Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-11-07
ALONE IN CAMP.
Out-of-State Hunters Experience In
Hancock County Woods.

"rhere are worse things about hunting
IN Maine than being mistaken for deer
and shot to DEATH" said Harry Siebold.
who when at home is postmaster at Long
Branch, N. J. sFrom my short expert
ences as hunter / am convinced that
death from shooting is better than dying
slowly from starvation and fatigue.
Il was camping on No. 80, northern
Hancock county, and my Indian guide
came near to cutting off his hand while
preparing firewood. Though had band
aged the wound as best could, it bled so
freely that the guide started out that
night to walk through to Lincoln to find
doctor, while was to wait where / was
until he could send in another guide to
help me in the hunting.
"Before he left told him to send in
some food, as about all we had left was
the side of deer which 1 had shot the
day before. / accompanied him part of
the way and on returning to camp found
that he had carried with him all our am
munition.
II went to sleep and was awakened soon
after midnight by the noise of some large
animal, probably bobcat, which climbed
tree and carried away the vension which
had hung up and which was my chief
reliance until help came. / was now in a
state of mind that was not enjoyable.
"Having no compass or map and not
knowing to within twenty miles the loca-
ton OF my camp, it would be foolish for
me to start out into an unknown wilder
ness in the hope Of reaching any human
habitation. If stayed close to the camp
and waited, the chances were that would
perish from hunger. If l struck out to
find help it was almost certain that would
become lost and perish.
"At daylight l built fire and made
some strong coffee, after which started
out to pick up breakfast. By 10 O'Clock
had collected something like pint of
beechnuts, which the squirrels and jays
had not found. and returning to camp and
removing the shells from the nuts and
making some more coffee, had my first
breakfast that had been procured through
my own endeavors.
"From then until late in the afternoon
wandered about looking for any creature
or plant that was edible. found nearly
quart Of acorns which, though very
bitter and astringent, were sustaining,
and with these and some more coffee
made out supper.
"My second day was passed hunting
around the shores of Nicatous lake, from
the waters of which I caught two small
frogs, one fresh water clam aud dozen
small minnows, all of which cooked and
devoured ravenously. There were plenty
Of red squirrels in the trees, but for all
the good they could do me they might
have been in Europe.
81 saw several patridges and almost ran
over sleeping rabbit, but everything
sought got away easily, leaving me fretful
and depressed. AT nightfall six deer came
right by my camp and went on to the lake
to drink. As l saw them walk past in
single file tried to put price upon what
single cartridge would be worth to me,
but gave it up and went to sleep.
!. "Onthe fourth day the last of my con-
densed milk, sugar and coffee was gone
and I was fighting off starvation with
frogs, nevis and live bait. Then l man.
aged to catch hedgehog. I removed the
insides and washed the body many times
in the lake. Then, without removing
any of the spills or the skin, pasted and
plastered the body thickly in soft blue
clay from the banks of the lake and hur-
ried away for my camp and square meal.
As turned from the woods into the clear
ing / heard a strange voice say:
"sThere he is now. "
"What saw was good for sore eyes.
paid no attention to the two men who
stood awaiting for my coming, but looked
beyond to great tin pail holding dough-
nuts and mince pie and baked beans
and cucumber pickles. l do not know
which kind of food / tackled first, but
have very vivid memory of those pickles,
and felt as il the person who had filled
the pail must have been accustomed to
putting up lunchons for Sunday school
picnics, and wondered why the napkins
had been omitted.
"As for the hedgehog which had cap
tured with so much difficulty, ! regret to