From: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com (hist_text-digest) To: hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: hist_text-digest V1 #405 Reply-To: hist_text Sender: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk hist_text-digest Saturday, November 6 1999 Volume 01 : Number 405 In this issue: -       MtMan-List: mountain men illustrations -       Re: MtMan-List: Sitting inside -       Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks -       Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks -       Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks -       Re: MtMan-List: mountain men illustrations -       MtMan-List: Fw: Musings From Absalom (Charlie Smith from Bandera, Texas' Cousin and Persona of Jim Bryan) -       Re: MtMan-List: Fw: Musings From Absalom (Charlie Smith from Bandera, Texas' Cousin and Persona of Jim Bryan) -       MtMan-List: George Washington's Pack Bag -       MtMan-List: Bear -       Re: MtMan-List: Bear -       MtMan-List: wipin' sticks -       Re: MtMan-List: Bear -       Re: MtMan-List: Bear ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 19:07:48 EST From: Huss931@aol.com Subject: MtMan-List: mountain men illustrations I have just completed a book on Robert Campbell-- Irish Mountain Man. He was the partner of William Sublette, close friend of Jed Smith, Jim Bridger, and all the other men who were "bigger than life." I would like to include pictures/art work/ photos which illustrate the life of the mountain man. I can use modern pictures and will give credit to anyone who sends me one which I use (and includes written permission to use it). I will also give the person a book when it is published. Contact Dr. Stephen F. Huss (Huss931@aol.com) or mail to me at: 227 Main Festus, MO 63028 Thanks, Steve - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 18:18:39 -0700 From: Mike Moore Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Sitting inside To all the world history teachers: hurrah! Let me encourage you. I was once a young lad who sat in a world history class and had a teacher who actually taught me something. This one was different, he had long hair(!), a moustache, a smile on his face and always tried to reach the kids. He must of done something right. History is not the most pressing thing on young minds, but it is important. When kids give you a blank look and don't do their home work-don't give up. History (as all of us know in this group) can be exciting, fun and interesting. Keep up the good work! Linda Holley wrote: > Oh! darn, not another World History teacher?????? So am I. And I want to go > camping so bad. Can't see deer on the second floor of my building in the > middle of the city. But the few words he spoke give me the greatest thoughts > of setting up my tipi next weekend in the back yard and just day dreaming. > > Linda Holley > > Kevin Pitman wrote: > > > Thanks for the mental picture. Needed that sitting in my classroom grading > > 6-week world history exams. Have some Douglas Spotted Eagle playing on the > > tape player and that helps too. > > > > Kevin > > > > >From: Jim Lindberg > > >Reply-To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com > > >To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com > > >Subject: MtMan-List: Sitting inside > > >Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 08:21:48 -0600 > > > > > >Sitting in my office in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, along the south bank > > >of the Chippewa River, watching a 6 point buck chasing a doe, they run > > >into some pines and out come 3 yearlings. Man I wish I was outside! > > > > > >Pray for tracking snow, > > > > > >Jim > > > > > >---------------------- > > >hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > > > ---------------------- > > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 20:06:10 -0600 From: "Douglas Hepner" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks What about pack baskets? Are they period? What about documented? "Dull Hawk" - ----- Original Message ----- From: Allen Hall To: Sent: Thursday, November 04, 1999 12:08 AM Subject: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks > Hello the list, > > Well, I think we've worked over the blankets pretty good. > > Here's a new one for you. Do you prefer a haversack or a backpack for being > out on foot? Why, and details about what you use (size/weight/materials > used in construction, etc). > > I'm sure everyone will be interested. > > Thanks in advance, > > Allen Hall out in Fort Hall country > > > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > > - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 21:07:33 -0800 From: "larry pendleton" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01BF2708.9CAA6EA0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Great Info Capt. You pretty much covered it all. You're right, as we = get older we figure out that it ain't having all the geegaws that makes = for a fine camp. =20 Pendleton -----Original Message----- From: R Lahti To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com Date: Thursday, November 04, 1999 10:44 AM Subject: Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks =20 =20 Allen Hall wrote: >=20 > Hello the list, >=20 > Well, I think we've worked over the blankets pretty good. =20 Allen, =20 If you think the blankets have been beaten to death, you should be monitoring the MLML list and see what can be done with a simple = request for a good recipe for chile. =20 As to "tote'n that bale", I have run the gamut from pack basket to bedroll. In-between I've used simple ruck sacks and back boards with = a pack attached. They all seem to have their good points and short comings. Some things I've learned the hardway and others I've = learned from listening to others (and I'm still listening) but for my money.........=20 =20 The bottom line for me is simply that I do not have regular access = to a horse or pack animal. So whether the NW Co. boys or HBC lackeys or = Rocky Mt. Company hired hands or even the few free trappers, had horses to carry their gear or not, I don't! So given my physical infirmities = (Old Age plus dissipation and abuse) and my need to hump my camp on my = back, I am for working on a lighter and lighter load. The bigger my = carrying container is, the more junk I can carry and the closer to the road I camp.