Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-11-23
In the WOOdS---Deer HHnting---HOw
the Hunters Live and Enjoy them
SelTeS.

stumbled along, over a dilapidated
sidewalk, to the village, where We
were furnished with comfortable beds
by the the obliging landlord at the
Hyde House. After breakfast we
found a team waiting to carry our
traps to our hunting grounds, some
seven miles from the village so lay
ing in a few necessary supplies, we
were soon on the way. 1t was a beau
tiful morning-clear and frosty, the
sun just rising above the dark hem
lock ridges. A cool, braeing air, in
vigorated US, made the walk a pleas
ant one, and we were all in fine
spirits.
After leaving the village, the road
wound up a steep hill, overlooking
the valley Of the Clarion, with the
pleasant little village of Ridgeway
nesting in its midst. On we went
nov threading dark hemlOck forests,
now through low swampy tracts-all
the time rising into a more elevated
region, occasionally passing some un-
pretending farm house or log sllanty.
Ever and anon q daslIing trout brook
erased the road. its clear waters
sparkling i'm the morning sun, where
we quenched our thirst in its ice cold
depths. A walk of about two hours
over this wild. rough road, which the
natives call pike" in which we
got far in advance of the wagon,
brought us TO the block house" our
future home. Here we found our old
acquaintance, Fitch, the hunter, who
has a shanty at the MontmOrency
clearing, a half mile below, engaged
i'm chinking up and making things
comfortable for US. The block house,
as they call il here, Is a log cabin
about twenty by twenty-fOur feet,
made of hewn logs, and divided into
three rooms, with a loft overhead. II
is situated at the foot of long. slOp-
ing hill, where a clear, running trout
brock crosses the road. The wagon
coming up, we uulOaded our traps,
and soon had things fixed quite CON-
/ Portable. There was a cOOkstOve in
l the cabin, and our friend Fitch had
/ chopped wool enough To last US for
some time. Then we filed the ticks
we brought along, with clean straw,
and thnse, with the blankets, made
US beds &c for a king.
Our party consists of s. /. Free
man, P. L. Rush, n. S. Pratt, w. F.
Porter and Otis Fitch; and here we
are. comfortably fixed in our cabin,
which we have christened Hotel de
Rush, surrounded by dark hemlOck
I forests on every side, three miles from
anybody.
For fear our Warren friends may
think we are faring poorly, will give
one bill of fare for Sunday dinner:
venison, brolled. Currant Jelly
Pheasant Pie, Grape Sauce,
Warm Biscuit,
Bread. Butter. Cheese.
Pickles. Cookies, TIA and Coffee.
The front Of our shanty would make
a picture that would please a sports
mans eve. On either side of the
window. from a huge crOtched pole q
buck of nearly equal size, weighing
about two hundred pounds apiece
and from a beam that projects Ovel
I the window, is suspended a haunch o.
venisOn, a yearling, that would make
your mouth water if it was served up
as the cook Of our hotel can do il
and also several brace of pheasants.
But l see I have forgotten 10 give
you an account of our hunt the
other day. Up at an early hour, W,
I were off before daybreak, Fitch gOinl
ahead, with two boys, to lead tn,
dogs. We tramped along down tn,
road some iOur miles, then through
the woods by an old wood road. wind
ing down the hill until we reache,
the Clarion, which we crossed by 1
bridge at the saw mill. We were SOnI
on the ruuaways assigned To us, whilJ
the boys went up the hills to start tn
quarTy. NV station was beside tn
railroad track, where an old roadway
led across to the river. In front tn
beautiful Clarion swept around will
graceful curves, its rippliRg waite
making pleasant music; to the righ
/ caught glimpses of wooded hill
stretching away ON either side, Will
mile away to the left / could barrel,
ser the bridge 10y which we crOs>ed
with the saw mill and adjacent build
ings-OppOsile, a steep hill, wooded &
the summit with dark hemlOcks, in
terSperS.d with the silveTy stems q
tie BAINn-ull WHICH, a lew duAullll
leaves remained-affOrding an agreea
Bile contrast. AS The morning wa
cold and frosty, built a'fire bghint
a clump Of bushes, where / occasion
ally warmed myself
1 had remained At this station som
two hours, when / heard the hound
on the opposite hill. Then came
, few moments of expectation, durin
which 1 watched the river with anX
, iOus eyes. Then the sounds grey
fainter and more distant, and kne'
they had gone over the hill above mt
Soon l heard a shot, followed i'm a FEY
moments by another; and then
loud, CHEEKY whOOp came down tn
: river, and ] knew the deer had falleT
! In a few moments our party wer
gathered in a group on the hanks {
: the river, where lay as fine a buck q
/ the eyes ever rested on, which il ma
I been Rush's good fortune TO shoot.
= Fitch dressed the deer, and We hun
I il up near the railroad. After givin
: the dogs a few hours rest, durin
= which We dispatched our luncheon
, We were on our way up the river, e
: another drive. AS only two of th
), dogs had returned, however, and
! was getting late in the day, Fitc
thought our chances were poor; bJ
- we concluded TO make another tria
Going up some five or six miles, "
were placed on our stations agail
where / spent the afternoon yer
pleasantly, admiring the varied lane
O scape spread out before me. TowarC
e dark we were called, no deer haviu
) been started. After a brief consulti
|. ton, We concluded TO remain unit
II the morn at little station calle
s WhistletOwn, a few miles below
Crossing the river by the boom log
- above the dam, we found very gOC
accommodations at the residence
Mr.. Horton. proprietor Of the say
mill at this place. We found them