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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1905)
A THE SUNDAY OBEGONIAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 8, 190o. ;!fli urA ' AT this season ol the year, -when the thoughts of the sportsman turn to forest and stream, to rod, gun and the campflre, It will interest him to know that no longer need he tote on his back his iood, his ammunition, his tents and the other articles comprising his equip ment. The "portage" is no morel The auto mobile, which long ago showed its utility In love and war and in so many of the af fairs of cvery-day life, has now proven its adaptability to the needs of the huntsman and the fisherman. This demonstration of the usefulness of the motor car In this new fleld has been furnished by a party of Ave New Yorkers, who have just suc cessfully completed a memorable pioneer tour through the wilds of Northern Maine and the provinces of New Burns wlck and Quebec To these enterprising tourists, all who love to chaso tho deer and the caribou or who And their greatest enjoyment In hooking the trout and other members of the finny tribe, owe a debt of gratitude for showing this new method of entering the wilds for the desire of the sportsman Is ever to" hunt and fish In some new territory, or. If the territory bo not new. In some new way or with some new implements. The party consisted of Ezra Pitch, a member of most of the prominent sports men's clubs of the Eastern States, who or ganized and captained the tour; Augustus Post, chairman of the touring committee of the American Automobile Association; N. Lazarnlck, the well-known war corre spondent and photographer; A. T- Ed mundson and It. H. Johnston, both active tourists. Equipment for the, Tour. Their entire outfit. Including the ma chines, was shipped by boat from the metropolis to Portland, Me., where the tour proper commenced. The automobiles chosen for the tour were three White steam touring cars, as steam was deemed to be the motive power best adapted for the rough going anticipated. Mr. Post re moved the tonneau from his car, but the other machines were in no way altered from their usual touring condition, even the hampers, canopy tops and acetylene lights being retained. The tourists had carefully considered their plans and had provided themselves with all the equip ment . which th'ey thought might prove useful. Their first task on reaching Port land was to load the cars with the Im pedimenta no mean task, as will soon be disclosed. First of all was the "road building" equipment, consisting of a block 'and tackle, 400 feet of three-quarter-inch rope, four axes, a crowbar, a shovel and a mattock. All of this equipment, to gether with a couple of extra springs and a few small extra parts, was loaded on Mr. Post's machine, which was Imme diately dubbed the "wrecking car." On this machine were also placed four silk tents. These, besides being waterproof and very light, rolled into a very compact bundle, which was strapped on tho step with leather thongs. Mr. Post's car also .carried a stove and a "baker," both of which folded flat and took up almost no room at all. The remainder of the equip ment was divided among the other two machines. There was, first of all, an alu minum cooking outfit for a party of seven, consisting of saucepans, frying-pans, palls, plates. Cups, etc. These fitted into one another so snugly that they were all contained in a waterproof pall 15 Inches in diameter and 18 inches high. Then there was tho stovepipe, the sections of which telescoped compactly Into one an other. A riflo and a fishing rod for each member" of the party, an abundance of ammunition and a fine layout of fishing tackle were neatly packed in the ham pers of Mr. Fitch's car. Furthermore, there were air beds, folding lanterns, ground clothes, pocket compasses and nu merous other articles to contribute to the comfort of tho tourists while in the camp and on the road. Furthermore, each man had a heavy canvas "kit bag, containing a sleeping bag and a few extra articles of clothing, all of light wool, and strapped on tho outside of each car- was an extra tire. Lastly, were Mr. Lazernlck's cam eras, plates and other photographic para phernalia. Without doubt no party had ever before penetrated the great woods so well equipped because no party had ever before had the carrying capacity at the disposal of Mr. Fitch and his party. Mr, Fitch had assured his fellow-tourists that they would be as comfortable in camp as they would be in their own homes, and this promise he "made good" in every particular. Guides and Groceries. With their cars loaded with this para phernalia, tho party started from Port land and proceeded by way of Brunswick, Augusta, Waterville and Bangor to Old- town. Here two guldos were added 'to the party, because not only would their services bo needed in pitching camp, but also the laws of the State of Maine pro vide that no one shall fire a gun or build a fire unless accompanied by a licensed guide. It might here be remarked that the guides were highly pleased at the in novation of hunting by automobile, as they were thus relieved of their arduous task of toting heavy burdens on their backs, and they expressed the sincere wish that tho example of Mr. Fitch and his party would be followed by all sportsmen. At Oldtown a two weeks' supply of staple groceries waa secured. These con. slsted of coffee, tea, sugar, salt, flour, cornmeal, cereals, beans, rice, evaporat ed cream, etc Each of these articles was tied in around bag of light canvas, marked with the name of its contents, and the small bags were in turn sand wiched one upon another in heavy waterproof canvas bags two feot long and ten inches in diameter. There had also been brought from New York a supply of concentrated foods. Includ ing "pemmican," such as used by Arc tic explorers, and a number of food, such as used by the German army. The tourists depended on their rods and guns for a supply of fresh food, and, as they mot with good success in this particular it will be seen