill. gAts
Is LAYING large poles or trunks OF straight
frees together the whole disIunce, wllT,ti is
so constructed as to keep The logs from
running off the sides. Logs are ro Ted into
4he upper end, the descent or dip often be
ing very steep; the log passes on with light
niug-like velocity, quite bary'eg Itself IN
The snow and leaves below. From the
roughness et the surfaces, the friction is
very great, causing tie bark aud smoke TO
fly plen,luily.
AT other times, when the descent is mere
gradual and not toe steep, and when there
i. not a Sufficient quantity 10 pay the eK-
pense of siuiceway, we fell a large tree,
sometimes the hegnlock, trim out the top,
and cut the largest limbs oil IA foot, more or
less. from the trunk This is attached 10
the end of the log by strong chaiAs, and as
the oxen draw the load, this drag thfusss
its stumPy limbs into the snow and frozen
cath, aud thus prevents the load from
forcing the Team forward too rapidly
Should the chain give way which attaches
the hold back 10 the load, nothing could
save the team from sudden destruction.
There is mountain on the west branch
of the Penobscot where pine trees OF excel
lent quantity stads far up its sides, whose
tops appear 10 sweep The very Clouds
The side which furnishes timber, rises in
terraces OF gigantic proportions, forming
succession of abrupt precipices and shell
wing table land. There are three of these
Of oh
ces lumber which challenges The admiration
and enterprise of the logmen. The ascent
of these AlpineEgroves is TOO abrupt TO allow
the team 10 ascend in harness; we therefore
unyoke and drive the ken up winding
pathways. The yokes and chains are car
RED UP 10y the workmen, and also the bob
sled in pieces, after taking it apart. As.
cending TO the uppermost terrace, the oxen
are revoked and the sled adjusted. The
logs being,cut and prepared as usual, are
loaded aud hauled TO the edge of The first
precipice, unloailed and rolled of to the
table of the second terrace, where they are
again loaded, hauled, and tumbled off as
before, TO the top of the first rise, from
which they are again pitched down 10 the
base ofthe mountain, where, for the last
time, they are loaded and hauled to the
landing.
To obtain logs in such romantic locations
was really as hazardous as it was laborous
varying sufficiently from the usual routin-
.ot labor 10 invest the occasion with no ordl-
nary interest. 1t was, indeed, an exhibition
well calculated 10 awaken thrilling emo
lions, TO witness Ike descent Of those mas
sive logs, breaking and sillvering whatever
1hcfr hair a Nv Ill
the steep mountain side, making the valleys
reverberate and ring merrily with the noise
'of the occasion.
In other instances loads are eased down
hill sides by the use Of tackle and fall, or
by strong warp" taking "blte' round
a tree, and hitchIng on one yoke of the OK
Ell. In this manner the load is tailed
down sleeps where ii would be impossi
BILE for the tongue oxen" to resist the pres
sure of the load. Sometimes the warp
parts under the pressure to which il is sub
jected, when the whole load plunges on
ward like an avalanch, subjectlhg The poor
oxen to shocking death.
But the circumstance which calls forth
tb3 most interest and exerlion is SHE riva
lad" When teams are located within suf
ficient proximity 10 admit Of convenient
intercourse, a spirit of rivalry is often rife
between the different crews, on various
points. The largest tree, The smartes
chopper, the best cook, the greatest day
work, and score OF other superlatives
are all invested with attractions, the create
from the isolated circumstances of swami
life
The crack load is proceeded by all need
full preliminaries. All defective places
the road are repaired. New "skids~ ar
nicely peeled by hewing Oft the bar
smoothly, and plentifuliy as well as calct
lalingIy laid along the road. All needtt
repairs are made on the bob sled, aad III
Team put in contending plight. The tree
intended for the "big Load are CAREFUL
prepared and hauled 10 some converter
place on the Rlain road singly, where the
are reloaded, putting on two and SOM
times three large Trees. All things beln
in readiness, the men follow up with han'
spikes and long levers. Then comes III
tug of war;" rod by rod, or foot by foo
lha whole is moved forward, demandln
every ounce of strength, both of men an
oxen united, to perform the feat of gettin
to the landing. Were life and fortune 1
stake more could not be done under I'll
circumstances. The surveyor applies III
rule, and the result gives the one or the oil
er party "whereof TO glory" fnot "teeta
ers," the vanquished "pay the bliers
when they get down the river. Men los
apd will have excitement with spirits ney'
more buoyant, every hing, however trin'
adds to the "fun alive" in the woods. Ev'
crew has its sJack," who, in the absence
other material, either from the store {
smother wir'' or "greenness," contributes
the merry shaking of sides, or allow hin
self to be the butt of good-natured ridicul
TO BE CONTINUED.