The Portland daily press., 1898-01-18

tJFS ttGSU- IJIduCn IL taAO tIiiIt ~$N>-
Ali-e. found him campo6 on the shores OF
ChesuncooH Lake, snG walked al the way
back 70 the nearest lumber camp followed
by Jocz, who carried Is loaded rine 70
accelerate their progress. Stories OF tne
old mans deeds became so common IN
tho cities that tho officers resolved 10
make up q posse Of 0oadsmen and cEisse
Linn down. When they asked the paoE-
woods scttlsrg to join, Offering good pay,
nobody could be hired. Tho men haa
nothing against Jock, and would no, NOT
take any part in securing his arrest: inc
following spring Jock came out Win y
big pile of plery and delivered hlmseu
up to the Commissioners, who, after
hunting for weeks to get evidence against
him, were compelled 10 let him go Tree.
In the meantime Jock had been at
work on his big sporting camp half way
I'M Nicatous Lake. No sooner was it com
pieted than hunters from all over New
ENGLAND went there, filing the spacious
building and keeping it full for several
wears, There had been several fishing
camps at Rangeley lakes for some years
before Jock turned his attention 60 the
business, but the woodland hotel at Mica
tous was the first hunting camp for the
accommodation of guests ever built in
Maine. The old man made money fast
for the next ten years. His guests did
not care whether their yenison was Sc
cured legally or illegally, SO long as they
got it, and Jock never let the inmates of
his camp go hungry. He often claimed
that he never kept dog in his camp.
Though this statement may have been
true, he or his assistants knew where
there were plenty of dogs close by, and
every summer and fall the woods of
northern Hancock county were melodious
with the baying of hounds. Conservative
hunters have estimated that from 800 to
600 deer were logged into the waters of
Nicatous Lake every year ana killed for
the entertainment of Jocks guests.
Having known the old man for years
and holding him in due respect. the Com
missioners made no move against him
unil they were forced to do so by public
clamor. The newspapers of New York
and New England had been telling truth
full tales about the misconduct of Jock
Darling for more than two years before a
man was sent to arrest him. After that
Jock lsd the officers a merry chase.
Whenever warden called at the camp he
was treated like a prince, getting the
best food and best beds at Nicatous. On
asking for Jock ne was informed that the
old man was cup the lake, from whence
he would soon return. Some wardens
waited for days, others for weeks, but
the man they wanted never came while
warden was about camp. Occasionally
JOCK DaQuieQ Oub bllo 1ACU q WaiOcIi I'D lO
was going up the lake. Reports of these
interviews have never been made public,
but ii was noticed that the warden who
had talked with the old man never
wanted to undertake any more egpedi-
tions against him, which led the public
to infer that Jock had squared matters in
some way.
Nine years ago deputy sheriff and q
warden came down upon Jocks house
nd r14;t the old
man while he sat at breakfast. Having
handcuffed him they took him to the
train and carried him to Bangor. stand
ing over him with drawn revo]vers all
the way. When he was led up Exchange
street handcuffed and guarded the whole
city of Bangor turned out to get q look
at the famous outlaw. They took him to
the Bangor police station, where the
Chief of Police ordered the handouts re
moved, but the officers refused to do this
until the Chief had given his personal
bond to deliver Jock safely in Bangor
Jail The march from the police station
to the Jail was like a circus parade. The
streets were so crowded that the police
had to clear way through the masses OF
people. The Sheriff metSthe party at the
door of the Jail and invited Jock and his
two escorts into the Jail office, where he
served cigars and refreshments to them.
Meantime one Of the officers stood at the
door to keep Jock from escaping. When
the Sheriff asked Jock to go and take din
ner with his family in a private dining
room the officers were SO shocked that
they could stand it no longer, and, hay
ing collected their fees, went home in
disgust.
The evening train which carried them
up river was crowded. When they went
into the smoking car the first man they
saw was Jock. He was seated at card
table playing high-low-jack with q party
of drummers and telling them of his ar
rest The officers, believing he had es-
capped, started in to retake him, and
Jock, after putting up mock resistance,
allowed himself to be recaptured and
handcuffed before he explained that he
was out on bail.
But evil days were in store for Uncle
Jock. Having been captured and fined
by one set of officers, every body who
knew anything against him made COM
plant, and the sheriff and wardens called
upon him nearly every day: In Novem
Der, 1894, he appeared as defendant ID
cases that were tried in Piseataauls, Fen
obscot and Hancock counties, as we'll as
before several trial justices and munich.
pal courts. He was fined SO often that
the property which he had anassed from
keeping his camp at Nicatous was all
used MP. Men who had feared him and
followed him for years turned against
eheir former leader and gave evidence tc
save themselves. The mastery of the
woods which Jock Darling had held foI
nearly half century was gone from him.
He was old and poor and given over tc
his enemies.
Three years ago he sold out his proper.
ty at Nicatous and started smaller
camp in Patten, near the base OF Mount
Katahdin. Though the camp was fairly
well patronized its owner was no longer
able to lead his guests to the woods. A
year ago last summer he made few
trips to the woods in company with old
friends and admirers. Last winter he
went to New York and attended the
sportsmen's exhibit in Madison Square
Garden. His city admirers fisttered and
entertained him so bountifully that he
came back looking ten years younger
In Augusta he stopped off for week in
order to talk to the legislature about the
proposed new game laws. Then he went
home to die.
she was the only white man | ever saw
who could find his way through tbs
woods without compass, y said Luther
Gerrish OF Brownville, who Is now the
Oldest guide of Maine still in active ser
vice. ~ believe he was the best in
| formed man about big game that evel
lived Though I have been constantly in
the woods for fifty years l could Away,
learn something new from Uncle Jock