that tho "In ner man" fared unusually well. Through a Forest Fire. From Oldtown the party proceeded to Mattawankcag. Up to this point their route had followed closely the line of the Maine Central Railroad, The roads were well traveled, although very hilly and quite sandy in places, and the au tomobiles, aside from tho nature of their cargo, aroused only moderate In terest. But at Mattawankcag the tourists left tho line of the railroad and struck duo north toward Patten. Wnen near this town the first of the inci dents which served to make this tour highly eventful transpired. They found a forest fire burning on cacn eld? of tho road. They hold a council of war and decided to risk an advance. With full head of stoam they dashed through the pall of smoko which the wind wafted against them, but by good fortuno they arrived In Patten safely. though greatly exhausted through Inhaling the heavy smoke. Mount Katahdin, near by, tho highest pealc in Maine, was burning, and tho tourists sat up all night watching the flames leaping up the mountainside a sight not soon to be forgotten. Resuming tho Journey the next Jay they soon came to a road which branched out toward the east, and they learned that tho two or three small runabouts which had previously pene trated up to this point had all taken this road, which leads to Houlton and the moro settled eastern portion of tMalne. Although this eastern road was the only one shown on the cycle map, which they had been following up to r Ta this point. Mr. Fitch and his party con tinued boldly on the trail which led due north, and soon found themselves in a country even rougher and wilder than that which they had before trav ersed. "Is this an automobile? asked a lum berman's wife, when they stopped be fore her humblo cottage to take in the beautiful vista of lake and of wood land which stretched before them. This question perhaps conveys an Idea of the absolutely pioneer nature of the tour from that point right through to its termination. Near the little settlement of Masardis tho tourists for the first time camped out, and so .comfortably did they pass tho night, and so much did they enjoy the meals cooked over the campfire that they all declared -that they had no furter use for hotels or farmhouses. Pleasant Iilfe in Camp. A few "words regarding the procedure on reaching the camping ground will bo of interest to those who contemplato a trip of this kind. In the first place a camp sito was, of course, selected near a lake or a stream or a spring. All fell to work at once with axes to clear a space for the tents and machines. The camp paraphernalia was unloaded from the machines, the guide who acted as cook Immediately built his fire and com menced preparations for the evening meal, whllo the rest of the party would cut tent poles and tent pegs, put up the tents and build a crude table on which to spread the meal. By the time, ims worx was. completed, tne dinner would, oo readj. and they ate their slm ple repast from tho aluminum dishes With much more enjoyment than ever they ate from Limoges china In New York's finest hostelrles. After dinner they would sing around the campflre and smoke their pipes for a while and then, were ready to crawl Into their sleeping bags, which were stretched on the balsam bougtis which had been cut by tho guides and. spread over the floor of the tents for that purpose One or two of the party would then be dele gated to. get up at 'daybreak and bring in a. mess of fish for breakfast, and so little had the streams In the territory which they traversed been visited by fishermen, that they never failed to have a fine fish breakfast. In a IVIld Country. When Mr. Fitch and his party broke up their camp near Masardis they con tinued by way of Ashland to Portage Lake When a few miles beyond the little lumber camp of Portage, their road lay through a dense forest, where they had frequently to chop away trees and branches which had fallen across the narrow road and to cut out stumps which effectually blocked tho passage of tho machines. The road was a con stant succession of steep ascents and descents, but over making towards a higher level. For 20 miles there was no sign of human habitation, but when they once moro came to a littlo settle ment near Eaglo Lake, it was as though they had come into an entirely different country. The people woro all of French descent, and there was no one who spoke a word off English except the parish prleit. Evidently tho dense for est Just described had provon an effec tive barrier to colonization. A fow hardy English-speaking lumbormen had penetrated up to it from the south, while on the north venturesome French Canadians had established their little settlements. Continuing on through this sparsely settled region, which Is ono of the few spots In the United States whero French Is the prevailing lan guage, the tourists reached the border at Fort Kent without mishap. The river was at an unusual low point, owing to tho prevailing drought, and so the tour ists forded It in their machines, much to the amazement of the Inhabitants who gathered on "each bank to Inspect the novel conveyancer. From Clair, the little town opposite Fort Kent, they continued on to Edmundston. and from there they turned due north to Notre Dame du Lac. The guides who had been taken on at Oldtown were sent back at the border, and at Notre Damo du Lac three intelligent French Canadians were added to the party as guides. While proceeding toward Notre Dame du Lac. Mr. Fitch, who was leading the way, saw a flock of partridges on the road ahead of him. Removing his rifle from the hamper, ho shot several of them without leaving his seat behind the steering-wheel. Into the Forest Primeval. At Notre Dame du Lac tho party de cided to 'penetrate tho primeval forest which lay to the east. Accordingly, they were ferried across Lake Temlscouata on a crudo side-wheel steamboat known as the "Storm Hero." Tho machines were loaded on without difficulty, but when the other side of tho lake was reached the boat could not como within some distanco