=20 =20 That's not what this is supposed to be about so I eliminated the = pack basket early on as being clumsy and capable of carrying too much = stuff. One of my camp mates, Crawdad, carries one and we let him cause he always brings in a big roast marinated in some secret sauce stored = in a pot in his pack basket. He is a good sharer too. Now that Lee fella = is a strong young man and can get away with carrying half the contents of = his garage. I can't (He'll break down eventually ).=20 =20 Next I tried the back board with attached pack bag. That works = fairly well and I still use it if the load is needing to be on the heavy = side (because of the need for another blanket or whatever). It is made of cedar uprights and oak cross bucks all rawhided together with wide leather shoulder straps. It has canvas bands across at the top and bottom to keep the wood parts off my back. It is fairly comfortable = to carry.=20 =20 I also have a rucksack/knapsack with attached shoulder straps made = very similar to what Teton Todd describes. It's made of heavy linen = canvas, waterproofed with bee's wax and about 14" wide by 16" tall give or = take. It is not gusseted so it is a simple envelope with a button down = flap and strengthened like Teton's with leather across the bottom and top back. At the moment it resides on the pack frame. It can be removed = and used as a ruck sack and has been but I found that carrying things = like a rolled up blanket, coat and what have you made the load somewhat = clumsy and it works better with a heavy load if it is mounted on the pack frame. By itself it makes a great day pack and with warm weather = camps and just the one blanket it works fine. Any heavier load and it goes back on the pack frame. I agree with that aspect of Hardtacks = offering. Pack frames are the most comfortable for fairly heavy loads. Much = more so than the pack basket. =20 I also have a haversack with one cross body strap that I am trying = to go through and lighten up as to it's normal contents. It is close to = the same size as the ruck sack but wider than tall and otherwise made = the same of the same materials. It seems to work good by itself as a day pack and this fall I used it with a separate bed roll slung to the = same shoulder with some success going into our fall hunting camp = (hopefully the site of the AMM 2000 Western). I didn't find that arraignment as troublesome as I have heard it to be. =20 Using the bed roll and single cross body strap to carry my food = sack, pots, extra mocs, wool tam and little else, rolling it long and = tight and belting the shoulder strap to each end made it ride across my = back without the expected tendency to slide around in front. I wore the haversack on the same shoulder but let it hang on the side rather = than in back. I carried a canteen on that same side and my shooting pouch = and horn on the other side. My belt contained my camp hatchet, knife, waterproof fire kit, and camera. I walked with Tulle in hand. It = wasn't an unworkable load. I don't carry a pistol because I find them to be = too heavy for the utility they offer.=20 =20 Incidentally I load myself in the reverse order of stuff I can get = along without and still survive. So first I put on the belt with it's = stuff, then the pouch and horn and I like a standard sized neck knife under everything and tucked in my shirt front. Then I put on the = haversack, the canteen and finally the bedroll or back pack or rucksack. If I = need to shed stuff in a hurry, I can flip off down to the bare minimum = fairly quick. =20 I am presently carrying some parched corn/jerky and some small items like an extra fire kit and meds in my haversack. There are still = some things in my whole outfit that need a second and third look at to = see if I really need them. But though I have been doing this for quit a few years I am coming to the realization that my enjoyment of this = activity is not measured by how many "toys" I can get into camp but how = easily "I" can make it into camp. That means leaving lots of "toys" at home = and just carrying the necessities. Things change when I get to use the bateau, sled or am unbelievably lucky enough to find a horse = wandering around that will let me catch and pack it.=20 =20 So for what it's worth, that's the way I do it. I know that = historically our idols had horses to pack their stuff. And I am aware that there = is a derth of references to "packs" of any kind. Most of us aren't = mounted. There is no sense, as far as I can see, in pretending that I am a = Mt. Man looking for my horse and carrying all the stuff that a regularly mounted person would carry "in case I find my horse". I'm afoot and likely to remain so. Perhaps I'm not a full fledged Rocky Mt. = Trapper because of that. But I do like playing this game and I do like = camping with my friends and if that means adapting the ways of another group = of frontiersmen (read long hunter) then that is what I will have to do. = The ranks of the Rocky Mt. Fur Trapper were filled with former eastern frontiersmen and such folks were in the Rockies perhaps even before Lewis and Clark. Sorry for the editorial. I remain... =20 YMOS Capt. Lahti' =20 ---------------------- hist_text list info: = http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html - ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01BF2708.9CAA6EA0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Great Info Capt.  You pretty = much covered=20 it all.  You're right, as we get older we figure out that it ain't = having=20 all the geegaws that makes for a fine camp. 
Pendleton
-----Original = Message-----
From:=20 R Lahti <lahtirog@gte.net>
To: = hist_text@lists.xmission.com= =20 <hist_text@lists.xmission.com= >
Date:=20 Thursday, November 04, 1999 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: = MtMan-List:=20 packs vs. haversacks

