The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-04-07
THE INDIAN DEVIL
A Greatly Feared Denizen of the
Maine Woods.
The Mysterious Animal That Filled the
Lumbermen with superstitlous Awe !.
How the Great Cat Was

- How the Great Cat Was
Hunted Down.
II had gone up north with my Uncle
Washburn to make the round of the
numbering camps or gangs estab-
lished by the firm OF which he was
member. &
Up through the wilderness, q dis
tance of one hundred and thirty miles,
10 the 'heads-of ChesuncocI," whe %.
there is supply depot for the lumber
men, there had been beaten road.
and we had Travelled with q double
Horse sled, putting the horses tandem
as the track grew more narrow, for it
--lxas toward the last of January and the
snow lay from three to four feet deep
all about us. But at the head tile
beaten trail terminated and snowshoes
came into requisition.
A spotted line led off to the camps,
the nearest OF which was some twenty
i've miles to the westwaEd A spotted
line. perhaps ! should cxH Plain, is made
by first going through the woods, with
9 compass to keep the direction, and
spottipg y tree every few rods with an
.iiX
After this fns been done anyone can
tra sel by simply following the spots
In the -ouf sc of q week we had mide
the round Of all the gangs, save two,
which were ut work up on the Cam
comgomac stream; and after a ling
march through the 'black growth" we
came out to the lowermost depths of
these, situated at the foot of the lake
of the same name.
Here queer report came to our eitrs
from the upper camp, located some ten
on twelve miles above. 1t was to the
effect that the men had got scared.
They had scent an Indian devil pr
;;'something."
Now, it would have been no very
strange thing to hear there had been a
row in camp, bit to hear that whole
gang of lumbcrmen had got frightened
was decidedly sensational
such was the story, however. AND
during the evening the "boss" from the
scared camp-every gang has its boss
or overseer-came down to get gun.
Firearms, for reasons above limited at,
had not been provided at the upper
camp
Curiosity br okc loose at tho sight of
him
We'll, we'll Mr.. Murch!" exclaimed
Uncle Wash, whats this | hear of
your gang?s
Hardly know what to tell you, sr,p'
said Murch. Its foolish affair. But
the men have got dreadful bngaboo
started, Fact is, they've been telling
about seeing and hearing something
for more than week ] didn't pay
any attention to it, though. But day,
before yesterday they all came running
into camp peil-mell, scared half to
death. Something had jumped at
Billy sO'Nun out of great spruce.'
What dM it look lilse?" asked Uncle
Wash.
WE'LL they tell SO many different
storiesS it's impossible to- find out
they all declared it was an Indian
devil!' though what an Indian devil
can be is more than know. r had all
could do to get them back to their
work. And last night as they were
coming in to supper, there was another
scare! Something screeched and rushed
out from clump of cedar Mike Shea
had the back of his coat all slit to
pieces! He says the creature did it;
but perhaps it was the brush he ran
through. And this morning not one of
them could get to stir eout from the
camp. There they stuck, and there
they've been all day. | thought |
would come down and get a gun-l
, may be able to shoot the creature, If
there really is anything. | must get
their courage up again somehow You
see, they're not Yankees.
Have you ever SEEM anything of
this-creature, YOURSELF" asked Uncle
Wash.
Not a thing. Hut did hear very
singular cry this evening as / was
coming down | suppose 1t was rather
foolish in me, but stepped along pref
ty fast after that Twas very.
startling and peculiar sort of a cry
"Ah, welll'' laughed Uncle Wash,
1--WE will go up with you tomorrow.
Perhaps we can find out what it is. /"
The next morning, loading mp the
old camp musket, as a reimbursement
to our rifle, we set out 1t was toward
noon when we came in sight of the
{ log camp A number OF the men were
standing about the door, and, seeing
us coming, the others came oat-there
were twentyrthres or twenty four Of
them.
This is fine sight" cried Uncle
Wash, as we came up. why aren't
you out at work? Do pay you forty
dollars q month to lay around this
camp all day?"
The men looked a little foolish, but
the fluent Billy O'Nun came to the
RESCUE:
Sure and indade, and yo'r honor
couldn't blame MS. Such q murther-
ing haste as lapes from the tops q the
trees!''
What have you seen, anyhow?' de-
inanded Uncle Wash.
Seem An We may we'll say that
Seen i'm. as big az an OK, an haafd
i'm shriek!''
ID was no use talking with them
they wore in perfect fear. .indeed. III
was not without the greatest difficulty