The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
LIE WAS TROUT FISHING.
And Nado an Extraordinary Catch In the
Dead Water OF Alder Run.

your casts, and don't hook wildcat, for IL you
do you may he put to a good deal OF annoy
ance. and as like rs not have your day nshinR
spoiled. That is II your wildcat should nap.
pen to havo a disposition like the one had that
my friend Harry Cavanaugh hooked the Tune
he was fishing these dead waters. HE was In
charge at the time OF gang Of men who were
at work constructing one OF the tram roads
that the big lumber operators OF the hemlock
belt had then Just begun to build In tho isolat-
ed and mountainous forest tracts.
81 had heard" says he. a good deal about
the dead water OF Alder Run. and the big trout
that had their homo there. which were
likely to always have their home there. be-
cause OF tho difficulties that lay In tho way OF
any one who sought to flsh those waters Inc
dead watcrs extended for nearly a mile over
level stretch OF tho streams bed. ana were
nowhere less than four feet deep. They were
bordered on each side by an almost impeno-
trable thickot OF alders. growing close to the
edge. and in some places, where the stream
was narrow. closing over it and hiding 1t from
view. There were many narrow openings In
this thicket where deer sought the creek to
drink, and among the aldcrs many hemlocks
and other trees grew along the stream. In
some places tho dead waters wore iifty feot
wide. but.the most OF the stretch was narrow.
I'm those days enjoyed nothing so much
as trout fishing. had found excellent sport
in the many wild streams in that locality. but
felt that could never go away from those
woods entirely satisfied without trying what
the dead waters Of Alden Run were CAPABLE OF.
and as tho season grew my determination 10
get into those waters grew with 1t. At last
had one OF my men make me small. rude.
fiat bottomed boat out of hemlock boards. had
1t carried to the head OF the dead waters. two
miles distant. and ono humid. overcast juno
day started in the rather unsteady and not
entirely water-tiGht craft to fish through that
virgin trout ground. The capacity OF the dead
waters was evon greater than had antici-
pated. and boforo had nshed ono quntter OF
the way through the dark stretch OF stream l
had landed score or moro OF the biggest
trout had ever scen come from any brook
all Of them Of n dark color. with tho crimson
spots almost rs brilliant rs sparks OF fire.
My boat had drifted. aided by an occasion
al movement of tho paddle, into part OF tho
creek where the alder borders were Mt least
nifty feet apart. This big pool grew very mar
row ut its lower end. n hundred feet from its
head. and there the thick aldors interlocked
their branches over and in the water. and tho
creek disappeared from view as completely as
II ithad been swallowed up by the earth. On
the right side of this broad extent Of water
was one OF tho deer openings in the thicket
and the soft dirt at tho top Of tho creek
showed by myriad tracks that deer were fro
quent visitors there. Just above that opening
n hcmlock tree reared its big stem. some Of
the lower branches on the upper sido extend-
ing several feet out over tho water.
Il had drifted along beneath these branches.
and twenty feet below the tree. There stood
UP in my boat to mako n cast at tho eigo OF n
bunch Of alders. some OF whose limbs were
stretched out on the surface OF tho water. As
threw my rod forward my hook stopped sud-
denly in the air behind me. and my reel hum
med at the resistance: simultaneously with
the stopping OF tho hook a understanding
screech rent the air. l turned quickly about.
was lust in time to see a big wildcat leap
from the lower limb OF the hcmiock. and h.,
was pointed straight for me. although there
was a ,watery, space between us. and all wood
attacks Of all fierce animals of the cat kind My
on the wildcat. which had been crouching on
the Limb to me end the pain
En con fury. ""A'u '''n' INSTANTLY 'n'0
but moved ea ' "the se@ en1 !s n9s.
boat on the spot where had stood. before IA
had time to steady myself in my new POSITION:
IN Then saw that the hook was fast in one OF
most sensitive part of its body. The hook had
gone clear through the tender membrane. and
Fortunately the paddle was in the stern Of the
boat. As the big cat struck, tho boat it almost
came for me again without an, insta1t,,s delay
! met It with blow, from the paddle. Tho
paddle flew into a dozen pieces. The dis
turbance In the boat was too much for the
boats eGuilibri UNI. and over it went. tumb bling
the wildcat and mo in:u the water We floun-
bath cooling down the wildcats temper. it
seemed to make it hotter, and the ugly beast
renewed the fight in the water.
VI n n faNy
feet of the foot of the pool. where the water
disappeared behind the tanglc Of alders. had
wildcat but my fists. and i pounded it with
them; with very little effect eyceLt to their
Ee its Veil o SGu % Wser ss
struck and bit at me with such puickness and
agility that my sleeves were torn in strips In Il
| from deep gashes on my hands and arms. | saw
that in the str1ggle my hook had torn loose,
bleeding slit The persistent animal kept uI
| an unearthly yelling as it fought, We soon
| worked our way down against the wall OF
| ment against 1t. heard another screech. and
presently ANOTHER wildcat came tearing
As, this second ugly customer ,crouchod as IL
to leap upon me to the aid OF its mate. the
aIders that barred the channe Gaye way ant
Below it the creek was ten feet wide between
the aders: which closed above it in regular
than three feet high. 1t was, almost as dnrl
as night in, that ow-yautcd watery tunnel
| The channel was straight. and far below,
| could see small circle of light. whore thu
| creek emerged again into omen water
| AS We disappeared through tho dense aid
ers tho other wildcat bounded into the thicke
| and made toward tho spot. could hear hin
crashing through scrcnching rs hc came. ant
finally saw the tall bushes swayng before hin
| as hs drew nearer. had changed my tactics
| in my struggle with my wildcat. and was try
| ing to force 1t beneath the surface ana hold |
| under long enough to drown it. but the ca
was, too active and supple. and about all sue
| ceeded in doing was to lesson the quantity o
| my clothing and add to tho sla5hings in IN,
flesh; had been struggling with the wildcn
| q minute. perhaps, in that close dark pms
| sage. whero the water was fully six fee
deep. when ] saw the two fiery eyes o
| its mate appear in the aldcrs. whore no hat
thrust his head through on IN, opposite side
water. even to helpits mate; but didn't. know
how long he would be of that mind. and con ,
| best OF orc fierce contestant before anothe
joined In the light resolved on desperate
| move. but ono that would BIO decisive II |
were s4 as Watching my opportunlt,yI
| throat and holding 1t at arm 8 length. dove Z