Allen Hall wrote:
> =
>=20 Hello the list,
>
> Well, I think we've worked over the = blankets pretty good.

Allen,

If you think the blankets = have=20 been beaten to death, you should be
monitoring the MLML list and = see what=20 can be done with a simple request
for a good recipe for = chile.

As=20 to "tote'n that bale", I have run the gamut from pack = basket=20 to
bedroll. In-between I've used simple ruck sacks and back = boards with=20 a
pack attached. They all seem to have their good points and=20 short
comings. Some things I've learned the hardway and others = I've=20 learned
from listening to others (and I'm still listening) but = for=20 my
money.........

The bottom line for me is simply that I = do not=20 have regular access to a
horse or pack animal. So whether the NW = Co. boys=20 or HBC lackeys or Rocky
Mt. Company hired hands or even the few = free=20 trappers, had horses to
carry their gear or not, I don't! So = given my=20 physical infirmities (Old
Age plus dissipation and abuse) and my = need to=20 hump my camp on my back,
I am for working on a lighter and = lighter load.=20 The bigger my carrying
container is, the more junk I can carry = and the=20 closer to the road I
camp.

That's not what this is = supposed to be=20 about so I eliminated the pack
basket early on as being clumsy = and=20 capable of carrying too much stuff.
One of my camp mates, = Crawdad,=20 carries one and we let him cause he
always brings in a big roast=20 marinated in some secret sauce stored in a
pot in his pack = basket. He is=20 a good sharer too. Now that Lee fella is a
strong young man and = can get=20 away with carrying half the contents of his
garage. <G> I = can't=20 (He'll break down eventually <G>).

Next I tried the = back board=20 with attached pack bag. That works fairly
well and I still use it = if the=20 load is needing to be on the heavy side
(because of the need for = another=20 blanket or whatever). It is made of
cedar uprights and oak cross = bucks=20 all rawhided together with wide
leather shoulder straps. It has = canvas=20 bands across at the top and
bottom to keep the wood parts off my = back. It=20 is fairly comfortable to
carry.

I also have a = rucksack/knapsack=20 with attached shoulder straps made very
similar to what Teton = Todd=20 describes. It's made of heavy linen canvas,
waterproofed with = bee's wax=20 and about 14" wide by 16" tall give or take.
It is not = gusseted=20 so it is a simple envelope with a button down flap
and = strengthened like=20 Teton's with leather across the bottom and top
back. At the = moment it=20 resides on the pack frame. It can be removed and
used as a ruck = sack and=20 has been but I found that carrying things like a
rolled up = blanket, coat=20 and what have you made the load somewhat clumsy
and it works = better with=20 a heavy load if it is mounted on the pack
frame. By itself it = makes a=20 great day pack and with warm weather camps
and just the one = blanket it=20 works fine. Any heavier load and it goes
back on the pack frame. = I agree=20 with that aspect of Hardtacks offering.
Pack frames are the most=20 comfortable for fairly heavy loads. Much more
so than the pack=20 basket.

