Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-29
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DEcrxu. 80, 1858
HUNTING IN THE ALLEGHANIES OF
MARYLAND.

MARYLAND.
From graphic description Of hunt 10
the Alleghany-mouutain range of Mary
land, and of the glorious scenery Of that por-
ton Of the State known as the Alpine pla-
teau, we extract SO much as relates to the
famous mcuntair-hunter, Meshack Brown
ing and his descendants-who mainly com.
posed the hunting party-their skill as
marksmep, and to trial Of the shooting
qualities OF the hest rifles used by the bear
hunters when pitted against the riff, Of Doc
tor Maynard. The account is from the pen
Of gentleman who once had much celebri-
ty as hunter in the West, and who had re-
newed the wood sports of bis early lie after
many years spent in literary pursuits.
IL cannot close without telling you that
nv mountain companions were as Doble and
sensible fellows as it has ever been my for.
tune to meet. They we're all Roman centu-
rions in their forms and presence. and an
army of such, with Washington or a JACK
SOD to lead, could hold the despotisms OF the
world in awe, and an oligarchy at home that
would sever the Union and overthrow the hb-
critics of the people. They were, for the
mt st part, descendants Of Mesback Brown.
ing, COW the octogenarian chief OF the bear
hunters of the mountaine, where his Infancy,
manic ], and old age have been spent. lie
has the look Of one born to command IN the
midst of the Allegbaoies. No man ever had
a head 90 much like General Jack oa's--the
same prominent, Grm-set chin, resolved lip,
Roman nose, With something Of the refine
ment Of the Greek, beaming representatives
expressing themselves in lightning, some.
times in the soft radiance of the rainbow
made Of tears. He has the same THO, elevated,
furrowed forehead, crowned with crest OF
thick, gray hair, lifted like the reused eagles.
"This venerable man. who has been hun.
ter all bis life, and made bis living and por'
toned off bis offspring. now amounting to
l22, with mountain freeholds acquired by
his gun, may we'll be considered the patri-
arch Of this region. He has always been
looked upon, although an illiterate man, as
the foremost among the people for sound
sense, integrity, heroic courage, kindness,
generosity, and courtesy. Although he
never had more than six months schoolir g,
be writes strong, legible hand, and has
native elooueuce and talent for conversation
which makes all willing listeners, no matter
who compose the company. His friends have
persuaded him to write the Incidents and ad-
ventures of bis life. 1t may well lie entitled
'The Lie Of Hunter For the greater art
of q century, and amidst the wildest and
graudest scenes of our country, be has been
one of the highest and most romantic caste.
81 read as much of his story in manuscript
as nv active pursuit of the same arguments
in the same region would permit, and was
charmed to perceive that enough remained
of the original grandeur of the wilderness
and of the lIxuriapce and beauty OF the crea
ton, animate and inanimate, that belongs
to it, to verify the graphic descriptions OF his
pages, and Justify the enthusiasm that lm-
peiled so much genius in the career OF hut
ter. His narration is given with all the
simplicity of Robinson Crusoe, but it has the
advantage of vividness and strength of ex-
preston and of spirit, supported by the at
tendant circumstances recQunted, that dis.
tinguishes reality from fiction. The story o!
the exploits of the hunter, Cummings, among
the unwieldy game Of Africa, although II
attains versmilitude in the same way, has
not equal interest for me. Cummings Is
military tactician and scholar, and does bis
work like discipliuarian turned hunter
Our Sacbem of the Mountains is natural
born hunter, educated solely in Natures own
school, and gifted, by Nature, to tel, her Ste
~ eloquently and truly.
"But. from the school Of mi litary tactics, l
surprised this hero Of hunters (who may be
said to have conquered the Alleghanies with
the old long riAe) by the display of little
polished 20-inch quo, as easily welded as a
pistol. which be and the whole tribe ofhun.
tiers, after repeated experiments, were otlig.
ed to confess e1celled all the rifles they had
ever seen. 1t was the breech-lcading. self
printing rife, invented by DR.. Maynard, ID
gentleman who probably had bis mind turn
ed to the improvement OF weapons by bis NIL
itary studies OF West Point.
"At Hays's, near the Virginia line, where
goodly company were assembled, and ex'
amining Maynard's gun with mingled curl
osity and distrust, aud some dersion,l modest,
ly proposed shooting match. A hundred
and fourteen yards were stepped eft as
pretty good test for a bunting gun. SINE
half dozen rifles of the best repute were tried
against the pop-gup, and all were beaten -
The surveyor ofthe county made his expert
ments With it, which proved equally homer,
able for himself and the gun. Then some Of
the best shots among the buDtsmen tried
with equal success and self-congratulatIop'
The little gun became afavorite. Subsequent
" on the other side Of the valley, near the
Pennsylvania line, where we had an accession
of comrades, another trial was made With
Maynard's against the mountain quo, shoot
ing the distance of 232 yards. 10 this ex'
pertinent the little gun was always close into
the mark; the others nophere-a sharp.shoo''
ing mashipist and eager hunter would test
the thing with rest for both himself and gum
and nearly drive the centre.
"a fine narksman, who had llarper's
Ferry rifle of great celebrity, resolved to try
both from bis own shoulder. The little gun
cut the paper; the big one missed the tree
The Surveyor Of the county tried bis hand
again, and keen eyes with it, and made a
line shot just above the paper. On this toe
great bear.killer declared he never 10 bis
long life had seen any rife equal to May
nard's. He lamented that he had not such
weapon in bis early days; it would have been
80 admirable, by its quick loading, for bic
haud-to. hand fights with the bear in defence
of bis dog in the laurel thickets, and Tor Ions
shots from mountain to mountain over the
precipitous gorges which divide them along
the Savage river. 1t only wanted, be said
tho bair.trigger and little addition to it's
length, to poise it at arms length, to make
the piece perfect"
FALL SUPPLY!