Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-01-03
SANS MOONLIGHT oATcH.
Frank WiIkeson Describes the Capture
Of a Splendid MushalIonge.

OF Sp1snQlo MuSnaH0ng6s
Mr.. Frank Wilson writes as fol-
lows in the New York Times:
"Swing the boat, father, I haye
struck vale ~ Sam exclaimed. We
were on lark, Sam and /, at a
group of Lakes in Northern Mime
sofa. These lakes are about sixty
miles north of the Northern Pacific
Railroad. They are land-locked and
five in numbering Sandy, Little
Sandy, Elbow Lake and two whose
names have escaped my memory.
All Northern Minnesota had been
burned and scorched by drought
that had lasted for six years. The
level of the water in the land locked
lakes had been reduced about five
feet during this dry period. Bodies
of water that were once arms or bays
of the main lakes are now separated
from them by low gravel banks that
are from 10 to 200 feet wide. AT
present there are many small lakes
adjacent to the parent waters,
through the clear waters of which
large muskallonge dart, propelled by
rapid strokes of broad tails. The
region is happy one for sportsmen.
AS have written, The boys and !
were on an outing; we we're, and are
always, on outings. We had secur-
ed lodging and board at a farm
house that stands on the shore of
Elbow Lake. The understanding
between my comrade and me was
that he should row the light boat for
an hour in the early morning while
| fished; then I was to row until he
was tired of fishing or till he caught
the precise fish we wanted to eat for
dinner. In the afternoon he was to
row the boat across the lake and up
to the burned timber point that juts
out into the second rice swamp, to
fish the while. From that point we
shot the evening fight of wild fowl.
The fight over, the sun down, and
darkness gathering in the pine
forests and slowly creeping out of
the trees and over the wild rice
swamp, / was to row home, dis.
lance Of five miles, and Sam, over
coat-clad, was to steer the boat with
a broad paddle and talk to shorten
the way and to Tighten the toll.
One sunny afternoon in October
the flight of birds had been remarka-
bly, heavy and the shooting had been
excellent. The dead fowl had been
gathered and thrown into the stern
of the boat, the guns had been pack
ed and tossed on the ducks. Sam
stepped into the boat to transfer the
load to the bow.
"Never mind the birds, SAM" ]
said; "get in forward and I will row
home without your aid"
1t was dark when / pushed the
boat from land and heavily Chamber
ed in. We moved slowly through
the swamp, now discussing the
strange actions of q wounded NAL
lard, than laughing as we recalled
the fright of a blue crane that had
loudly and harshly protested against
providing meat for hunters feast,
and at intervals we talked of dinner
of broiled muskallonge and wood
duck that we had cooked On the
shore of Elbow Lake at noon. Oc-.
casionaAy the cool air would culver
with the brisk stroke of scores of
wings neryously beating as flock
of belated ducks few past. Then
nearby mallards would rise from
the swamp and loudly quack, saying
plainly, s0h, ducks. these wretches
are still here. Look out, look outl"
and they would go into the darkness,
quacking an alarm long after they
were lost to vision, and instantly the
swamp would be in an uproar as
thousands of ducks rose to circle
over US preparatory to settling for
the night.
Slowly we passed through the
wild rice swamp, intently listening
to the voices ofnight birds and the
cries of water fowl. Talking in
whispers and rowing noiselessly, we
rounded the second point, standing
on which we're a deer and fawn,
who ran into the forest as we APP
preached them. just beyond the
second point there is large bay,
from which narrow neck leads into
Elbow Lake. There was not a rip
pie on the water. The pure, frosty
air was as exhilerating as cham
payne. Thousands OF Northern
stars silence and shone brightly in
eloudless sky.
"There comes the moon, and it is
full, Sam said briskly as we pulled
into Elbow Lake. turned and
looking over my left shoulder, as
wise people ever do when moon gaz-
ing, saw the moon slowly rising
above the dark pine trees that encir-
cled Elbow Lake. I ceased to row,
and the boy and silently watched
the ever-changing scene, watched
the lights grow lighter and the
shades grow darker and more pro-