Milford chronicle., 1883-02-23
HONE AID LIFE OF THE FEMALE HUNTER.

HONE AID LIFE OF THE FEMALE HUNTER,
While passing along up the Della
ware River, over the n. Y. & E.
r. r., our attention was called by q
fellow passenger to a smoke curling
itself up through the dense forest.
"There," said our friend, "where you
see the smoke rising, is the home OF
the 'Female Hunter"
Having heard strange stories of this
| secluded home and its peculiar mis-
tress who was so thOrOC ghly in love
with nature as to select this lonely
spot for home, we requested our
friend to accompany us to the place,
and accordingly at the next station,
set out for visit.
Two miles walk through the thickset
wood In Wayne county, brought us to
the foot of a ledge where rock upon
rock is piled TO the height of over five
hundred feet. The scene here is one
that fills the mind with solemnity.
Behind US lay the black massy carpet
on which the foot leaves no impress
sion, over US, stretched the great hem-
locks, locking their long arms into
each other, forming a grand canopy
that completely hides the sun like a
black cloud, and before us We're the
abrupt rocks, bold and defiant, with
their great caves or natural chambers
running far back into the mountain,
some of which have never been ux-
plOred. No sound breaks the stiffness,
save the rasping, creaking moan Of
the trees, swayed to and fro by the
wind, and the dismal irregular drop
ping of the water from stnue to STONE,
as it is heard far back in tie darkness
of the caverns, uttering such sOlumu
notes that all the spirit mediums of
the country would be put to shame.
The doleful sounds proceeding from
these chambers have given rise TO fa-
hulOus stories in the lives of those at
tempting their entrance. During the
early settlement of this country q no
tOriOus band Of thieves is said to have
inhabited this section, and when pur-
sued, would seek refuge within these
caves, where, also the unfortunate vic
Tins who might fall into their hands,
were taken, never to return. Just
what death awaited surh victims our in
fOrmant does not relate, but the popular
belief of the supersti,iOus is that some
slow and awful pu lishment was used,
and that the rumbling sounds now
heard are the spirits or ghosts of the
dead crying out for vengeance.
Vending our way along by the
mouths of these caverns, we soon
reached path which wound its ser
pentine way up the side Of the ledge. |
This we followed several rods till we
arrived at the "Hunters" palace, a |
sort of rocky amphitheater with hem
lock boards for roof and door.
In front of this rude but substancitl |
hut sat our heroine smoking She
was attired in male costume, but be-
3eatb her close fitting Scotch cap could
De seen the long. white locks of a wO-
nan. She had laid aside her hunting
>OQts and wore bpckskin slippers Be
ide her stood a short bench to which
he, without rising, beckOned us. The
lOOr of the hut stood open tied back
" q string that served for a latch
Ne told her that we had heard of her
sOlated life, and desirOus OfseeIng one
Who could thus shut herself away from
mankind and find enjoyment, we had
ONE to talk with her. Mistrustful at
lrst, she was reticent and seemed
oath to converse, but as allusiOn was
lade to the game to be found there,
nd of the reputation she bore for skill ;
vi shooting, she warmed up in con :
ersatiOn, and related many expert .
noes in the chase, her favOrite as well !
3 necessary pursuit. Inside the hut, .
on hooks, was the old fowl /
lg piece that had so often proved true !
} her aim and that she now regarded :
lmOst as 3 part of her being. A rude :
lble stood in the hut and in one cor :.
er we noticed fireplace and few I
ettles which served for range and !
)Oking utensils. No bed was visible, =
ut we supposed heap of straw piled n
p in one corner, answered that pur- 4
Ose. What comfort in such a home as y
lis and what enjoyment in such a 1
Iode of life? THIS thought came to ~
} as we looked about. True there T;
as health. Nature ever spread oqen l.
er book for study, and ones slumbers ~
light not be disturbed by the.hideOus =,
les of neighbOring children. But -
hat is health for except to be able to :,
d our friends? Why learn the Sc = :,
cts of nature except TO tell them to y
hers, or why be annoyed by the !.
Oubles of this life, but to teach us pa v,
3nce? OF course, we had not the ~
lrdness of heart to ask her what cir i
A9AeNuGC AAeAN uAANEn llCA " llAS uAOuG i
living, but the popular story as ~ ~
eaned from her wife 'Maria Louisa" ~
whom we shall write further on, is r.
fOllOwsy- L, ~
In the year 1928, while living at an az s'
lstern city in great afiiuence with - ,s,
r parents, the Hunter, then young ~
d beautiful formed the Acquaintance VI VI
a young man of about equal station ~. ~
tn herself. Possessing excellent on on
siness tact, graceful manners as well i
scholastic attainments, this ~
ung man kept his place in society, Pr
twithstanding one terrible fault-in- u
npeTance. His genial ways soon
n the admiration of the unsuspect- feb
, parents, and a standing invitation =
visit their home was accorded him, Il
hey beheld with pleasure the friend
p of the young people growing into ~
/, tenderest affection. Drives, tea =
ties and other social amusements II
re arranged for the adored daughter, Gre
h this young man as q favorite Nil
st, Matters drifted on at will, till RFI aTsI
N a certain occasion the young man &c.
sented himself in an intoxicated Ais
dition. This vice had been grow cias
upon him, but till now, he had
q mo discrete In sbstaining from