The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-03-11
Man Hunting In The AdirOM.
00CkS.
From the Old Guard.

From the Old Guard
Far up in the northern portion OF
New York State, lie tho Adirondack K
woods-a range of forest land, some
hundred or more miles in diameter,
where deer and bear and palher still
hold out bravcly against the encroach-
ments of civilization, and the sharp
crack Of the sportsman $ rifle, echo
ing over the great, lonely lakes, tells
Of the goodness Of tho sport to be
found there. Grand, towering pines
and balsam frs lift their heads proud
ly to the sky, and along tho lake and
river shores wcir'lly twisted ccdars
stretch out over the water, and are
fantastically reflected in it. The
long, acrisiye shout Of the loon is
heard ut times. and, when night set
ties down upon the scene, the hoot-
ing Of tho owls startles the amateur
woodsmar with it's almost human
notes. A country whcreon God has
cast His most bescfccnt smile, aud
wherein is reflected His goodness in
lake and rapid, and lordly mountain
side, and graceful tree forms. A
scene Of love and peace and beauty,
where man and nature arc in harmo-
ny, and heaven looks down, we'll sat
isficd with its handiwork. Yet, amid
all this seeming peace, mans pas
sions have intru,led, and dark deeds
have been committed. ard have new
er been put into the guide books,
and which the willy inn-kcepcrs but
seldom refer to. The story I am
about to relate is. in its main incl
dent, true one, names alone being
altered, and although known to many
Of the guides Of the Raquctte wat
crs. will be fresh to the large num-
Der If tourists who, during the past
season, have shot the deer, and ang-
led for the luscious trout Of the Adir-
ondack woods. ss.....
A newspaper Office is not the most
conducive place to good health, and
after year of editorial labor, of ex
posing shams and lauling tho purity
Of political leaders. felt sick and
weary, and thought that / had fairly
earned q holiday. Long Branch,
Newport, or Saratoga. where the fe-
yerish excitement Of society is kept
up under the pleasant fiction Of
health. where heated ball rooms and
late suppcrs usurp the place Of fresh
mir, and free. manly exercise. were
but whited sepulchres. not ono mo-
ment to be entered by an editor in
search Of recreation and hygiene. -
So l cast about for some rational re-
treat. The summer before :! had
stood at the base Of the Rocky Noun
tains. and gazed awe-stricken, at
their towering height and snow cap
dcd SUBMITS. had seen tho Indian
in all his panoply Of gaudy colors,
and had followed the picturesque
Platte river in its devious and beau
tiful windings. l had stood upon
the highest point of railroad travel
il the world, and seen the clouds at
my feet. l had witnessed tho build
ing Of tho great Pacific railroad; and
had socn = brave, .stalwart army,
working its way through the closed
gatcs of the Black Hills, carrying
With each stroke Of the hammer the
civilization of the ninAsecnth centu-
~ into the mountains aud plains,
where once tho savage tomahawk.
defcncslcss women and fried intrud-
ing missionaries. After tais, rs q
matter Of course. nothing tame or
commonplace was, for q moment. to
bc thought Of; 20. remem berine the
pleasant days spent upon the Saranac
waters, some four years age, dcci.
ded. without hesitation. upon the
Adirondack woods. ss thes nj coca to
wards which l would turn my weary
footsteps. and ink.oppressed brain.
TO thoroughly enjoy the pleasures OF
camp life in the forest. eOmpa mons
arc necessary; 50 tho next step was
the formation Of party for the pro.
posed trip This was aoon accom-.
plished. and ONO magnificent after.
noon in August, there stood upon the
4 - - - ~ a 4