Litchfield enquirer., 1878-10-24


 Il Four years ago, five Indians, including theil chief, went over the falls and were drownded. But, to return to our little log cabin at To que Lake. Mt Katahdin lies directly back o1 of us, and seems to be not more than two miles away, but by the surveyed map it is sever miles. Togue Lake is the most beautiful little sheet of writer in the whole section. Its bolG shores are covered with Norway pines, and i
 very free from underbrush. Two islands adorn the center, each of them so perfectly round that they seem to have been struck out with die, both covered with the handsomes groves that nature ever arranged. The after noon of our arrival here was spent in duties about camp. such as boughing down our hunks
 sweeping out the cabin, and arranging things to our taste. The cabin by the way, is as good 8 one as we ever saw. Hub left it two years ago in good repair, furnished with chairs, stove table, cupbeards, &c., &c. We found writing upon the ceiling. which proved that hunting party occupied it last winter. They used it a little roughly, but it is a good cabin yet We were all of us very tired after our four days journey Jrem Medway; but, after we had rest ed little, went out and knocked over some cartridges Had good sleep, Thursday night. Friday was occupied in lounging about short distance from camp, gathering cranberries, hunting partridge, and ducks, and fishing in the lake. We find within half mile of camp plenty of tracks of deer, caribou, and bear, but we do not expect to be able to chronicle the capture of any of them. We know by exper- fence that victory over one of them is usually preceded by number of long, weary tramps. It of course would be 0ery pleasing to us to capture few, but it is pleasanter still to have a good easy time while we remain here. We have had hard time enough getting here, and must of course go to the top of Mt. Katahdin, and that will necessarily be a tiresome jour- ney Sc we shall content ourselves with knocking over what partridge and ducks we need for our support Saturday morning. we thought we would exert ourselves enough to try and get shot at some larger game. Hub struck west towards Sourdnahunk mountain, found several tracks, but did not get a shot. George and myself went north, where we struck without success. Upon striking back for camp | we suddenly arrived at the conclusion that we | were children lost in the woods. We came to several lakes which we thought to be ours but 1 each time found ourselves mistaken. We at tempted to travel by the compass, but no mat | ter where we were, the needle invariably point ed to the peak of Mt. Katahdin .(The cause of which we have since found out was owing to the presence of iron in the mountain). Our next course was to travel according to our best judgment. We soon found that our judge ment was as much out of order as our compass, had been. At last after blundering about in perfect ignorance of our whereabouts, we luck fly came in sight of our lake. Along towards sundown we went down to the lake and caught mess of fish. Quite variety of fish are found here, the largest of which IS the ''to- que, which for quality rate next to trout Hub says they have been caught in this lake that weigh forty lbs. George hooked one of the monsters tonight and he (not George but the togue) came up out of the water blowing like sperm whale, snapped the line, made very handsome courtesy;and went below. We are sorry we can't send photograph of that fish. A correct photographic copy of the au- dible expressions that George unconsciously crowded into that mementoes eight or ten sec onds would also be quite exciting but we had no photograph on the grounds. Upcn retiring Saturday night that fish was the last topic of conversation in camp. Sunday morning, our larder was well supplied with duck, partridge, fish, and cranberries We laid our guns and fishing tackle aside, and spent the day in quiet. Fms is our second Sunday from home and we have not had chance to send or receive letters since we left the last settlement We each of us have time to think of home and friends to- day, and would go some ways to get the bun dle of letters which we know is awaiting us at Medway. On Monday, if clear, we purpose taking an early start, and go to the top of Mt. Katahdin. Early Sunday evening, clouds ap- peared and slight rain fell, doubts were ex- pressed about it's It's being advisable to start for the mountain next morning (It requires a very clear day for the peaks of the mountain to be free from clouds), but before bed time, the moon came out clear and bright
 At 6:3O, Monday morning, cur party might have been seen headed for the highest peak of the mountain. The first three hours travel was comparatively easy, but very little underbrush to trouble. Then came belt around the foot of the mountain, about half mile wide. of balsam fir trees growing very thickly together and rather of a stunted growth The branches commence to put out at about two feet from the ground, and are about six inches apart all the way up the trunk of the tree The branch es are all upon one side. The side towards the mountain, being as smooth as a boys face. or else we could never have pressed our way through it. We next struck belt about quarter of mile wide of little dwarfed firtrees, about six feet high, with large trunks, and long branches which commenced to shoot out from the main trunk before they could hardly see the light of day. There seemed to be a kind of strife to see which tree could send out the IIlOSt UfdICllcS lTOLn d SlA lOJ6 dIlu lltO the Irishman's two pigs in the race, ''they each came out two lengths ahead of the other" The branches of course were braided and locked, and twined and intertwined around each other, so that we found it d5sogttely impossible to force way through. The angle to ascend here, was about 45 degrees. We didn't know what to do. We thought of Dennis Kearney's advice to the workingnen, 'tPool your issues, and wade knee deep in blood, if it becomes neces- sary to accomplish the object" We pooled our issues, and tore our clothes, and pulled out our hair, scratched our faces, and jamred our noses, and must have 'swaded nearly knee deep in blood" We shed tears; and cried, not because we were cowardly and didn't love the cause. and wished we were home &c. &c. Oh, no, no sir; we were all of us br0oe Gs goatrag kons. but we cried because the '