The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-02
0UTAM0NGT HEDUCkS
Hunters Return From Hood
Canal Heavily Loaded.
TWO WEEKS OF OUTDOOR SPORT
A Bag OF les I'm a Few Day=-The GIo-
rious Scenery Of the Oiymplcs
From the Canal.

Loaded down with ducks of all descrip-
tons, colors, and hues. dirty and bewhis-
kered, L F.. Murdoch and Portus Baxter.
two Of Seattie's most enthusiastic hunters,
returned last night from a two weeks trip
10 Hood canal and Lake Cushman. The
hunters remembered their corfreres on the
force Of the Post-Tntelligencer with braces
Of the feathered beauties. and sat about
the office spinning yarns OF the fun they
had and the magnificent sights they had
witnessed. Mr.. Murdoch gave the follow
ing account of the trip:
snake-Lfke sloughs of s~kokomish.
Tive weeks ago last Friday Baxter
and myself left the city on the steamer
Chehaiis for Lake Cushman and the duck
hunting grounds located near Union City
and al Clifton. the extreme head of the
canal. We were we'll supplied with am
muniuon. and had blankets that were done
I'D IN pack sacks. made after the style OF
those the Lake Cushman boys use in their
trips into the Olymp.es. We arrived at
Hoodsport about 6.45 in the evening. and
after passing the night at the Hilton
house. got up early in the morning and
took a trip along the shore over TO the
fats near the mouth OF the Skokomlsh
river. Not knowing the country we'll We
did not reach the good duck hunting
ground, but suddenly found ourselves on
the marsh about six miles from Hoodsport.
surrounded on all sides 10y snake-Eke
sloughs. We managed 10 pick our way
out without serious mishap."
Hold on" said Baxter, you forgot 10
mention that you fell into a river with
your pack on your back Il spluttered
about like a samon running a rifle.
Yes" retorted Murdoch. perhaps /
might mention the fall you had in the
slough. when both your rubber boots ana
your mouth filled with salt water.
AFTER one OF the toughest tramps l ever
had along a rocky beach literally covered
with logs" continued Murdock. we
showed up at Hoodsport just as Frank
Brolet. the hotel proprietor, was sending
out a searching party after Us. l might
mention that on the way down We ran
across two coveys OF quail. The next morn
ing We pulled out for Lake Cushman, ana
when they put a pack that weighed ohiy
twenty pounds oil Bakers shoulders ne
thought he had been struck by Corbett,
and asked for a pack horse. / had iofty
pounds on my shoulders, n we Joliet
him when he eagerly accepted broiets
offer OF a horse. Before we had made hVe
OF the eight miles to AXE Cushman l
wanted to send the horse back, but ne
couldn't see il that way, for he had no
idea OF carrying went pounds on MS
shoulders. At the end of our journey We
found the boat that had been left by Frank
Red. at whose house We were gong 20
stop. and in Il We rode up the Skokomlsn
river for a mile or so, and suddenly
found ourselves in AXE Cushman, at the
very foot of the Olympic mountains. IL
was a grand sight, and one TO be remem-
bered through a lifetime
Twenty Miles IN a Rowboat.
after n pleasant visit at Lake Cush-
man for three or four days. during which
we took a trip TO Camp Four. piloted by
Stan Homer. on the Skokomish. and had
a sin further view of the mountain. we
returned TO Hoodsport. accompanied by
Reid and ]. J. Barnes, whS Is trapping
and hunting in the Olympics this winter.
Our marty was foined here by c. ]. Coats
worth, of Buffalo. y. Y, and we started
for Clifton, a distance Of about twenty
miles. in a large double-oared boat. We
made a comparatively quick trip, al
though I am obliged 10 confess the first
night we slept on a floor that had been
used for cattle and lined with Stats about
an inch high. set about eight inches apart.
/ might explain that It was our intention
first to stop at the flats near the Skoko-
mish. but owing TO The quarters We took
the oars next morning and went straight
up to Clifton.
ANY one who has not made this trip
has no idea Of the beautiful scenery. Al
though we had to row against a strong
tide. We reached the place whore the gold
excitement prevailed. and through the
kindnes of Jacob Hopp enjoyed as we'll
equipped a cabin as hunters ever had. In
that deserted house was as fine a fire.
place as / ever saw.
Among the Duck
I've commenced duck hunting the next
morning. and although the tide did not
favor US we managed 20 make fairly good
kills early in the day. The afternoon
shooting was usually poor. C~oatswoTth
was feeling unwelI part Of tho time. so
did not hunt as much AS tho other mem
hers. although almost every time he
brought down a bird il was a mallard. I
worked hard al the time J was there %
get one ~ these coveted birds. but only
succeeded In w~inpfng a few. While there
our average kill was about twenty birds
each morning. and We had 10 work for
every one we cot. because they We're shy
and very heavily featherod Before we
got through We had to use the heaviest
HE hunter was Rarnes. VINO would crawl
with two inches % water 20 &C. a shot
into a fock Of canvaShaCks. His best
single shot was three deads ami one Grip
hut had very little hunting from last
Thursday as the severe Wind storm car
rjed with IL a heavy rain. and the ducks
would not move.
'sThi storm was considered by Cant.
leighton and Master Troutman. Of the
steamer Delta. - have been one % the
4"