The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-11-08

glade, meadow, and along every
mountain side, are but memories OF
the splendid past. All gone. The
bear, wolf and panther, with which
the old pioneer hunters delighted to
have encounters, have likewise dissap-
peared, and not trace of one is to be
found. The extensive range of laurel
thickets, covering thousands of acres
in the mountains, are but summer
quarters for rattlesnakes. The num-
berless wild turkeys, at one period
found everywhere and anywhere in
this section of the country have all
been killed off-probably half dozen
or more half-breeds are shot in the
fall and shipped to the markets.
There still remains fairly good Plies
ant shooting in the month of Novem-
Der, the time allowed by the law for
shooting them, but they are hunted
by the professional" and the cabin
mountaineers for the markets and in
few years this species of game will
be among the things that were.
The lovers of the rod occasionally
find good trout and bass fishing in a
few of the streams, and the sport in
these at the proper season is very
good. But the rush is so great from
portions of Pennsylvania and other
States that these streams are fast be-
ing emptied, and it is predicted by
the old residents and sportsmen that
in few years they will be as dry as a
deserted highway in the month of
August. When this takes place, this
vast region of wilderness, mountains
and streams will offer no charm or af-
ford any attraction for the lovers of
field and forest.
| had the pleasure few days since
of dining with Mr.. Archie Dewitt, an
old pioneer hunter and a prominent
and aggressive farmer. During the
day he remarked, 'come over in the
morning and after an early dinner,
we will hitch up and camp out for
the night on Yough river and have
some fine bass fishing
| was too glad to accept his invita-
ton, and was back at his hospitable
home on the following morning at
the hour designated. 1t was a little
after noon when l took my seat in
large, two-horse wagon, filled with
straw and hay, blankets. comforts
and overcoats, besides large canvass
tent, three large boxes of eatables
with sufficient supply of every kind
OF modern fishing tackle. Seated be-
tween Mr.. Archie Dewitt and son,
we had as companions Mr.. Horace
Dewitt and son, Mr.. Alexander De-
Witt and son and another young man
whose name | cannot now recall,
eight in ALL
jogging along for an hour or two
over a mountain road we crossed the
historic "Sang Rum" thence for three
miles over the toughest public road
we ever travelled. To one who has
experienced ride of such a character
it appears to us that he would sooner
slip down honey locust than take it
over.
L cannot at this point overlook Civ
ing as best may be able, descrip-
ton OF one of the most charming lit
tie rustic pictures my eyes ever rest
ed upon. 1t was Immediately upon
this road and was just such land
scape as Durand would have fingered
over until he had caught and chained
it to the canvass.
1t was large sugar maple orchard
which rested on the sunny side of a
majestic mountain. The trees, though
old and vigorous, were full of luxuri-
Gus foliage, and seemingly so artistic
ally arranged, that one might well
suppose that they had been planted
by the hand of man-but a greater
artist had arranged them. All
through this piece of velvet CARPET of
what appeared to be blue grass. of
the most exquisite green, and in ap
pearance as sweet and clean as one of
the most elegant and fashionable Dar-
terreS. Along the side Immediately
at the base of the mountain. was a
sparkling stream which ever gives
forth its rustic and unframed melody
all through the hours of day and
night. Over all rested the glow of a
rich, mellow and cloudless summers
afternoon sun. Here and there it's
rays would quietly steal through the
many little apertures and play lover
like over the grassy sward as softly
and sweetly as a young girls first
dream of love.
On the very apex of the mountain,
standing like a sentinel on guard,
was towering and graceful cucum-
Der tree; so striking were its proper
tions so beautiful was it to behold,
that | exclaimed, 'if l were a bird
and lived in that forest, would build