Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-03-06
A HUNTERS EXPERIENCE.
A MAINE FRONTIERSMAN WITH
WONDERFUL PLUCK.
he Travels Three Days on snowshoes
With Nothing to Eat.


! The frightful experience of tn,
Maine moose hunter, the story o.
whose wanderings and danger ha
been told, has been even surpassed b,
the thrilling adventure of William
Bartlett of Freder. ckton, a trappel
who has just reach, d civilization again
Bartlett is one of tho reminders OF
the pioneers of the olden time, mar
who leaves early each autumn for the
remotest parts of the great forests and
is not seen again until the spring
when he comes down with great
quantity of the riches furs, the results
or lonesome winters toll. He al
ways goes alone and rarely takes dog
to share his cabin.
This Y ar he started away little
lat&s than usual and went to the head
CT Upsalquitch, which has the reputa-
I ton of being in one of the richest
game regions in the province. He
built a small camp and had very good
luck hunting aud trapping.
His adventures previous to the one
great event of the past week would
make very long story, for he had en-
counters with savage and healthy
specimens of the Loupceivier and saw
traces of the gray wolves, which the
hunters fear are slowly creeping into
this region again.
One of the coolest nights that he
had he piled his fire high with hard
wood and turned in to his bunk and
fell asleep.
About midnight he was awakened by
intense heat, and found that his cabin
was one mass ef flames, leaving him
but few moments TO gather his
ordinary clothing and rush for his life
to the uninviting outer air. lie had
time to save bu, little, and he stood
and saw his temporary home fade
away before the flames, carrying with
it all the contents.
lie lost his furs, which he valued at
from $780, to 500, every mOrscl of
his provisions, his sled and, what was
worth more than all else to him, his
matches.
Accustomed to dealing with emer-
gencies the hunter lost nO time in de-
Gliding what lie should do. His only
hope lay in reaching settlement be-
fore faintncss from hunger overlook
him and rendered him powcrless to
save himself. He knew that the amp
would be Il long one, but he had saved
his snowshocs, and strapping them to
his feet, and taking his bearings from
the bright stars which shonc above
him, he started at the dead of night
from the scene of his troubles.
For hours his great strength carried
him on at locomotive rate of speed,
and he covered many miles.
When afternoon came heavy snow
storm commenced, making travelling
very difficult and retarding his pro-
greSs, but he plodded on slowly, until
it became SO dark that he was unable
to keep the course.
The means to kindle fire were lack
ing, but he knew that people had lived
in the snow, and he dug deep hole
under Il Shcltering snowbank and
CraWled into it.
Recognizing the fact that if he fell
asleep it would be IL sleep from which
he would never awaken, he did not
close his eyes, but rested until the
morning light commenced to dawn.
BY this time he was fcarfuliy hun
CRY, but goadcd to desperation by his
unlucky plight he started bravely Oh
his jo rncy, chewing Il few tw igs from
the evergreen trees as he walked, and
wondering how the deer and moose
could survive on such uninviting food.
He ate 10 snow and allowed icI TO
melt in his mouth only in very sparing
quantit es.
\ SnOwbank was the only bed offer
ed him, but he EcOoped out Il room ana
retired, the bright stars Ginning into
his resting-placc in manner which
stirred his hopes, for he knew that it
was only by outstanding his strength
that he could hold out without food
for the rest of his Journey.
lie did not intend to sleep the sec
Oud night, but the tired nerves soon
gained control of him and he lost
consciousness.
When he awoke it was with a start
of fear at his escape from death, for
he felt numbncSs taking possession
of him. His feet had no feeling, and
lie thought they were frozen SO as TO
be helpless, but upon rising he was
rejoiccd to find that he could use
them. His ears and parts of his face
W re frozen, aud his hands affected so
that he did not dare to lie down again,
but resumed his journey, eating the
twigs rs before for nouri-hmcnt.
At noon on the third day he saw
from the top of high hill smoke ris-
ing in the distance. lie was so far
gone that he could not walk very fast,
and it was a long time before he
reached the place. 1t was a solitary
house, miles up on the Tobigue, and
which lie might have easily passed un-
noticed in he night. Scarcely more
than cabin, it looked more inviting
TO him than a city.
lie was kindly received and given
care until he recovered from the effects
of his hunger and exposure to the fear
full cold. His feet were found to have
been partially frozen, and a few mo-
ments more sleep would have ended
Bartlet's career beyond a doubt.
lie attributes his safe deliveranc1
from the hardship TO an iron constitu-
ton and to his knowledge of the
woods, and of what course to pursue
| in such cases.
Bartlett declares that he will never
go into the woods alone again, and he
urges young hunters especially to
guard against the practice.
The story flom his own lips, with
his hunters dialect and descriptive
powers, is thrilling in the extreme.
/ L..I..o....-. LlI.a..--. q. A.