The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-03-15
snow Of Montreal Tells OF
~ Interesting Experience in the
h''''. Maine Woods

~ hefore the advent of Radio
.,ss Smith and myself planned a
ing "trip to Nlpxie Pond. had
.,n.,v been to the Black Narrows
w N see what was required for a
anp ~ two weeks and before | re-
w had landed a l65 pound buck.
s.ye us both hunting fever and
asasideysble momentum and we had
", Measure in preparing our sup
';ss for the next trip
We landed at Troutdale about noon
y after visiting some OF my friends
s.rned that the camp at the Black
.rovs was empty but the lake was
sa.lly frozen over and that we
MIA have considerable difficulty in
Wing TO camp which was on the
soste side of the lake.
inmbermen had started cutting
vi nm the side of the lake opposite
railroad track and had one of our
4, which they used to go back and
IN We carried our packs up the
a,oad track about a mile and there
he'd for the lumbermen to come
q who we could see coming in two
Els breaking the ice as they came.
vas slow work SO we boiled a pot
yater and had our lunch while we
aited for our boat.
They landed at three o'clock and
rued the smaller boat over to us,
which we started our journey. We
kwed and polled our way across the
Ike through the narrow channel. We
lought of Washington crossing the
eleware and wondered If he made
Nv more speed than we did.
After We were on land again our
Kin had Just commenced as we We're
len further from camp in straight
ne than before we started. We had
long portage around a bay, it was
barly dark before we arrived at camp
Fety well tired out. As it was hard
nyelling with our packs and as we
u most of our supplies for two
|eks. we were not travelling exactly
ke the Sunset Limited. We soon
n our fires going and had a fine
upper of fried venison. french fried
Haoes bread. tea and mince pie.
ielt like new members of the re
uhlk after our feast and arranged
b cottage to suit the weather
here was no snow with which to
'Ihk up the cottage and the wind
IMPLY blew all the heat out of the
'bnse and by the size of the wood pile
h knew what work there was ahead
lbs.
We arranged a large bed so We
ad sit on the edge and feed the fire
didn't feel badly either to be 50
ar the fire. We turned in early as
b wanted to be up in good time for
b early start after the deer.
For three days we hunted without
being a deer or a fresh track. We
fgan to feel as though there were No
|eer around but on the fourth day
|her we had been hunting around
|eeeh Hill we decided to separate on
nr way home We hadn't left each
fher more than ten minutes before
saw a deer disappear in the bush
pward the direction of Smith. We
sd previously arranged to signal each
ther with whistles such important
hings as deer going toward tho
Their fellow, and as | blew blast on
Y whistle | heard Smiths rifle bark,
hen again, the third and even the
'urth time. felt that the deer was
going faster than the
uiet and that he had missed. but as
scrambled up the wooded slopes 10
mere | could hear him blowing his
nals, | found him standing by "A
DE- He had been quietly coming
own trail when he suddenly saw a
eer running away which he continued
lre at Upon going down to the
Jump he found dead deer It had
cen another one which ran away At
fst he thought he was having buck
'ver and was seeing double.
Having had a hard experience in
arriving deer on a stretcher we do
aei to tie this one to pole and each
DC take hold of one end We soon
'und that our shoulders got terribly
TalSed as the deer would sway like
mule girl in a new swing. We
aaded the pole with our coat but
: found IT hard job and the deer
rev heavier every minute. When
Z got to the lake wanted to hang
up and drag it to camp later when
" lake frozen over. but ii was Smiths
Isl deer and he could not see it that
a' SO we carried it all the way to
sap along a dark trail which was
'o'ller 10 one in Quebec Of which
guide OF mine said chat trail she
50 crooked | wouldn't take my dog
u n II Tor fear she would break her
I'VE tfail was not only crooked
''iIohtaily but also vertically and as
! we're pushing our way over one of
:. "an Spots smith lost his foo
= ana fell with his head in a hole
~ ueef across his neck pinning him
I. sne ground. He had little luck in
Yang his way to liberty so | had to
~ my end of the pole and lift the
' t.sh' rom his neck in order that he
"sn' sell me what he thought about
, our hopes rose with our recent
~ but the hunting continued
,sr l ior few days longer. One
a,a .he wind began to blow a re-
s' hurricane and the snow began
,va AL Before morning there was
~ inches Of snow and we had
i a. nopeS' but although we hunted
u nav We SaW no doo,. +.oo1,, Tho