Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-12-26
WOOD sUPERsTlTIoNs.

Many and curious are the superStlt1One
Of the guides and hunters of the northern
woods. The other day an old half-breed
woodsman, who was in the lead Of shoot
ing party, stopped after they had travelled
100 yards from camp, with the declaration
that his companion would direct the party
that day, as he was obliged to return.
"Maybe he heard something" was the
only explanation the younger man would
give of his action.
At night, when the sportsmen came
back empty handed, the gray head gave
his reason for his failure, and also for
their non-success.
81 heard the chickadee singing right in
front of us, and that always means bad
luck, you know" he said.
Why the little cherry black and white
chirper should be considered as the har-
binger of ill fortune he could not tell.
He had always heard that it was and
always found the tradition to be true.
The man who hears the birds song first
must always go back or some accident
may happen. The others might as well ac
company him, for they will get no game.
News came in, while on the expedition,
of the accidental shooting of cousin of
one of the guides. He had been taking a
couple Of sportsmen to good place for
ducks.
"He always was mad headed fellow"
his relative explained. 'sHe never would
he guided by anything. He laughed
about hearing chickadee sing one MORN
ing, and before noon he had shot and
pretty nearly killed the man he was work.
ing for.
On the other hand, the call of the wood
pigeon, or wood dove, is very good medi-
cine, as the Indian says. A great many
creatures will die that day if the fortunate
hunter hears its cooling early in the morn
ing.
The worst of it is that death may posi-
bly, strike some member of the party as
well. The guides remember the fact that
when prominent New York nimrod was
found dead in his shack some years ago,
his attendants noticed wood doves nest
right above his pretty little empowered
retreat.
He had had wonderful success that
season, and in one month had killed more
game than in his whole previous life time.
Every day the pigeon called him to re-
newed success in killing, until the even
ing, when her soft call presaged the COM
ing Of the tirsless being whose sportis the
life of men.
The hoarse squawk of the raven, again,
oft 20 hnp L
though bird of evil omen, it is the game
upon which the bad luck will fall, unless
there are other bad signs to be noticed.
For instance, if the chickadee chirps
when the raven calls for "por-rk," it
means very bad times for sportsmen. And
if on an ordinary trip through the woods
a raven is heard, look out for falls, break
ages, or accidents of some more serious
character. But, with gun on shoulder
and dog at heel, rejoice at the shout of
the raven, for many are the good chances
! of sport the day will afford.
T.. The observant hunter will notice that,
although the most common Of trees in
most shooting districts, poplar is never
, used about the camp. Many time have
young fellows on their first expedition
undertaken to lend hand in setting up
! the tents at night, and to that end have
brought in forked stakes of the clean,
easily cut, white wood.
On one occasion or another they are al
most invariably laid on one side and tent
| poles secured from another tree. Or a
green hand will set up poplar sticks on
which to sling the pot. The cocif always
has reason ready for discaroing this
wood.
| If by any chance he should not nSsice
| it and the pot tilts over, the bouiiion
| burns or the tea is smoky; there will be a
hearty malediction bestowed apon the I'M
lucky poplar sticks. The men are by no
means ready with an explanation of these
superstitions, and when questioned will
| content themselves with half-laughing
rejoinder
didn't you know that? 1 thought
| everybody knew that poplar always brings
bad luck to the man who uses it about a
campfire"
But the probability is that the obser-
want red man noticed the continual rest
less movement of the leaves of the quiv-
ering aspen, and feeling his senses irri-
tated by the incessant motion, set it down
as bad medicine at once. The poplar is at
any rate, brittle, quickly-rotting wood,
which possibly furnishes further reason
for disliking it.
Tent poles are never drawn from the
ground when camp is struck. The old,
hospital bic idea of helping the next man
to home makes it almost crime, certain
to entail bad fortune on the offender
against this rule. Poplar stakes pretty
sure to decay at the bottom within a
month or two, would be poor kind of
gift to make to party of travellers hastily
setting up their canvas lodging some
dark night.
Some guides go so far as to discourage
firing at birds roosting upon poplar tree.
Often when bad shooting is made at freed