The Republican journal., 1903-08-13
IN THE DEAD RIVER REGION
NOTES OF A TRIP INTO THE WILDS
OF MAINE.
Concluded

| NUIES VI 1klP lNlU 1dE WlAOS
OF MAINE.
| Concluded
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
From Grand Falls to the junction OF
the Big and Little Spencer the trail is
well-worn and easy Years ago clear
ing was made here and barn built,
the frame of which is now standing.
The intention was to raise hay for use
in the lumber camps during the winter.
clearing has grown up to bushes, several
acres are still in condition to yield a
fair crop Here are located Smiths
lumber excellent specimens of
their kind-built of logs, rooted with
cedar splits and made to accommodate
40 or 80 men. All the furnishings, with
! the exception of the stove and table
ware, were evidently made on the spot.
The long tables are of hewn plank four
inches thick and the benches and floors
are of similar material.
Along the banks of the Spencer is a
splendid growth of Norway pine, most
| ly second growth. There are also large
tracts of timberland not yet touched
| by the lumbermen.
On reaching the Spencer we were
surprised and disappointed to find it
had risen to nearly a freshet pitch.
| We were unable to account for this,
but learned later that it was caused by
heavy showers the day previous in the
mountains to the west. We found it
necessary to ford the stream, which
was here 6 or rods wide and TO feet
deep, and the current SO strong that it
was difficult to keep our footing. 1t
was now decided to go to the head of
Spencer Gut, two miles distant, and fish
down through the gorge, which is said
to be passible during the summer
months, and the fishing excellent.
Failing to find the usual river drivers
trail along the bank Of the stream we
soon became lost, but after struggle
of an hour or more through the
worst combination of fallen trees,
rocks and brush it was ever our lot to
be mixed up in, we reached the bank OF
the stream above the gorge.
Spencer Gut is cleft in the solid
rock, 100 or more feet in depth and 20
to 40 feet wide at the surface of the
stream, about mile in length, with
| H. 10 nj tho
distance, and the descent is rapid.
Much timber is cut on the upper waters
of the Big Spencer, and has to be driven
through this cut, which is the terror OF
| the drivers. 1t is said to be the worst
piece Of river in the State from their
standpoint. Jams are sure to form
here, and it is necessary to let men
down over the precipices with ropes to
clear them away. Dynamite is now
used for this purpose. Evidences of
it's use are fragments of logs strewn
along the banks 100 feet or more above
the water Accidents are frequent
here; and many tales of fatalities and
hairbreadth escapes are related by those
who have driven the Big Spencer. We
found the stream foaming torrent the
entire length of the Gut. To traverse
it was impossible. Two of our party
gave up the idea of fishing for the day
and returned to camp, the other two
resolved to see more of the gorge. At
ter hard scramble along the bank for
ONE distance we found point where
We were able to slide and lower our
selves to the waters edge. 1t was
risky business, for fall meant certain
death. From narrow shelf of ledge
dozen feet or so above the stream the
millman tried cast in foam-covered
eddy, which resulted in hooking large
trout, who Immediately struck for
mid-stream and shortly appeared in
the foaming waters some distance
below. After careful playing for some
time he was drawn to the foot of the
ledge, but had sufficient vitality left to
shake himself loose when an attempt
was made to lift him from the water.
A second trout was soon hooked and
lost in the same manner. On the third
he resolved to take no chances. After
thoroughly firing the trout the fisher
man drew his catch to the waters edge
beneath him, tied his line to bush and
at the risk of his life slid down over
the precipice and secured ia 2-pound
square tail. The surroundings made it
a most exciting bit of angling. This
point is called Dawes Pool, a man by
that name having been lost from a jam
here.
As there were no other approachable
points that promised good fishing
we retraced our steps. Returning
to the junction of the Spencer and
Little Spencer, we decided to try
our luck in the latter stream, which
did not seem to be SO much affect
ed by the rain az the other. Here
our luck was excellent, and we landed 80
Tor 70 beauties in q few hours.