Stikeen River journal., 1898-10-01
4 THREE WEEKS OUTING
In the Vicinity Of wrange|
Where Fish and Same Of Every De-
scription await the Sportsman.
An Elysium for Mighty Nimrods.

On Tuesday Aug. GOTH, three jolly
fellows, Geo. Williams, w. B. Colp
and the writer, left Fort Wrangel for
few weeks hunting campaign. The
day was lovely and we steered SOUTH
erly and then casually in every other
direction till we had boxed the whole
compass besides making several other
points never before heard OF.
The wind being favorable we made
long strech, and near midnight found
deserted Indian hunters lodge, with
its indescribable odor, into which We
crawled, and after finishing our crude
repast we spread our blankets on the
pebble floor and bathed our tired limbs
in seas of blessed rest. Next day we
pushed on in the same direction, our
course every moment intensifying In
interest. Where would twenty miles
more find lis in this enchanted land?
One grand panaroma of nature. mount
aims, isles and bays with ever varying
aspect; dashing mountain streams
hurting their foamirg waters over
Jagged cliffs, and tireless forests OF
spruce and hemlock forming an eternal
background, in contrast with the never
ending rockbound coast, were sights
SO continuous that they wearied the
spectator. Towards evening we reach
ed our destination, a beautiful bay, an
indian hut and place to pitch our tent
and begin the real business of the cam
paign. Now we enjoyed the glories OF
camp life, to say nothing of our luxuries
of duck, grouse, snipe, salmon, crab and
cookie, on old tin plates of the right
color not to show dirt, and the cOnveu-
fence of washing dishes in the wash
dish, and sometimes in the coffee pot,
and wiping them on our cOatsleeves or
moss, and the necessity Of creeping
around on all fours like our respected
ancestors: and our noses continually de-
lighted with odors from the old hut,
which seemed like combination OF
wild rose and very stale salmon, and
eggs that had survived their youthful
ness: but it was all very novel and in
teresting to the tenderfoot.
Our first few DAYS were rather bar
rem of results and the weather very
warm, but the boys soon brought down
deer from the high mountains involv-
ing an amount of exertion that none
but the young and muscular man
should ever attempt. However plenty
full the game and fish may be in this
wonderful country, the labor OF the
hunter and fisherman is never overpaid
under any circumstances, but the vigOr-
Gus health of those engaged in those
occupations is the principal compen-
sation after all. Eagles and geese were
plentiful but very shy. Grouse a deli
cacy but geese not very palatable; fat
venison always delicious. After ten
days we changed our hunting ground
and met with great success. One OF
the boys had rare piece of luck in
seeing three mammoth bucks engaged
in friendly combat, and almost in
stantly succeeded in securing three
pairs of antlers as souvenirs of our trip.
We succeeded in curing nice supply
of venison and saving considerable lard
which proved an excellant substitute
for butter and preferable to it for
cooking.
We then set our faces towards home
through dismal rain and head winds,
experiencing the solid realities of hunt.
er's life.
On the evening of Wed. 22nd, we
reached old Wrangel, an abandoned
Indian village beautifully situated, but
now wild desolate place overgrowr
with weeds and bushes. 1t was oc
: cupied about so years ago, and there
are still standing about ID ancient To
tenn poles, many of them showieg skill
in carving superior to anything at pres
, ent in new Wrangel, and the only shell
ter we found was in a portion of an ole
delapidated Indian hut that afforded M
} protection from the rain and cold vino
until our boys patched it with some
, shakes, and the supper that night will
never be forgotten, with the constan
, rain and our eyes filed with smoke, bu
, we managed to improvise y, sleeping
, place that was quite comfortable.
We left next morning at 8, and with
!, fair wind made the journey of l8 mile.
home by ppm. after having escapef
many dangers by sea and land.
DR.. V. MCALP,"
! Regular Church Services-PS
terian Church.