New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
ADAY THE ADIRONDACKS.
THE STATE SURVEYOR PICTURES LIFE IN
THE GREAT FOREST

THE STATE SURVEYOR PICTURES LIFE IN
THE GREAT FOREST
Blue Mountain Lake, n. Y, July 25-Afer a
| month in tho wilderness find pleasant
70 return for a few days to the comforts and con-
veniences OF civilization-at Blue Mountain Lane. ~
hardly seems possible that four weeks can have
nossed away since my little party Of nine men slowed
their knapsacks into the light boat canoes and rowcd
away over the flashing waters OF tho lakes TO the
portage Of Seargeans Pond, where VIC made our first
camr Tho transition Is sudden, from tho gayctes
OF Prospect House to tho deep silence OF the woods
As I write the music from tho ball room reaches me,
but through the open window see, beyond the blue
waters of the lake, the dark ranges OF forescovercd
mountains beyond which have climbed, explored and
searched for so many days.
We had hardly reached Prospect House on the even
Ing Of Juno 16 when the old guide Of the Raluctte-
Avah Drnning-the Moose slayer as he might be called
appeared, his aged and wIfnkcd face beaming with
smiles as he shook the hands Of his old friends The
smile turned to a look of deep earncstness when no
was asked how the wild gamc OF the forest fared.
"Mr Covin,, he said, l never knew the deer TO be
as plenty they arc now beyond the Raquctte, ana
trout and bass plentiful enough, and otfer-see
here, and he produced great pclts, each fully
five feet long, and covered with dense and beautiful
fur There he added, Of the otter, and
they arc beauties. each pe worth ten dollars at least
Sending the old guide ahead to the Sergeant Pond
to secure supply Of specked trout for tho party
We set out Monday, Juno II, for the woods
Through Tallow and Eagle Lakes and Utowana-the
Lake Sunshine Of Ned Buntlincour little oila passed.
rIppng over the mirrorkc shadows in the lakes trees
and messy banks and clouds above, inverted images OF
trees and clouds below-a very faryand OF elttcrnS
pictures In which nothing was brighter and more
Joyous than the young college mon with me- assistants
the survey.
1t was afternoon when our boats grated against tho
kl,-al Drtpp Ming and nil mon np c
assist upon the portage. Knapsacks were shouldcrcd
and we took the trail into the forest. We had marched
scarcely thirty minutes when shout was raised a
bear in the trail Keep still Keep back! Where's tho
rife ~
Knapsacks were thrown TO the ground and revovcrs
enough displayed TO lntmidatc party of bandltt
Tho Winchester rife. with sixteen bright brass cart
ridges in IT, went quickly to the 'front.' but the startled
bear dscrcey away, leaving his huge tracks In
the black muck Of the trail, to aid the old guido In
estimating his size and weight Now tho trail began to
ascend steep slopes and shoulders unused TO knapsack
straps made the march less work OF FUN 10 new
comels Frequent stops made at the clear noun
tain springs. and marched until, near dark, tho
white canvas Of the tentspchcd the week before by
an advance guaM-came into sight.
Tents noored deeply and richly with soft fragrant
basam boughs; blazing camp-fircs lighting up the
forest; rustic table under open tent; our good
cook Brown, busy at his work. his assistants cutting
1rewood and serving the meal all these were welcome
sight TO weary company. Dinner was finished by
the light Of paralne tapers and then we drew near
the fire TO listen the guides stories OF adventures
of wild beasts and game and later spread our com
ortablo blankets upon the deep soft couches OF bal
sam and sank into drcamess slumbers, lulled at first
by the boot Of owl and the clear musical notes OF the
wood thrush-the Adirondack nightingale
Morning glldes In upon In the Adirondack forest.
The Intense stiffness Of the night Is succeeded at dawn
nv he faint tWftferinrs awakening sOngscTs The
brook that played softly It's bed Of dark, messy
rocks, and could be heard murmuring In the night,
silent It's song Is lost among the stllng of
leaves and tho music Of the birds
bath in the clear, pure water OF Seargeants Pond
hugo bass flashing frightened away from the sandy
shoas-and we ready for breakfast with Adron-
dak appctltes Delicious hot biscuits. fresh from tho tin
oven by the campfire excellent butter, fried ham,
tea and coffee, cakes syrup and apple were the
"hardshps1 We were first called upon to encounter.
Vcnson was not yet in season and our guides had
been too busy with pack carrying to furnish us with
fish yet After breakfast old Alvah DunnnS, expert
in all the ways of the woods, was directed to carry
his light canoe boat-n weight scarcely fifty pounds
TO lake to mako his solitary search for specified
trout. Meanwhile, Refreshed and invlgorate1 BY
bath and breakfast, the survey party made their way
through the forest southwark I'm search Of ancient
corner tree marking an important division of state
lands from the recent possessions of the umbermcn.
marsh lahc-whOse wide margins dense mass
of trembling sphagnOus wet spongy carpet Of
vivid green and red and yellow, rich with Wild water
plants whose blossoms gave fragrance to the air.
Blackly above the lake the lodges Of mountain,
all reflected and mrrocd I'm the waters. The summit
OF craig showed TO trained eyes the figure OF the
rustic signal tripod erected there six years by my
orders. trianguaon station OF the Adirondack Survey
which would to give us the latitude and longi-
tude OF tho State land corner that we sought
At last found It, In rocky deli Of the dense
forest gigantic yellow birch reared its scaly trunk,
limblcss TO great height before It branched and
spread into mass Of foliage, vivid green in the noon
sunlight that came through the tree tops. Around
this gigantic birch other old trees clustered and
noticed that nearly every one bore some
strange scar-witness marks made by men who searched
these forests 1l6 years
II Is noble tree, this birch. Its bark bears
and marks and numbers cut there before the American
Republic existed. II fiuttercd those leaves Of vivid
green as brightly and as merry When George the Third
King as It does to-day. Yes long before that
this giant tree had lived IT'S quiet lfc before Brad
dock had fallen the ambuscade near the Mononga-
perhaps when Cromwell swept the Royal army before
him along MaiStOn Moor-ths tree breathing the
pure Adirondack air. We read the old Inscriptions
the bark-a few awkwardly made figures aud traced
work. At evening reached camp again. TO find
old Avah with huge string Of specIcd trout and tho
cook spreading for feast which the leisure of the day
had enabled him to arrange. Another blazing camp
by tho old hunters, and we sank to sleep moro
upon the soft couches OF balsam In Camp Sergeant.
VERPLANCK COLVIN.
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