The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-04-23
Along Arnold's Trail.
From Maine To Canada.
BY FRANK W. GoWEN.
No. "

This farm, surrounded by quite a
large field in the wilderness, where |
left my readers In my previous arti :
Gle, is situated on the banks of Alder
stream, some FIVE miles from where
it flows into the Dead river, and ten
or twelve miles farther north are the
summer camps around the lakes over
which General Arnold crossed with
his army of invasion. The reason |
left Arnold's trail at the mouth of
Alder stream was because had some
business with the superintendent of
this farm and lumber company, as
we'll as with some of the bosses of
their camps some seven or eight miles
farther north from the farm. 1t was
now the last days of August and la
borers from Canada and our State of
Maine were already reporting for
work in the woods, and soon the
woodman's axe would ring through
the great forest and brisk would be
the lumber business for many a day.
After writing down in my note book
a few thoughts on Arnold's march,
and few evening songs by my friend
and settling with our guide, who de-
sired to start back to Eustis before
we were up in the morning, we re-
tired for the night. v e occupied
separate rooms, which were large and
well furnished, and once under the
sheets neither of us knew aught until
the SUMS rays appeared in the eastern
sky. 1t was about seven O'Clock
when the boss teamster knocked at
my door. | rubbed my eyes and call
ed out, "hello there! come inio He
opened the door and came up to the
foot of the bed and looked like a
giant standing there in his rough
woodman's suit, but under his rough
clothes beat generous heart. He
came for our suit cases to take with
him on his tote teams, which were
then ready to start for the company's
lumber camps, some eight miles
north. / Jumped out of bed and
reused my friend and he soon had our
luggage, but refused to take any pay
for his trouble. We then thanked
him for his kindness and he said {;
"Don't mention it boys, we'll see We
at the camps tonight" "You said it
was a straight road from here to the
camps?n inquired my friend ayes,
can't miss the way" he said as he was
descending the stairs with our lug
gage on his broad back. "Walk
straight on until ye come to our
camps" he added. After breakfast
we stepped into the company's stores
and found the superintendent and a
teamster who had come in from
Eustis the day before with load of
winter supplies busy at work arrang-
ing tobacco boxes, bags and barrels
of flour in their proper places.
Everything needed for the lumber
camps was kept here. My friend
borrowed a rifle from the superin
tendent to shoot at hawks and owls,
of which there are a large number i'll
this region. In fact, they are SO nu
merous that song birds are scarce.
After settling our bills we started on
our walk to the camps. 1t was de-
lightful morning for walk through
the wilderness, and everything look
ed fresh and beautiful after the show
er. The leaves, many of them al
ready taking Oh tinge of autumn,
tied in the breeze, the sun beams
fiickered here and there in the deep
woods, and the squirrels and little
chipmunks run chattering along over
the rough tote road. We had not
gone far before we saw two large
deer, but as the close time was on my
friend did not try his luck. We also
saw fox and good many hawks.
Soon my friend blazed away at a
hawk, and down it came fiuttering
among the rees.-"There is one
hawk less" said he, shOuldering the
rife and jogging on.
Each day along Arnold's trail was
bringing us nearer to that city famous
as having been sung in song and told
in story where he and his ragged
army fought SO bravely. At length
we assembled high hill, and looked
over sea of tree tops waving in the
wind. Here we found large spring
of beautiful water and slaked our
thirst from little tin dipper which
hung on limb. As we had travelled
half of the distance between the farm
and the camps, and 1t was past eleven
O'Clock, we decided to rest and eat
our lunch and sat down in the shade
under big tree and began to eat with
q good relish. Soon we heard the
ring of hoofs on the tote road and
looking up saw two monarehs of the
northern foI est making their way to
the spring to drink.
jumped to our feet, while my friend
reached for the rifle, but l was too
quick for him and pushed it aside. In
an instant they raised their huge ant
Tered heads and looked at us, and the
bull moose began to stamp and look
ugly and my heart began to thump
against my ribs. But presently they
loped off into the forest and disap
peared. ooh! said my friend, as he
drew long breath, "what a sight!
If we don't get killed by these huge
beasts before we get out of this great,
wild region we will do well. And yet
it has been touched by the hand of
civilization since the days of Arnold's
march, when he and his army were
beset with such hardships and perils
in these wilds.o Yes" | replied,
shat is true; when General Arnold's
army was dying of starvation and eX-
posure in this great wilderness, mod
ern conveniences such as we have
enjoyed along the way were un-
known
This region during our early history
was also one of the favorite lurking
places of the Indians, who welded
the tomahawk with such savage ven
gance and whose war-whoop often
resounded through the dense forests;
but today we can say with the poet:
"What change! through pathless wilds
no NOR,
The fierce and naked savage roa =,
Sweet praise along aese quit hores,
Breaks for many peaceful, happy homes
81 don't see how Arnold lived to
get his army through here so late IN
the season. said my friend. SIT will