The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-12-09
The Cruise of the Belfast Deer Hunters.

was TO De the ABIDING place OF the party Tor the
next week. The captain warmly greeted the old
members and was made acquainted with the re-
cruits. Capt. Manchester was busily engaged in
hauling sand for the new buildings at the harbor,
but suspended work and placed span of horses
at our disposal. Our goods were loaded on to the
team and under the guidance of Capt. Manchester's
son started for the camp near Hadlock Pond,
some two miles distant. Arriving on the borders
of the pond the goods were unloaded and boated
across and then carried to the camp, distance of
two hundred yards.
THE CAMP
was the one occupied last season and looked as
familiar as an old friend, and the brook sang
welcome it danced past the door on its way
from the mountains to the pond. In a former DIES
cription of this camp we were in error in regard
to the topography of the surrounding mountains.
The camp is in the valley between North East
Iarbor mountain on the east and kimball noun
tain on the west. These mountains are about 1900
feet high their rocky and barren tops extending
many feet above the surrounding forest. Other
mountains extend northwesterly, the gorges be-
tween a1ordng excellent runs for the deer. These
have local names and are known to the natives as
Blue Joint Swale, South West Valley, Colts Chop
pings, Little Brook Guey, etc
The Commodore proposed to have everything
sysematized and ordered that lots be drawn for
cook days and sleeping berths. There were but
two hunks in the camp, and four had to sleep in
the loft overhead. The result of drawing for cook
days was as follows: Saturday, Dr. S. w. John
son; sunday j. F. wilson, Monday, W. +. Page;
Tuesday the Local; Wednesday, H. f. Mcdonald;
Thursday, the Commodore. The Doctor and Will
son exchanged. The culinary department was not
difficult to run as the larder well filled with
cooked provisions brought from home. The
materials consisted chiefly of potatoes, onions,
pork, tea and coffee. Each person, however, as
his cook day came endeavored to get UP some
special dish suited to his own taste Sunday, for
example the Doctor assisted by Wilson, fried
deer's heart and liver, appetizing dish to the
hunter after killing the game. Monday we ate
regular rations. Tuesday the Locals cook
day, and his bill! of fare included lob-scouse, a
dish he learned to make in the I. S Navy Scouse
is particularly relished by sailors and is made of
soaked and pounded sea biscuit and meat cut into
small pieces Where no meat is used it is called
bread-scouse. Where other ingredients are intro
duced it is called lob-scouse. The latter is made
by stewing together peeled potatoes, onions and
pork, cooked until the whole assumes the consis
tency Of pudding. Mcdonald, on Wednesday,
boiled onions in the teakette, and next day the
Commodore fried potatoes Dishes were thorough
y washed after each meal and the camp floor
cleanly swept.
After the camp was settled the first day a run
taken on the mountains. Evidences of deer
We're seenin plenty, but no game secured. "There
is circle round the noon observed the Commo
dore that evening, 'and we are going to have a
storm" Those who slept in the loft that night
struck the singled roof over head. Saturday
morning the hunters glad to see couple of
inches of snow ON the ground, the first of the
season. To the amateur hunter snow is of great
advantage, for the tracks Of game can be readily
seen and followed When the ground is bare it is
impossible 10 tell whethera track is one day or one
week old \ hasty breakfast was eaten and with
the snow still falling the hunters sailed forth.
TWO DEER
were killed that forenoon before nine O'Clock and
if the reader will pardon any seeming egotism on
our part, we will take them up in the order of the
killing. The writer had the honor and pleasure of
killing the first deer. after arriving home we
learned that our departure "Our George" made
the following prophecy: oyer don't know any
thing about hunting, probably he never fired gun
in his life, but I'll bet dollar he kills the first
deer. It's always that way.'D We left camp at
80 o'clock and taking a logging road followed it
towards the mountain. The others of the party
went i'll different directions. About half 4 mile
from camp our heart gave bound as the tracks of
a deer were discovered in the newly fallen snow
Getting the direction i'll which the deer was travel
ing we left the logging road and followed the trail
The deer crossed into a thicket of youiil growth
which afforded excellent browsing. We had not
followed the track fifteen minutes before we
came III sight of the animal. Dropping on one
knee in the snow the Colt repeater was brought to
bear and as the sharp crack of the rifle died away
the deer was seen bounding through the forest
Following the track for twenty five yards blood
was found on the snow Twenty five yards farther
on the dead body of Young doe was found. If
not Instantly killed, which is rarely done, a deer
will run as long breath of life remains The
bullet had struck just behind the fore shoulder,
passed through the body, and broken rib on each
side. forked stick at hand and hooking it
into the lower jaw of the deer we started for
camp dragging the doe through the snow. We
reached camp at SIS, having been absent Just
forty-fve minutes. Receiving the congratulations
of the cook we again entered the forest but saw
no more deer signs that day
At noon time the boys came struggling back to
camp. When the Doctor arrived he said nothing
but looked much fatigued Examining the doe
which hung from the limb of a tree beside the
camp, he congratulated the shooter, and with a
twinkle of his eye said, eyes, you have done well,
but have killed the
LARGEST BUCK I EVER SAW,
and have left him in the woods II don't believe
1t" shouted all hands in chorus 1t was true, how
ever, The Commodore and Mcdonald struck the
track Of deer across the main road which they
followed. The Doctor, however, calculating that
the deer would 90 in certain direction cut across
by the pond and went towards kimball mountain.
Arriving well into the forest he stopped and look
Ell about him. seventy five yards distant, with his
mead and hind quarters hidden behind trees, stood
a large deer. Whether not it was the one fol
lowed by the Commodore and Mcdonald is not
Known All the Doctor could see the body be
tween the trees Taking aim he fired. The deer
gave mighty bound and disappeared. By this
time the rain which followed theIsnow had nearly
obliterated the latter. The Doctor began a search
and after Il time was rewarded in finding blood,
and IN the course of one hour and a half found his
game, fine buck that weighed more than 200
pounds. The antlers proved him to be five years
old. The ball had entered forward of the hind
quarter, passed through the liver and lungs and
came out just behind the fore shoulder. The buck
ran more than 300 yards after It was shot The
Doctor began q dissecting process by removing the
entrails, and then covered his game with boughs
and came to camp for help. 1t took four of the
boys to bring in the buck which was at least mile
and half away. We had a merry time in camp
that night. The successful hunters made life al
most unbearable for their less fortunate compan-
ions, The following diagram represents how each
party felt as they assembled about the camp fire.
}olc} ono
~o~- ~
SUCCESSFUL UNSUCCESSFUL
III NlERS HUNTERS.
Next week we will give an account of the ex-
ploits of a local hunter. RCD