I also have a haversack with one cross body strap = that I am=20 trying to go
through and lighten up as to it's normal contents. = It is=20 close to the
same size as the ruck sack but wider than tall and = otherwise=20 made the
same of the same materials. It seems to work good by = itself as a=20 day
pack and this fall I used it with a separate bed roll slung = to the=20 same
shoulder with some success going into our fall hunting camp=20 (hopefully
the site of the AMM 2000 Western). I didn't find that=20 arraignment as
troublesome as I have heard it to be.

Using = the bed=20 roll and single cross body strap to carry my food sack,
pots, = extra mocs,=20 wool tam and little else, rolling it long and tight
and belting = the=20 shoulder strap to each end made it ride across my back
without = the=20 expected tendency to slide around in front. I wore the
haversack = on the=20 same shoulder but let it hang on the side rather than
in back. I = carried=20 a canteen on that same side and my shooting pouch and
horn on the = other=20 side. My belt contained my camp hatchet, knife,
waterproof fire = kit, and=20 camera. I walked with Tulle in hand. It wasn't
an unworkable = load. I=20 don't carry a pistol because I find them to be too
heavy for the = utility=20 they offer.

Incidentally I load myself in the reverse order = of stuff=20 I can get along
without and still survive. So first I put on the = belt=20 with it's stuff,
then the pouch and horn and I like a standard = sized neck=20 knife under
everything and tucked in my shirt front. Then I put = on the=20 haversack,
the canteen and finally the bedroll or back pack or = rucksack.=20 If I need
to shed stuff in a hurry, I can flip off down to the = bare=20 minimum fairly
quick.

I am presently carrying some parched = corn/jerky and some small items
like an extra fire kit and meds = in my=20 haversack. There are still some
things in my whole outfit that = need a=20 second and third look at to see if
I really need them. But though = I have=20 been doing this for quit a few
years I am coming to the = realization that=20 my enjoyment of this activity
is not measured by how many=20 "toys" I can get into camp but how easily
"I" = can=20 make it into camp. That means leaving lots of "toys" at = home=20 and
just carrying the necessities. Things change when I get to = use=20 the
bateau, sled or am unbelievably lucky enough to find a horse=20 wandering
around that will let me catch and pack it.

So = for what=20 it's worth, that's the way I do it. I know that historically
our = idols=20 had horses to pack their stuff. And I am aware that there is = a
derth of=20 references to "packs" of any kind. Most of us aren't=20 mounted.
There is no sense, as far as I can see, in pretending = that I am=20 a Mt.
Man looking for my horse and carrying all the stuff that a=20 regularly
mounted person would carry "in case I find my = horse".=20 I'm afoot and
likely to remain so. Perhaps I'm not a full fledged = Rocky=20 Mt. Trapper
because of that. But I do like playing this game and = I do=20 like camping
with my friends and if that means adapting the ways = of=20 another group of
frontiersmen (read long hunter) then that is = what I will=20 have to do. The
ranks of the Rocky Mt. Fur Trapper were filled = with=20 former eastern
frontiersmen and such folks were in the Rockies = perhaps=20 even before
Lewis and Clark. Sorry for the editorial. I=20 remain...

YMOS
Capt.=20 Lahti'

