Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-03-02
A Trip to the Logging Camps, Berlin, N. H.

weather was not all that could be desired,
the thermometer one morning registering
thirty below zero, still | was enabled to
view the lumbermen at work in the big
forests of western Maine and northern New
Hampshire, and also to get some idea OF
the country through which passed. As the
readers Of the AMERICAN are generally in
terested in numbering operations lum-
Der has been and still is a familiar word id
Ellsworth-perhaps running outline of
my weeks wanderings, with few varla-
tions. would not be out Of place.
Starting one cold forenoon from Berlin,
the metropolis of northern New Hamp
shire, rode along the edge of the Andres
coggin river for seventeen miles north
ward to Hotel Chandler, the stopping place
of persons making their way 10 and from
the woods. | shall have to tarry little
and give Hotel Chandler a little more
be given to country hotel. for this house
has special prominence IN this section Of
the country, together with the proprietor,
Deacon John Chandler This parsonage
is noted for the number and length of the
yarns" that he can spin. Although he was
loaded With them from the tiDe that en-
tered the door until | left, still many were
witty and worth remembering. One Of his
stories was such good one that think It
will bear repetition here. certain man
10 that vicinity was accustomed to hunt
rabbits from early morn until late at night,
and one evening on his way home, the
weather being colder than usual he lroZt
his inger> SO that amputatlon was neces
sary. 4 short time after the misfortune
one nf his ncghbor> not knowing Of the
sad affair asked him how hi lost his fin
gers, and this is what he said II was
out hunting rabbits aud before was aware
of 1t darkness overlook me. | started on
the road for home and when reached the
house Of Il neighbor, was 50 tired that
could 90 no farther. A. 1t was late | did
not want to disturb the folks who were
asleep in the house and concluded to sleep
In the barn yard. forgot tn put up tie
bars and III be darBed If didn't freeze
the fugcrs on one h4ul 50 that they hat to
he taken OF"
The deacon" has very attractive adj
vertising card which he generously distrib-
utes among the patrons Of his house II
leads as follows
"Whst. Second Cla-s. Certain.
The only second Glass Hotel 10 the L s..
Hotel Chandler.
hummer, y. H..
Famous at home and abroad for it, hsrd
beds. poor table, and lneificieu: service
Terms. the only thing dr-i-cls~.
Under The management OF Dea John Chtndier,
Well known sS the stingie>t man in New
liamp,tire."
II you should ever stop at this hotel You
viii find that just the reverse of the above
is true. All people travelling along this
road make arrangements either to take
dinner or stop over night under the '.dea-
cons" ho~pl'ahIe roof From Chandler,
the road lead, along the liver through an
unhroken wilderness for thirteen miles tn
the small town or settlement Of Enrol
said that the road leads along the river
1t can 60 now here else, Since the country
j. very mountainous. This Is in the White
Mountain region and riding over the tops
of the hills is no easy matter, In many
places from Berlin to the lumber regions
you can. a. have heard it sand, look down
through the cracks In The bottom OF the
wagon and see the horse.
We have now arrived at the Umbagog
House in Enrol, where the Magaloway and
Clear Stream join the Audroscoggn. We
stopped at Errol only a short time, Just
long enough TO find out the location of
the camp where we were To stop that
night. From the Umbagog House after
following the main road along Clear
Stream for two miles, We took a tote road
and made journey Of four miles TO the first
camp known as Lareys Camp. Here We
stopped for the night in genuine logging
camp and also log camp, We had top
bunk and although several did not snore in
the same key, sleep relieved Us before the
cook was aroused, by an alarm clock at
quarter of four in the morning. This is
the time when the cook has to get up and
get the beans ready for breakfast. pot
Of Boston's favorite dish il baked every
night in place made for that purpose and
known a. bean hole. 1t consists Of
hole dug in the ground and log roof to
keep out the snow. \ good fire is made IN
the hole and then the Goals are raked out
and the pot put in. II is then covered with
the Goals and dirt and left until morning
when the pot is opened for the day
After stopping at Larey's one night we
went through the woods by a logging road
Here We visited three camps, those known
as Sanborn's, Mahany'> and Latiln's camps.
Mr.. Latin who has charge of one of these
camps is native Of Ellsworth and with
him are several more Ellsworth people
While at Sanborn's camp one evening, as
the men were reading. playing cards or
mending, the cook suddenly sang out,
Take hold of him, Milky" and Immediate
ly | saw a fellow run across the camp
floor, seize a man by the hair, and try to
pull him from his stool by the hair of his
head. The hair of the man on the stool
had not come in contact with the ton
sor for some time and | imagine that for
once in his life, at least he wished that be
was bald. headed or else wore wig. Milky
stopped pulling in short time as soon as
he could recover his self possession. He
is what is known as Jumper" or a
jumping Frenchman" and when suddenly
spoken to he would do anytf ing that was
told him.
After being IN the woods about week
getting plenty of wholesome food and
spruce gum, we started back from Laffin's 5
camp by the same road that we came. On
our return we were delayed at Sanborn's
one day by snow storm. The next day
We made our way to Larey's camp and
thence to the Umbagog House where we
stopped one night. 1t took US the next
two days to get back to Berlin on account
Of the cold weather and bad snow drifts in
the open country. By the crews of the