St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-28
JOLLY SPORTSMEN.
Their Experieneein Minnesota
Forests Graphically
Described.
Fourth Annual Meet OF the
Man-I-Do- Wish
Club.
Shooting Moose and Deer
in the Dark and Desc
late Forest.
Story Of One Member Who
PePished in the
Woods.
ON The outskirts Of The forest.


Heretofore our club has with signal tri-
umph reveled in the glories of the chase
u the Flambeau country of Wisconsin,
but to forestall a total determination OF
game a change of grounds was decided
upon. So, in accordance with pre-
arranged plans. the following members
of this jolly club met in st. Paul Nov.
IL. 1890: Mai. L. s. Van Vliet, Chicago;
". J. McEathron, Omaha; II. r. Mel
son. Lena, ILL.,. Charles Paulk, St. Paul,
and Ii. 3. Crane, Wilson, Wis. The alb
senteeS were J. j. Marsh, DEBORAH. To-,
and NJ. l.. Parker, Pleasant Valley, Wis,
both OF whom were unavoidably de-
tanned at home. The delight of meet
lng each other after Il years absence
was quite an apparent manifestation
OF the strong social tes that
bind our club together. The day
of meeting in st. Paul was
devoted to securing everything neces-
Sary for the success of the hunt. Leav-
Ing the city the same night, fully
equipped, and with hearts beating high
81 expectation of the pleasures in store
Tor Us, we arrived 1T our destination
after pleasant all-night ride, and
found our veteran guide and host, Capt
Van Pelt. awaiting rs. He piloted us to
our camp close By: the various eiacula-
tons, upon reaching same, were some
what amusing. He had indeed prepared
q surprise, in the matter Of comforts
ard conveniences that seldom attach
themselves to life in the woods, and he
found at once that his efforts in our be-
halt were warmly appreciated. In adj
diti0n. he had secured the valuable
services of Joe Berger, noted pinery
oil hn Ii, hot laz..aa Ia
ready for US to sit down to. and the way
we paid tribute TO his culinary art at
that daylight meal was all the evidence
Joe wanted that we knew 4. good thing
when we saw it.
First Bay IN Camp.
The elements were not exactly in ac-
cord with the spirit of our expedition,
SO treated US to an ali day storm of snow
and rain. We had all hunted too long
to kick against the weather. therefore
seized the opportunity to unpack and
arrange our traps, establish our bear
ings and lay plans fer the next day,
winch fortunately proved to be pleas
art. After doing ample Justice to Jee's
breakfast, we started to get acquainted
with the LAY of the land" and found a
country that would delight the heart of
any deer hunter: numerous ridges,
Ogether with an occasional swamp;
four or five lakes within an area of as
many miles; also several elegant trout
streams. The lakes abound in fish, and,
until this year. were freqHeRted by that
rapidly disappearing fur bearing ami
NAL, the beaver. The surround
ing forests abound in deer, some
few moose, and quite a sprink-
Hing of bear. By high noon we had &C.
9uired good general idea Of the coun-
TRY lying north of Qua camp, and had in
addition to this knowledge killed and
hung up three deer. Returning to camp
for dinner, we felt that the hunt was
NOW really on, and as jubiklnt over the
prospects as children let loose for
lark; and such in deed. if not in fact,
we were. The peTplexihes of business
and anXieties of life had been left be-
hind us. On the second day our guide
proposed an expedition to Net lake, ly-
ing south of our camp. We found the
country very similar in general appear
ance TO that lying to the north, and
fully as good hunting grounds, though
we only succeeded in killing one deer.
which furnished MeEathron what he
had been longing fora fair chance at
q reasonable distance
Owing to the SameHcss of the country
craft to keep ones bearings. On our
way to the lake cur guide halted US lust
as we left the railroad, alongside of a
mound in clump of bushes, where a
stake marked the grave of poor
Robert eEeldfe.
ShO, the year before. got lost and mis-
erby persisted in the woods. some six
miles from this spor, where our guide
found his bones and enough clothing
for Identification: and in the kindness
OF his heart gathered up the remains
and carried them cut 10 that great ar
terry of civilization, the railroad. and
there gave them decent burial. Pausing
beside poor GOldie'S solitary grave, our
minds, touched by that sympathetic
chord, the brotherhood of man, pict-
ured the agOnieS of his untimely end.
A one time and another, several men,
berS OF our club have experienced the
sensation of being, for short time. lost
in the woods. Then it is the solitude
of the forest becomes absolutely appall-
ing, all the faculties assume a keenness
that perVertS the tapping OF the wood
pecker to pistol shots, and the breaking
of twig under foot makes as much
noise as the crashing fall of pine tree
should the tension continue long
enough, the result is insanity.
Ii was indeed very tired and hun
CRY party that sought camp the second
night; and when Joe called supper
there was some pr0digious eating done.
Our evenings were passed with the
usual careless freedom of life in a hunt-
er's camp, sauced by adventures re-
counted and discounted. The expert
ence OF the next four succeeding DAYS
was OF the same general character, and
were replete with incidents which were
most thoroughly enjoyed by us all. One
eyening,aS Nelson and MeEathron were
coming into camp by way of the rail
road, they were somewhat astonished to
see fine doe bound up the bank, stop
on the track and look back for her fawn
that was following: it was a fatal stop;
the report OF two rifles rang out as one
gun. She dropped in her tracks; their
attention was then directed to the fawn,
which was doing some pretty running
but, owing to the numerous white
birch stubs among the fawns,'' it es-
capped. During the fusilade the doe
further surprised them by jumping up
and Lighting out, as If posted with spe-
clal delivery stamp. Darkness ensuing,
the boys were forced to wend their
Way TO Camp.
aad the evening was spent IN speculate
ing as to how badly she was hit and how
far she could go. Returning early next
morning to the place, she was found
about fifteen rods from the railroad.
To Paulk belongs the honor of making
the champion running shot of the hunt,
killing large doe at Ito yards under
full sail, in an old eh0pping. 1t is to be
recorded that we did net witness the
''Ghost Dance of HiaWatha.n However.
Minnie did really visit our chef, and
when we found it out ha ha was there
too. Our genial muse had in store for
US disappointment, having left his
Pegasus at home. We missed our Gus
tomary song. Nelson's descriptive SON
net, ''The, Young Girl to Manhood
Grown" just about ruined an intensely
interesting game of cineh. am afraid
that the frequent references to corn
palace Intrigue contributed to the dis
comflture OF one of the party. Cranes
continued story was voted corker; the