The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-01-29
WINTER AMONG THE wooosMen.
Hard Work by Day and Jolly Times 81
Night In the Forests.


Night In the Forests.
Bangor tMc.p Cor New York SUM-
Despite the improbable year just
passed in the lumber business, the
woodsmcn have gone in swarms from
Bangor, as usual, this winter, to cut
spruce and Pine on the UPPER Penob-
scot. One induccmcnt to the lumber
men to operate is the low cost Of pro-
visions, It being possible to board a crew
Of men 20 to % per cent. cheaper than
o year ago. Labor also is low, IS the
Prince Ldward 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 stout young man swinging an
OK ali winter for so to *15 month
nd his Loard.
Many people have queer ideas of how
loggcrs live in the woods They build 4
camp Immediately, If there is not al
ready one near the scene Of their work,
and are seldom more than day about
it. The camp is simply log house,
with low sides and stepped pitched root.
The chinks Of tho walls are filled with
mud, moss and leaves, and q 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 sort of pantry partitioned off at
the window end, and .here arc wood and
provision store rooms on either side Of
tho entrance. The remainder Of the
building forms one room. On one side
is a long couch made of boughs, hay, OF
straw. covered with heavy quilts and
blankets, on which the men sleep in a
row. On the opposite side Is long table,
made Of small logs, hewn smooth on top,
on which the food is served. In front Of it
is big log hewn ont for scttee, and
called the deacon seat. The men, when
done eating, have only to turn around
in their seat to toast their shins at q big
fire Of logs, which glows like small
volcano in tho midst Of all, and sends
its smoke and sparks through hole il
the roof, six feet square, the draft being
aided by a roof-trec.
The faro is plain and monOtonous,
but wholesome and substantial. Porl
and beans, bread and molasses, and
pork fat, the latter used for butter,
make up breakfast at sunrise. Then
tho crew 60 to work, and, if near by the
camp, they come back at II o'clock fol
dinner, which is beans and pork,
with pork scraps and doughnuts. The
men work until it is too dark to tell :
hemlock from spruce. and then come
back to eat q supper of the same viands,
varied with dried apple sauce. Fish i
served once or twice a week. The bev-
erage is cheap tea.
Evenings and Sundays are passed ir
telling wonderful yarns, singing car
splitting songs, and smoking. In som,
camps the men play cards, and gamble
for tobacco, clothing, and even wages
The woods baked beans arc tho best
of all baked beans, and put Boston il
the shade. They are cooked in an iron
pot placed in q pit surrounded by liv'
Goals, and covered tightly with eartf
over night. In the morning they or,
done tssa turn. No range can compar
with the bean hole Of the woods.
The woodsmen range in age from i
to IS, dress in heavy woolen or knit un
derwear, cheap rcady-made clothes
cloth or knitted caps, moccasins, ant
many socks and mittens. They worl
on an average four months, come out q
fat as bears, and with from $50 to $15'
due them. They spend the money, AM
then are ready to 60 to work on tn
river or do driving.