The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-09

into hollow tree me find plenty room. almost begin
sleep. BY and by me ieelum hot wind blow on my
ace me know hot bears breath He crawl into log too
me take um gun. she NO 60 me thEk me all gone,
all eat up Then me tbinkum my old black snud-box
me take um snuf and throw in bears face, aud he
run out; not very much like um, guess Me lay
still all nights he no com again. Every leeile while
hear cough; every time bear he go me sneezum. over
and over great many times Morning come, me hx um
gun. aad shoot um dead he no more cough am snee-
yum"
And now, having recrossed the Reslgoucbe from Mis-
SION Point Cat The very spot, BY the way where only
few weeks ago, four out Of five poor Indians including
TWO women, lost their lives while crossing in rotten
canoe) the reader will allow the pleasure OF intro
ducing him 10 Athol House, place most worthy 10 De
loved and long remembered The spot in question is
three miles from Campbelon and directly the river,
and consists OF large and commodious house. furnished
with every possible comfort fanked by al least two
dozen ouhouses, behind which is spread out perfectly
level tract OF more than thousand acres OF rich and
well cultivated land while the surrounding panorama,
with the several exceptions OF the lake-lke looking
river, Mission Point, aud the point occupied by Camp
bellton is composed OF vast brotherhood OF wild but
very beautiful mountains So far as remoteness is con-
cerned, Atho House to New Brunswick what the North
Cape is 10 Norway. Here, however, there is an Area
dian atmospheIe--insead of bowling Storm winds and
the roar OF waves, we have the nkling of cow-bels
and the quiet singing OF lovely streams stealing along
under canopy OF reeds and sctge TO the peaceful bosom
of their parent river An estate like this would attract
attention in any land; but strangely and most agreeably
indeed, does it strike the tourist when he finds it in the
very heart, il OF wilderness, enormously asso
cated in most minds with nothing but savage animals
and uncouh men.
As the Athol House estate the very first one per-
manenily established on the Res,igouche, it may be well
imagined that its founder must have been remarkable
man. He native OF the district of Atho, in Scot
land, and hence The which he gave TO his estate
His own name Robert Ferguson and he was one OF
the earliest explorers and pioneers OF this region, having
settled here in the year 1896 He died in 1851, at the
good old age Of 50 years. leaving behind him. besides
some ten children, his vile. Mrs Mary Adam Ferguson,
who the first white person born in the county OF
Gloucester, and whose strong mnd-for she is still liv
ing-s fully stored with historical and Legendary lore.
Mr. Ferguson came the Restigouehe country in The
capacity OF fisherman sailing his vessel across the
ocean and along The Bay Of Cha'eur; but having lost
couple OF vessels, with their cargocs during The war OF
1872 and been carried prisoner TO Salmon bay by an
American prvaeer and fortunately Teleased he changed
the character OF his business. and spent the remainder
Of his days building ships, exporting lumber, and cult
vabg his extensive property. The artificial materials
for building his house brought all the way from
Halifax, and for many years after bis first settlement
here his nearest post Office the Fredericton,
to which place, as we'll as TO ST. John and Halifax. be
in the habit OF making winter pilgrimage entirely
on snow shoes. His last journey to Halifax per-
formed in this manner and in obedience to call which
the government had made upon him for military GER
vices; but as they did happen be required at the
time, he Toasted by those who admired his exalted
herosm and again, through the painless woods and
the snow. alone and fearless, he sought his distant will
derness. home.
A,ho House and its estate still in the possession OF
The Ferguson family, and the master OF the place
the present time is the eldest son. Adam Ferguson, esq
1
Bile, and hospitake family, consisting Of bis molher
sister, and brothers, leads here life that Ras-
seas would have enyed His chief attention is devoted
to farming, and do not remember to have seen any
part of the United States not at MarshGeId great
er variety OF fine cattle than those which flourish under
the fostering care Of Mr.. Ferguson But the Rest
gouche is famous river for salmon and as many of the
best fishing stations belong the A,hol House estate
considerable is derived from this business The
hsh taken in set nets and al every ebb tide during
the conveyed 10 the shore in canoes and By
experienced sailed and subsequently shipped 10
Great Britain has Of late years been the case, sold
on the spot TO American vessels, which have visited
Campbcllion for the special purpose MIR Ferguson in
forms that in TIE early part of this century, his father
in the habit OF capturing and exporting nearly two
thousand barrels Of salmon annually; but that the char
acler Of the kesugouche in this particular is rapidly
changing since he is quite con,ened il he can, with
the assistance of dozen men, manage to export three
hundred barrels per He attributes the great fall
ing off in their numbers 10 the spearng and netting them
by the Indians and other barbaans while on their spawn
| ing beds. far beyond the settlements. And then, again
the gradual determination OF the salmon is also attributed
to another al the close Of the autumn am in.
formed large quantities OF provisions and other supplies
intended for the various numbering parties NJ
the Resgouche distance of eighty miles or more, IN
large boats scows, drawn by horses and the
upper Part Of the river is much mpeded by broad sandy
shadows which the favorle spawning places of the
salmon the dragging OF the these shadows
washes away in immense quantities the precious embryo
deposiles Of The poor fish, As general thing the salmon
OF the Resiigouche much larger than those OF the
Nipsguit and Miremichi, and the FISH which freque
the various tributaries distinctly marked by some
peculiarly OF form color the streams them.
selves In former times ii took about eleven salmon
| upon average, 10 make barrel OF two hundred
pounds but fifteen and seventeen required to
reach the bulk and weight, Odd specimens weigh.
ing from forty to sixty pounds alluded 10 by all the
fishermen, but have il from The lips OF Mrs Ferguson
| herself, that she has salmon caught within a
stones throw of Atbo House which weighed fifty three
sounds, and actually blind, she supposed, merely
from old age. The first of salmon OF The Resg on
che, as is also the in the Npisgu consists inva.
rably of females and fish of large size; and is said
that before entering the Resigouchs they go rowing or
week or two along the Bay of Chaeur, and are taken
in set nets every It's coasts The facilities fo
taking salmon ~fa the hook in The immediate vicinity OF
the main river and especially 10 The uibuari.s by EN-.
poying the and expert Indians the industrious and
fearless angler may capture them by the hundred and
L IL 18th ,I,n mad