The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-23
HrNrlNG IN rHE ALLEoHANIEs on MARYLANp-

HUNTING IN THE AI4LEGHANIFS OF MARY LAND,
MEsHAcK BROWNING, THE CHIEF OF BEAR
HUNTERS -MAYNARDs BREECH LOADING CAR
BINE g."
From graphic description of hunt in the Ale.
ghany- mountain range of Maryland, and of the go-
rious scenery of that portion of the State known as
the Alpine plateau, extract much az relates to
the famous mountain hunter, Meshack Browning and
his descendants--who mainly composed the hunting
party--thcr skill as marksmen and to trial of the
shooting qualities of the best rifles nsed by the bear
hunters when pted against the rifle of Doctor May
nard, of this city, some notice of which has hereto
fore appeared in columns. The account is from
the pen of gentleman who once had much celebri-
ty as hunter i'll the West aud who had renewed
the wood sports Of his early life after many years
spent in literary pursuits.
The result of the trial places the new rife in a DO
ston to justify the belief that ii has properties not
possessed by others, and which cannot fail 10 at
tract the attention of military powers abroad as il
has already attracted that of our government
considerable number having been ordered for our
troops
~ cannot close without telling you that my mountain
companions were as noble and sensible fellows it has
been my fortune to meet They were all Roman
centurons in their forms and presence and an army of
such, with Washington jackson to lead could
hold the despotisms OF the world in ave. and ogarchy
at home that would sever the Union and overthrow the
liberties of the people. They were for the most part
descendants of Mesback Browning the octoge
chief of the bear hunters of the mountains where his in
fancy, manhood and old age have been spent He has
the look of one born to command I'm the midst of the
Aleghanes. No had head so much like
General Jackson's-the same prominent, fm-se chin
resolved lip Roman nose, with something of the refine
ment of the Greek, beaming eyessometmes expressing
themselves in lightning sometimes in the soft radiance
Of the rainbow made of tears He has the same thin
elevated, irrowed forehead, crowned with crest of
thick, gray hair lifted like the reused eagles
. This venerable man, who has been hunter all his
life and made his living and poroned of his offspring
now amounting TO l22. With mountain reehods acquired
by his gun may well be considered the patriarch oil this
region He has always been looked upon although an
lliteIate man, the foremost among the people for
sound sense integrity, heroic courage kindness gene
rosity and courtesy Although he had more than
six months schooling, be writes strong egble hand
aud has native eloquencc and talent for conversation
which makes all willing listeners no matter who com
pose the company His friends have persuaded him to
write the incidents and adventures of his life 1t may
well be entitled The Life of Hunter For the greater
part of century and amidst the widest and graudes
OF country he has been of the highest and
most romantic caste.
" read rs much of his story ia manuscript as my nc
tive pursuit of the enoyments in the same region
would permit and was charmed to perceive that enough
of the uyurance and beauty of the creation animate and
nanimate that belongs to It, to verify the graphic de-
scrpons Of his pages and justify the enthusiasm that
impelod so much genius in the of hunter His
narration is given with all the simplicity of Robinson
Crlisoe, but it has the advantage OF vivdncss and
strength of expression and of spirit supported by the
tedapt circumstances recounted that distinguishes
atty from fiction The story of the exploits of the hun
ter, Cummings, among the mweldy game of Africa, al
though it attans versmilitude in the way has not
equal interest for me. Cummings is a military tactieian
and scholar and does his work like a dsciplinaran
turned hunter. Our Sachem Of the Mountains is a
natural born hunter educated solely in Natures own
school and gifted by Nature to tell her story eloquently
aud truly
. But, from the sohoo, Of military tactics, surprised
this hero Of hunters who may b said to have conquered
the Aeghanes with the old long rife by the display of
little polished 20 inch gun. easily welded as pistol
which he and the whole tribe of hunters after repeated
experiments obliged TO confess exceed all the rifles
they had ever seen. IL the breecll- loading, self
printing rife, invented " DR. Maynard gentleman
Who probably had his mind turned to the Improvement
" weapons by his military studies Mt West Point His
genius has certainly concentrated triple the power In less
than bali the material which once thought indspen
sable 70 constitute the formidable which, borne