----------------------
hist_text list info: http://www.xm= ission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html
- ------=_NextPart_000_0077_01BF2708.9CAA6EA0-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 23:06:42 EST From: GazeingCyot@cs.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: packs vs. haversacks In Muzzleloader Magazine, May/June 1996 is pictured an oil painting by A.J. Miller showing two trappers, one with a knapsack with shoulder straps and his blanket tied on top. In the next issue, on page 38, a reader speculated that the pack may have been a military item or copy of one, since it was like their 1830's dragoon regiment packs. One story of a mountaineer carryina pack was written by Henry Brackenridge who heard it from Manuel Lisa...." This man[John Colter] with a pack of 30 pounds weight, his gun and some ammunition, went upwards of 500 miles to the Crow nation" JILL - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 00:49:00 EST From: Cherokeoil@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: mountain men illustrations I haven`t got any pictures but might be interested in buying a copy when there done. - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 20:03:47 -0600 From: "Ratcliff" Subject: MtMan-List: Fw: Musings From Absalom (Charlie Smith from Bandera, Texas' Cousin and Persona of Jim Bryan) This is a post I received today from my friend Jim Bryan. The scene is = vividly described and the whole episode could have had dangerous = results. Better him than me, I say. Now....who uses a rear sight on a smoothbore and who doesn't? And why? = I have a rear sight, mainly because I want to hit what I aim at with = some consistency. YMOS Lanney Ratcliff Sent: Friday, November 05, 1999 4:09 PM Subject: Musings From Absalom (Charlie Smith from Bandera, Texas' Cousin = and Persona of Jim Bryan) > O.K., >=20 > Let's say you are working up an fffg load for a .610 roundball in your > 20ga fowler...you are at the bench and have worked up to 65gr of 3f = (as > was suggested by two of my fellow Geezer Rangers)...Lizzie B is = grouping > well with that and you are feeling pleased especially considering you > have been a kind of shut-in for a couple of weeks and it is sure good = to > be out in the woods (kinda woods) again...then let's say you are > momentarily struck by temporary amnesia (an inherant Geezer trait) and > while all snuggled down on the bench you touch off a round with your > 7/16ths wiping stick in the bore....I am here to tell you that all = hell > breaks loose and it feels like something with a Bulldog hood-ornament > has suddenly invaded your space. And, if you have had recent back > surgery which is the reason for your being a shut-in in the first = place, > the effect is increased exponentially. And, besides that, your wiping > stick becomes barely recognizable as to its original purpose after it > caroms off the railroad tie backstop. Additionally, it blows the group > you have worked so hard on using only a front sight.... DO NOT TRY = THIS > AT HOME!!! This was an exercise conducted by a trained, professional > Geezer under controlled conditions.=20 >=20 > Ouchingly yours, >=20 > Absalom >=20 > p.s. Please don't tell Chuck Ezell about this...He thinks I have some > idea of how to shoot. - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: 5 Nov 1999 18:27:09 -0800 From: Buck Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Fw: Musings From Absalom (Charlie Smith from Bandera, Texas' Cousin and Persona of Jim Bryan) Lanney, About 12 years ago several of us where hunting in the modern season with flintlocks here in Colorado, we're on our place 300 plus acres with access to 10,000 next door. A mulie is working his way up the side of this little canyon, we all see him, one shoots and it goes under him at 125 yards, then the next friend shoots same results another long shot (this is very unusal for these two as they normally won't shoot any further than 70-75 yards). They're reloading and pointing at the deer, he a good one like we all have seen in the magazines - 36-38 inches between the points. I'm ready and ease off a 600 round ball at what I thought was about 60 yards, turns out he so damn big he was about 85 yards out and the ball falls short. By then the two friends are yelling their guts out - "he coming up to you, get ready Buck". I'm loading and look at the edge of the bank in front of me and all I see are these big horns coming, I'm so excited forget to pull the ramrod and let her fly. The ramrod goes between the horns in a whipping motion, hitting both sides of the rack. Friends are laughting, I think I broke my nose, and the buck is shaking his head like "what the hell was that". This story makes the local paper, thanks to "Concho" and "Turtle". I received several calls about what happened to the deer, he finally died about 3 years later of old age, the neighbor found his rack and bones that spring. That's one that got away and we all where happy to have met him, even though it was breif. __________________________________________________ > > momentarily struck by temporary amnesia (an inherant Geezer trait) and while all snuggled down on the bench you touch off a round with