of the shore A crude pier and gangplank wcro constructed out of logs and the automobiles were finally landed on the shore of the lake, where the party camped, far removed from any signs of civilization. Tho next day they reconnoltcred along tho shore and were rewarded by finding a rude corduroy road, which was used in Winter for hauling logs. Threading their way along the beach in their machines, they entered upon this road and made their way la boriously to Lako TouladIfc where they hunted and fished for several days and enjoyed in full tho details of camping In the wilderness. The Inhabitants Wondered. Then once more returning to tho shore of Lako Temlscouata. they sent one of tho guides across In a canoe to hall the "Storm Hero." It was Sunday, and tho greater part of tho day elapsed before tho crew were collected and the boat had paddled once more across the lake. When the machines were once more set down on the main road, they proceeded north ward toward tho St. Lawrence River. After many miles of Incessant climbing they reached the little town of St. Hon ore, whero they rested their machines on the rid go of land that separates the wa tershed of the St. John River from that of the St. Lawrence River. Then con tinuing, they reached tho St. Lawrence River at Riviere du Loup. From this point they continued down the river, passing through several quaint little towns, each of which, no matter how small it might be, had a most imposing church. This section of the Province of Quebec the tourists describe as being particularly picturesque. Tho architecture of the houses and even of the barns is distinctive and entirely unlike anything seen in English-speaking communities. Every few miles along the road would bo seen a shrine, testifying to the devout nature of the Inhabitants. Everywhere the tourists were received with the great est cordiality, and they aroused in the natives the greatest curiosity. Every time they stopped In a town they would ha immediately surrounded by tho Inhabi tants, who would inspect the machines critically, feel the tires and ask In their 'patois" a myriad of questions regarding the tourists, whence they came and whither they were going, how fast the machines could go, how much they cost, etc. Despite this curiosity, automobilists who enter this region are assured of tho most friendly treatment. Killed Big; Game. When tho tourists came near BIc. they left the river and proceeded back into the woods as far as their machines would carry them which meant as far as any vehicle of any sort whatever had ever been. Over more than one stream n crude bridge was built, and all of the road-building equipment was constant!y In use. Holes were filled up. trees chopped down and stumps removed. But the tourists were v.cll rewarded for their arduous work, because before they telt that camping place one of their mvmfrs brought down with his rifle a fine caribou Usually the hunter Is able to carry awav only tho head and the hide, but In th's Instance the entire carcass was loadi on one of the automobiles ami broug ? triumphantly into camp, where the wh party feasted on luscious caribou steak This incident served as the climax the tour. As the vacations of th vt ous members of the party had exp'- they retraced their way back to the 5 Lawrence and proceeded on as far a Blc, 540 miles from Portland, where ' tour was brought to a close and the par?" returned to New York by mil. They 1 ' " demonstrated that It is perfectly poss for the automobile to carry all the sup plies and equipment necessary for man's sustenance and comfort and that It the Ideal conveyance for the sportsman who wishes to penetrate Into the wills, provided, of course, that special prepara tion be mado to overcome the obstacles which must be encountered when touring In wild and unfrequented regions. Hubbard's "Little Sermons" Aphorisms by the Editor of The Philistine." LIBERALS are often very Illiberal. Work to please yourself and you develop and strengthen the artistic con science. Cling to that and It shall be your mentor in times of doubt; you need, no other. Most of our best moves are accidents, and every good thing begins as some thing else. Destructiveness in a youngster Is only energy not yet properly directed, Just as dirt is useful matter In the wrong place. The first though, of socialism i3 for the worker, not for those who buy. Cheap products make cheap men. Anything is better than the Dead Sea of neutral nothingness. Life Is a dangerous business, anyway few, indeed, get out of it alive. All great music and all deathless poems are written In a fever of ecstacy; all paintings that move men to tears are painted in tears. The Ideal teacher I3 not the one who bends all minds to match his own; but tha one who is able to bring out and de velop the good that is In the pupil him wo will crown with laurel. In the United States everything Is on the Jump, art included. Failure, disgrace, poverty, suffering, sorrow, prison stripes, humiliation, de spair I am one with them all. Where these are, there am I Invited thither do my feet tend. Business means taking things from where they are plentiful to where they are needed. , Business means making things that peo ple want.' What Is the difference between mar riage and matrimony? The difference Is the same as that between getting a job and securing a position. There are four kinds of witnesses In courts liars, honest liars, damned liars and experts. 4 Tfie only time that a woman's judg ment is rellablo Is when she Is not In love. A strong man represents the triumph of mind over matter. A politician repre sents the triumph of mind over morals. "Following the God within"; Doing what we want to do In spite of hell: carrying out our own desires with no sonslderation for tho rights or feelings of others; self-reliance gone to seed. If people have wronged you. It will do no harm to give them a chance to forget It. The only way you can get the start of God i3 to obey him Implicitly. The secret of satisfaction lies In tho just balance that sesarates Indulgence and denial.