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.