The Republican journal., 1870-02-03
THREE MONTHS in THE DERNESs

THREE MONTHS IN THE WILDERNESS.
(From the Lewiston Journal.)
In September last, f. II. Sleeper of Lewis
ton, and Nathan 2. Moore. of Moscow, left
home for a three months stay in the forests
of northern Maine. They met at Dexter,
furnished with traps, tent, boat, cooking
utensils, axe, compass, maps, &c. The boat
was made by Mr.. Sleeper, Of cedar, weighed
80 pounds and carries eight men. They took
the stage coach to Moosehead Lake, So miles
from Dexter. Arriving at the lake, they
launched their trall boat on its waters, put on
board their supplies and utensils, and, pad
dies in hand, bid three months good bye to
civilization. Reaching the head of the Lake
they hired team to take their boat and lug
gage from the North East Garry to the West
Branch of the Pcnobscot, where they again
launched their boat and tloated down to
Chcsuncook Lake settlement, and across the
Lake. They were told they could not get up
the AmazuXrls stream on account of low
water. They got Peter Tomar, q faithful
Indian, to accompany them and aid them in
getting over the ''carries,N and Peter in his
birchen canoe and Sleeper and Moore in then
sought launched off, got safely up Amazuxus
stream and across the lake of same Indian
ring. The Indian pete helped them across
a mile-and a-half carry to Mud Pond, -
where they laid down thoroughly tired, for
rest. Pete snored sonorously; Sleeper slept
sWeetly Moore couldn't do any more.
Well refreshed, the next morning they
awoke to view the beautiful landscape. They
had reached the watershed Of northern
Maine. AmazuXuS, over which their boats
had just skinned, flows into the Penobscot
Mud Pond-name of i'll omen-fows into the
st. John They resumed their Journey
Reaching Chamberlain Lake they fell in with
abundance of game and laid their tables I'M
der lofty trees, spread with duck, luscious
and toothsome, and fish fresh from the lake.
clear waters, while old Pete joillily feasted
off muskrat. his trusty rifle ha brought
down. To the Indian the muskrat is what
the turkey is to the Yankee
The last bit Of civilized life one nibblcs be-
fore launching utterly forestward, is to be re-
membered, On the Chamberlain lake is
Chamberlain t;lrm, owned by Coe & Co., of
Bangor fine farm, says Sleeper, of 25O
acres of cleared land and big ''wood lot
extending to Greenland, ii you please, Last
year Chamberlain farm raised 900 bushels
Of grain, - tons Of hay, 800 bushels of po-
tatoes, IS bushels of turnps, and other crops.
Large herds of cattle, four mule teams &c,
here flourish This farm largely supplies the
numbering teams.
From the foot of Chamberlain Lake old
Pete helped them carry boat and luggage
over the dams and locks to Heron Lake
Down that they padded their light canoes
through the ''Thoroughfare, or deadwater,
.connecting Heron and Churchill Lakes Here
they bid good bye to Pete, and the red man
turned towards civilization, while the white
men welcomed the forest and home in his
ample shades.
Near the head of Churchill lake on high
bluff sheltered by century old trees, pines of
glorious years, they made their home 1t
was built in u couple of days, of logs cover
cd with pine splits" They called it Home
Camp" They used the Pompellan chimney
one end Of the cabin, whose freight was
CHEEKY, and whose warmth was welcome in
the chilly nights. No civilization nearer than
20 miles, the Chamberlain farm.
While building their homo, Moore dislocat-
ed his shoulder. Padding along the Lake
they thought they saw another gorge on the
bank-a steep adown which offers slide Just
rs boys slide down in winter. Coming near
er, 10 ! an otter was seen sliding and sport
ing down the bank, having the best of fun.
Moore let him have the contents of his muskct
and leaping to the shore, made a misstep,
fell and dslocated his shoulder They got
the otter, but Moore paid dearly for his game
What should be done-no doctor within
several days journey. "You lie down here
on the ground" says Sleeper. Surgeons
must sometimes be eXtemporized. Moore put
himself in attitude Sleeper put his foot
against his middle. pulled on his patient's
arm hard; the dislocatcd limb came into
place with thud-the work was done. A
few weeks later, Il careless effort dislocated
the shoulder again. 1t was reset, and for
nearly two months Moore was Sleepcrs
patient and was fully restored.
Well settled in their wilderness home, it
was early October. The nights were frosty,
the days were crisp and delicious, and the
delectations of the forest added avoirdupois
to their bodies and felicity to their souls Fir
boughs they slept soundly upon, nor feared
the denizens of the wilderness-bears whose
tracks were plenty, being the most formid-
able. The routine was to leave the ''Home
Camp and ''boat it, fora dozen miles north
! ward, leaving their traps where game was
promised, leaving their boat, and taking
compass penetrate into the forest for game.
Sometimes they marked their way by spotting
trees. In the early part of their stay mink
were unfit to catch, and so they did not try
for them, but trapped in abundance, beaver,
OTTER sable, muskrat, &C., while out OF the
crystal depths of the lake they hooked cusk,
speckled trout lake front, white fish in abund-
ance. Their table was served with what q
princes might covet, and the appetites they
enjoyed princes might search for in vain.
A celebrated wit was asked if he knew
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