The sun., 1889-11-29
AxE-sw1NGEns OF TIE PENoBscoz.
Picturesque Logging Crews Now Going
Into the Forests for the Winters Work.

Picturesque Logging Crews Now Going
Into the Forests for the Winters Work.
BANGOR, Nov. 2S.--A more picturesque
and interesting set OF men than the logging
crews now going into the Penobscot woods
cannot be found in a months travel. and that
is why q trip from Bangor to Moosehead Lake.
over the Piscataquis Railroad. nowadays is
worth double fare. The woods crews begin to
go in early In October. but q good many don't
care to go logging that early. and the process
sion OF ofaxe-swinGers forestward straggles along
through November. and often into December.
Frequently the morning train from Bangor to
Greenville. at the foot Of Moosehead Lake.
carries up from fifty to one hundred woodmen,
and their antics en- route constitute first
class entertainment for the other passengers,
especially for those who are strangers in the
spruce country.
Years ago the logging crews were mainly
composed OF Bangor men and other residents
along the Penobscot, but now. like the crew of
an American man-of-war, they include all
sorts, The bosses and the best hands are
Americans. but there is very liberal sprin-
king Of New Brunswickers, French Canadians.
war ward R fsanders Sreu The provinciaIs eant get get
much OF anything TO do at home SO they come
into Maine and eagerly hire out at wages which
nep snd their sOstu@ss aSeerIy fashioned
uuu IdHH Will COlOI, GNO tuoul
o%ie %aSe as oPera %heR they 0fS g%peof
s er %h s aEEy aecoTsbs sy 70 % BIS mean snss
They are entirely happy II they possess clo-
thing OF brilliant hues. good moccasins and
pack of cards, some cheap novels a dime song
ster. very sharp axe. and. most important Of
have all Of these things, others only a part.
Tobacco. clothing, and other things can be OBJ
tanned ln camp from the keeper OF the wan
army: but this functionary charges outrageous
PRICES m for r. his goods and the thrifty Eoodsmen
Nearly all of the logGeIs are drinking men.
and knowing " when they start for the woods
compulsory teetotalsm. they indulge in one
last grand spree upon leaving Bangor When
good ydea for under aecF eapsc
ity for stimuants is something remarkable.
When they reach the end OF the route there are
glass factory. between, drinks they tell stories
and sing songs. woodsman's song is like the
What l. lacks in quality 1t makes up in Guan-
tityi The verses u are O., short but there are lots
"comallye!" lcome. all YOU. The length oi
some Of these forest ballads Is astonshinG
!RsFs fsfIHa 'fs Msst snRs4 ti
had TO be sung in sections nights and Sundays.
and that although he began singing 1t at
Christmas time, he had not nnlsheu when the
camp broke up in March. and tho crew never
found out whether the hero Of the ballad was
killed in the lam on Misery stream or escaped
70 wed an Indian princess up the Allegash.
Sometimes the songs are sung in French, ac-
companied by a squeaky fiddle or q consump-
tive harmonica, and then the din is terrible,
Thousands Of these free and easy axe swing
ers are carried northward by the railroads
from Bangor every fall. Along in the latter
part Of March and the early days OF April they
come back. Then they are flush. Axes and
moccasins are cast aside, new and gaudy raj
ment purchased and then in Bangor DRrrooms
the loggers drink revenge for wineless winter.