Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-07-11

The sun came out burning hot, but we
scarcely felt its rays underneath the
thick foliage of the spruces and balsams
At 3 o'clock the breeze had freshened,
and the sun partially clouded in. The
guides reported it good time for troll
ing and, re-embarking, we once more re-
sumed our lazy sport. A .'strike" was
soon reported and fine lake trout haul
ed in. 1t was, however, too late in the
season for much success, and having
caught another four-pounder and a sue
cession of sticks, stones and bog ore, we
hauled in our trolling lines.
Returning by the way we came, we
reached the little lake in front of Paul
Smiths, just as the sun was setting in
the midst of fieecy golden clouds, which
were beautifully reflected in the placid
face of the lake Half dozen boats
were scattered about the lake, while on
the top Of Peters rock stood the COM
handing form of w. c. Prime, indus
triously throwing the fly, and thinking
perhaps, of the the pyramids of the
Nile, or the rugged. barren rocks of Pal
estine, whose story he has told 90 often
and so well.
Early in the morning all was hustle
and activity with our guides. We had
decided to be off by 8 O'clock, for trip
of 8 or 10 days, down the middle branch
of the St. Regis river, into the very
heart of the wilderness. Three miles
after leaving Paul Smiths the last log
shanty of the hunter is left behind, and
thence for sixty miles the river winds
its way through a dense growth of tim
Der, where the sound of the lumberman's
axe was never heard, and whose sole in
habitants are the wild beasts Of the for
est. We had told Charley to put up just
what he deemed necessary for the trip.
a duty which his experience as an old
guide enables him to do to perfection.
Two good tents, and plenty of warm
thick blankets, gave assurance of com
Portable night quarters, while our larder
was well supplied with potatoes, -four,
butter, pork, sugar, maple syrup, salt,
baking powders, etc.
A little after s o'clock we pushed ont
into the lake, across to its outlet, which
we followed for three miles to keese's
Mills, a small settlement. comprising a
few LOG houses and a saw mill. Here
commences a series of rapids of two
miles in extent. Hanks boat, with all
the baggage, was drawn ashore and load
ed on a wagon for trip round the rap
ids, while Fred vcntured to run them
with the other boat. The Doctor Shout
dercd the two rifles and took the road.
while Sheldon rugged up a temporary
fishing tackle and fished the rapids,
catching few trout.
In due time the boat and wagon came
around to the lower end of the rapids.
followed, in few moments. by Fred who
had successfully run them. Just before
reaching the foot Of the RAPIDS, we pass
cd the log cabin Of John Hail. a noted
hunter and trapper. and the last resident
on the river, until it breaks through the
forest, sixty miles below. \ fresh bear
skin was tackled against the walls Of his
house. and chorus of hounds greeted
us. as we passed.
Launching our boats at the foot 0f tle
carry,we started down the stream which
winds its narrow, crooked, tortuous path
through a most magnificent primitive
forest. composed largely of towering
pines. Of from three to four feet in dia-
meter Every now and then. huge
trunks had fallen entirely across the
stream. intcrccpting our passage. Some
of these we hauled the boat over, some
~, ,.,,+ .,,,-,,- Nth Tho o>a or,l o.l,srs
,,.,. ,,ass'I I,- bs,,li,,.r 49,, 1,..,t ,~o,,,,s
RUNNING THE RAPIDS
Is an cAclIIn2 business ana h"l Always
Tree from "ah5eI. L!i'S9 INC A'Iue Is
perieCI master Oh Has O''at, ~ We al'-
pfoach Inc sNlll current Nhl'h Ie""9 L"
Inc rapids hank oeAttI"us'y Turns h.~
noaj so as 10 lei IL 20 doWH Stern I'TI-
4
most, where ne can watch and AVOID Tie
JU'ilhg rocks ia lnlac4Iffhi; Il E"h i."
coon. ana your p'alih% euucatnh ms
been well attended TO, y0u can SIT IN l1-
stem ana be OF some service IN Wa'aih-
1t OH from hidden rocks and stones, bu'
II You are unaccuStomed to boating. }"J
haa better sat perfectly stIil and let your
guide manage the boat. or. best OF all,
perhaps. land and so around the rapids
on 1901.
There were several series OF rapids 10
h2 run, all OF winch We successfully
passed until we came to the last short
one, lew ToGs above the mead OF lue
Dig rapids, at Inc bottom OF Which ""
intended 10 camp some passing hinl'f
had ialleh tree GIrecjiy over these RAP
MS. IN order 10 cross The stream. ana
jn"re was "aFt'E room LOT lhe bo3t L"
glide between the tree and the seeihlhE
waters, The doctor, who IS somewhat
corpuient, distrustlng his ability to bow
guich enough 10 dodge the tree st12ptl
out, and Hank swinging the stern OF ms
boat down Inc stream sh9t Ike an ar
row Gown me current anu dropping on
ms bach IN inc poal as ne passed uhGe'
the tree; gildgd safely INTO the eddy be-
10" and took IN the doctor VIII" Aad
made BIS way around. FRED was not 50
fortunate. As he backed down WIlh
lhr Stern OF MS po1l toNal" inc sA"Te
ana NheId"h stepped OUT the swift cur
rent caught the 10" ana swung Haroun"
siue ways win the stream, IN an III
SJah' u was III me raPiaS ana gong "9Mh
Gf"ad>iue towards me laI'eh Tree. De
bow OF the boat struck the nee, CAUSING
her to caTeen a IlttIe, when she nlled and
capSiIed' ana away went tents blankets,
PROVISIONS oars and paddles, down Inc