The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-02-21
WINTER AMONG THE wooDsMEN.
Hard Work by Day and Jolly Times at
Might In the Forests
Bangor Cde.) Cor. New York SUM-

Night In the Forests.
Bangor (Me) Cor New York SUM-
Despite the Improbable year Just
passed in the lumber business, the
woodSmen have gone in swarms from
Bangor, us usual, this winter, to cut
spruce and pine on the upper Penob-
scot, Cne inducement to the lumber
men to operate is the low cost of pro4
visions, 1t being possible to board crew
OF men 20 to 70 per cent. cheaper than
a year ago, Labor also is low, as the
Prince dward island boys have poured
into Bangor by the hundred this season
looking for employment, and they have
put wages down and kept them there,
Think OF a stout young man swinging an
AK all winter Tor 80 to $15 a month
and his toard,
Many people have queer ideas of how
loggers live in the woods. They build
camp Immediately, if there is not al
reacy one near the scene of Their work,
ana are seldom more than day about
it. The camp is simply a log house,
with low sides and stepped pitched roof.
The chukS OF the walls are filed with
mud, moss and leaves, and a high bank
ing of earth or snow reaches almost to
the caves outside. The entrance is in
one end. The cook and the assistant
have a sort Of pantry partitioned off at
the window end, and here are wood and
provision store rooms on either side of
the entrance. The remainder of the
building forms one room. On one side
is long couch made of boughs, hay, or
straw covered with heavy quilts and
/ blankets on whi h the men sleep in a
row. On lie opposite side is a long table,
made of small logs, hewn smooth on top,
on which the food is served. In front of ii
is big log htwn out for settee, and
called the deacon seat The men, when
done eating, have only to turn around
| in their seat to toast tnelr Shins at biz
ire Of logs, which gows like small
volcano N the midst OF all, and SENDS
It's smoke and sparks through hole i
the roof six feet square, the draft being
aided by rooi-tree,
The fare is plain and monotonouS,
but wholesome and substantial fors
and beans, bread and molasses, and
pork fat, the latter used for butter,
make up breakfast at sunrise. Then
the crew 90 to work, and, if near by til,
camp, they come back at 12 O'Clock tol
dinner, which is beans and porh,
with pork scraps and doughnuts Tie
men work until it is too dark to tell q
hemlock from a spruce, and then co.'s.
back to eat "A supper of the same Wand
varied with dried apple sauce. Fish =.
served onco or twice week The be,
orage is cheap tea.
Evenings and Sundays are passed ir
telling wonderful yarns, singing ear
splitting songs, and smoking. In SON,
amps the men play cards, and gam j,
for tobacco, clothing, and even wages
The woods baked beans are the besI
of all baked beans, and put Boston il
the shade. They are cooked in an irs
pot placed in pit surrounded by lvI
Goals, and covered tightly with earrL
over night. In the morning they are
done to turn. No range can con}par
with the tean-hole OF the woods.
TIE woodsmen range in age from
to IS, dress in heavy wooden or knit n
derwear, cheap ready-made qIothgs
cloth or knitted caps, moccasina, an,
many socks and mittens. They wor
on an average four months, come out Il
fat as bears, and with from 500 to $l5
due them. They spend the money, an
then are ready to go to work on tb
river or do driving