Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-11-27
FIVE MIGHTY HUNTSMEN.
Tale of Sportsmen Who Went Far
and Suffered TribulatiOn.


Barton is noted for its successful
deer hunters. Five of it's most sue
cessful venison getters left town on
Friday, November 8, travelling east
Island Pond, thence northward 16
miles to Norton Mills where the truck
somewhat uncertain in some Of it's
movements on the trip was LETT.
Thence, the party struck eastward
again, with heavy packs, over an old
lumberman's road and travelled six.
long, weary miles into the forest,
reaching the shack where they were
to spend the open season. But what
mattered dirt floor, green wood,
smoky stove, hard hunks and all that.
They had reached place where deer
were. What mattered almost 80
miles of travel over muddy roads and
the weary walk of six miles under
a back-breaking pack? They were
in the land where venison roamed the
woods in herds and on the first morn
ing of the open season it was but
necessary to step from the shack and
get deer liver for dinner.
But-the strange thing was, the
first day passed without deer meat in
camp. The second day, likewise. The
third day, the five mighty deer hunt
ers went forth with determination to
find see, kill, bring in and consume
some venisen, but hope gave way to
doubt and doubt to disappointment
and disappointment to defeat.
The next day would surely bring
them luck. But Thursday passed
without venison to eat. Friday--well,
Friday was the day they ventured
forth and is considered an unlucky
day. They never started hunting on
a Friday before. Friday! Well, they
went forth. Same result as before.
The season was fast speeding. No
meat and no stories to tell the boys
back home. Saturday the same, only
wetter. It rained most of the time
but they must get some deer heads,
rain or no rain. Sunday they rested.
week Of hard labor, should rest. Had
they not roamed the wilderness day
after day, travelled mile upon mile
over brush heap, swamp, cliff, dale
and forest vale?
And Sunday they heard that the
Monday before Germany had ac-
knowledged defeat. But they had
enough left to celebrate on, and Mon
day was to be their lucky day. It
was. The five invincible deer slayers
ventured forth to new grounds, more
distant, to be sure, but where there
were deer. AS they were separating
to surround a 1000-acre patch of
Essex county forest, and herd the
willy buck, two of the party saw
buck. They both opened fire but
| bucky ran away. But fortune was
with the party. He ran toward the
other three men of valor. They saw
him and all three opened fire on the
frightened animal but he proceeded
to run. Leaping brush pile he dis
appeared-but miracles will never
cease. Taking pity on the party he
turned and jumped back over the
brush pile where the boys could see
him and there died. Some say it was
from pure fright of the volleying
and laundering of the many rifles.
Others think it was straight heart
failure, but the hunters, themselves,
claim there was one bullet hole in
him, nineteen shots being fired.
That's all. Yes, that's all the deer
the party got. Tuesday and Wednes-
day were spent in the woods, wan
dering about but the boys claim it
was for exercise and the mere beauty
of the woods that they went out. Had
not the mighty huntsmen, the five of
them, got a deer in the hunting sea-
! rcn, thourh so miles intervened be-
tween them and home and the roads
had grown continually worse from
rain.
But they packed out the weary
miles, loaded in the truck, cranked up
and started home. How exhilarat-
ing to ride ,and start for home, even
though minus the amount of venison
they had hoped for, and the boys at
home would look for. There was some
kidding coming to them, but ahead
there was a house and fireside, fami-
ly, regular meal and a bed-yes,
bed.
Eight miles toward Island Pond. in
the very heart of a 12-mile stretch of
forest road, destitute of village,
farm or cabin, the truck laid down.
Yes! The driver started back to
reach the nearest telephone and walk
ed and walked. He finally covered
the five miles to the nearest tele-
phone. Then, of course, the line was
busy and noisy, and it was some time
before Barton could be reached. FL
nally, voice gave promise another
truck would start at once, though it
was getting toward night.
In the meantime, darkness fell upon
the four men who were guarding the
| disabled truck on the forest road,
miles from habitation. With dark
ness came preparation for the eve
ming repast. Trees were felled and
fire kindled beside the road. The
meal was served but the truck driver,
who went back to get aid did not re-
turn. At 7.3O o'clock, two of the
party with fashlight as their guide
in the thick night, started after the
1 wanderer, and had covered a mile
and half before meeting him. The
three returned to the scene of the
truck and camp fire. The arrival
from Barton was expected late that
night.
Sitting in row with their backs to
gravel bank, the five men, like fowls
oy, rooct cot and dozed and nodded