The Penn's Grove record., 1901-08-16
The PENIS Grove Record
FRIDAY, AUGUST IL, 1901.
Through the Forests and Lakes OF
Northwestern Canada.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
1925 a. IN. and We have crossed Round
Lake and entered the mouth Of "A narrow
winding river that connects Round Lake
with Stephenson's Lake. This river is
very shallow and foul, being obstructed
by trees which have fallen into the
stream. The land along this stream is
flat and heavily timbcrcd with Canada
ash and maple. We pass on mp tins
stream till We reach a succession OF shall
low rapids one and a half miles long. at
the foot Of which we stop and get dinner.
After the dinner is over we again push
out into the stream and prepare to ascend
the first rapids which is very successfully
accomplished We cannot 60 any lar,
Their by water and pfepasc to 'portasil
again, Brisquc taking the canoe n the
others in order. The trail here is very
rough, but We are soon across and ouT ca
noe again launched into stephenson .
Lake and our things neatly slowed away
on board. This lake is only lour miles
long and about half amiIe wide surround
ed with barren rocky mountains that rise
to a heighth Of LOCO feet.
Here We encountered our first delay
All around us We could hear the distant
thunder, OF the approaching storm "h'eh
seemed to gather thicker and faster every
minute. The next camping ground was
three quarters Of a mile from tire foot oil
the lake on the east side, The Indians
bent their utmost strength on their pad
dies and orr little bark shot
through the water like a race horsr.
Thicker and faster came the storm out
we reached the camping ground IN time
to pitch our tent in a coy little spot at
the base Of a high mountain IN a sort OF
ravine in the rock apparently he"n ont
for the purpose. We got all our effects
in the tent and the eauoe carried t" a
place Of safety before the storm broke
upon us, which lasted nearly an hour.
During the Storm it seemed as though one
neal Of thunder would echo back across
the mountains a dozen times audit sound
ed as though a number OF storms were
upon lis at once. Can any Of your read
ers conceive Of the magnitude OF such a
storm in a place Of solitude like tins,
Soon the storm is passed and the sun
shines out bright, the clouds disappear
and we are on our journey again. We
pass on to the head OF this lake into
which empties the waters Of Pine River
and the Little Madawaska. We take the
latter and pass ON fifteen miles up tins
stream to Rocky Point where we find
favorable camping place at the foot oil an
other mountain without a name. it Mas
dark when we reached this place and by
the light Of our lanterns We discovered
the tracks Of a large bear This did not
in any way alarm lis as our No. II Win
chester was in perfect order and the mag.
azine held fifteen cartridges, all Of whiei
could be used at a moment warning.
We are nov many miles away from any
settlement in the dense crest OF Northern
Canada. | thought many times, what
would we do should an accident ut any
kind befall us, and charged the Indian,
to use great caution when cutting tire
wood lest they should cut themselves
They. however, seem take it for granted
that this rowing forest life is the only int,
for them to lead and they are content
and always equal to any emergency
This was made evident to me upon one
occasion when running Il very dangerous
rapid, the canoe struck a rock, tore ahoi'
in her and filled with water. At th'
time Brisque and ! had left the canoe ii
charge of Bernado and took several OF tine
things to carry over the portash III orde
to tighten the burden but some how SIN
became mmanageable and stuck. wa
greatly alarmed and began to wundc
what we should do. They told me t
stay with things and they would 500
make repairs, One started for spruce gun
and the other for birch bark and in les
than half an hour they had both return
ed with the necessary materials and ha'
the canoe mended in a short time so tina
she didn't leak a drop. / learned after
wards that at all dangerous places Wher
the canoe is liable to be damaged in RAP
ids they have what they call ''gummer
les" which are made by the Indian
who pass these points having the bar.
from four sides Of n number OF spruc
trees. The sun causes the gum to ool
out of the tree and at the same tim
hardens it to the consistency Of chewln
gum. When an Indian passing damage
his ano he goes to a 'gummery am
news enough gum off the score t.
make repairs. Spruce gum Is the onl,
gum that can be used as il will not hard
en- and crack IN the water nor melt iron
the heat OF the sun, Birch bark Is al
ways available in this country and Will
spruce roots to sew the bark he is neyr
at a loss for material.
In a short time the fire is kindled, on
tent erected, and supper Is ready Whlcl
is enjoyed by all, as we are very hungry
Our appetites, however, have a create
temptation tonight, a. we have on TIN
bill ui lare smoked NtllSuh ana IIlct
brook trout which was very kindly giver
us by Joe Partridge, the Chlet OF the Al
gonquins, who with his squaw wife wer,
returning from a hunt up country ant
whom We met about 4 O'Clock in the al
teTnoon.
After the supper is over and We hay'
enjoyed our pipes as one in the habit o
using the weed always can on an occasion
of this kind | find the Indians show n,
signs of ~sleepiness as they usually do al
ter a hearty meal, but ON the contrary
find they are inclined to sit up and keel
the fire burning. Upon questioning then
| find we are ina part of the country
now, inhabited only by wild beasts o
numerous varieties, chiefly bears, wolve,
and Canada lynx, commonly known a
wild cats. Nothing unusual mp to thi,
time had disturbed our conversation ~.
cept the sound of ~whippoorwills, which
are very plentiful here, and keep up then
peculiar warble all night, when all at once
| heard what seemed like a lot OF dog;
barking all in a different tone, the sonnd,
apparently coming from the top Of the
mountain. nj the base of which Our tent