your 7/16ths wiping stick in the bore....I am here to tell you that all hell breaks loose and it feels like something ........... Later, Buck Conner _________________________________ Personal :http://home.att.net/~buck.conner/personal.html Business :http://www.teleport.com/~walking/clark/ AMM Party:http://klesinger.com/jbp/jbp.html _________________________________ Aux Ailments de Pays! Signup for your free USWEST.mail Email account http://www.uswestmail.net - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 22:45:33 -0500 (EST) From: JONDMARINETTI@webtv.net (JON MARINETTI) Subject: MtMan-List: George Washington's Pack Bag Cited from General Washington's Military Equipment, pp.10-11 [Mount Vernon, 1963]. Three heavy black leather pack bags are also said to have been used by Washington during Braddock's [1755 F&I] campaign and their worn condition suggests possible service also during the Revolution. These bags have added interest because they are numbered among the few original pieces which never left Mount Vernon after Washington's death [Dec.14,1799]. Illustrated (Fig.3) is one of the three which were relinquished to the [Mount Vernon] Association in 1860 by Colonel John Augustine Washington, last private owner of Mount Vernon. Fig.3 Leather pack bag. Of heavy black leather with center compartment framed in thin wood [unstated type of wood]. Covered with rounded and flapped lid. With collapsible front pocket. Height: 13 inches, width: 15 inches, depth 7.5 inches. One of a set of three. Gifts of Colonel John Augustine Washington, 1860. - ----------------------------------- Jon Marinetti Michigan Territory Land of the Ojibway, Odawa, Potawatomi - ----------------------------------- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 05 Nov 1999 21:47:00 +0000 From: R Lahti Subject: MtMan-List: Bear Bear was just a baby when I first saw him some 12 years ago. But baby rotwilers look a lot like little bear cubs and that's what the Major called him when he brought Bear home. He was cute and cuddly and quit a terror for a couple years but he grew into a big calm guardian of his family. The Major was away a lot those first few years but Bear was always there to look after his wife and two little girls. Bear did his job and did it well. Bear liked to go camping with the major and I and one winter camp just a few years back, he came along. It was cold and snowy and Bear was feeling his age and the change in climate. By then Bear was getting on in age and the Major had become a Col. We pitched our camp on a snowy ridge in the Cascades that January with several brothers. The Col. arranged a bed for Bear up by our heads. Some time in the middle of the night Bear got sick and woke me to his heaving. I moved my head just in time to avoid his supper. We cleaned up the mess and went back to bed with our backs to each other and Bear tucked in between our legs. We all slept warm that night. A couple years back the Col. brought Bear with him when we canoed on Cooper Lake with "Old Blue" from Albany in my bateau and the Col. and Bear in his birch bark. You could tell that Bear was feeling his age. He was reluctant to get into that rickety birch bark but in he went and all went well. Dang near as stiff as me only not just in the morning but most all day. He had a good time and we enjoyed his company. We chased up an elk herd, did some fishing and generally had a nice summer camp together. The Col. and I were going to do some bird hunting over here in Eastern WA. this week but this past weekend the Col. dropped me a line and told me that Bear had got stomach sick and ran off. They couldn't find him and the Col. needed to stay home and see if Bear was coming back or what. By Wednesday, there was still no sign of Bear. I got a note from the Col. this evening. This is what it said. "Found Bear's body today in an old tree stump. If there are no dogs in heaven then Im not going." I guess if that's the way it is up there. I ain't going neither. I remain... YMOS Capt. Lahti' Just needing to share. - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 07:54:43 -0800 From: "John Hunt" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Bear Col. Col, fear not. At the gate when you get there, Bear will be there wagging his stubby tail when he see`s you coming up the path to be with him. We`ve all had loving partners such as Bear. I hope I get to be with all of the ones I`ve loved and lost. With a long and sad heart we all are wet eyed. John (BIG JOHN) Hunt Longhunter Mountainman southwest Ohio - ----- Original Message ----- From: R Lahti To: Muzzle Loader Mailing List ; Sent: Friday, November 05, 1999 1:47 PM Subject: MtMan-List: Bear > Bear was just a baby when I first saw him some 12 years ago. But baby > rotwilers look a lot like little bear cubs and that's what the Major > called him when he brought Bear home. He was cute and cuddly and quit a > terror for a couple years but he grew into a big calm guardian of his > family. The Major was away a lot those first few years but Bear was > always there to look after his wife and two little girls. Bear did his > job and did it well. > > Bear liked to go camping with the major and I and one winter camp just a > few years back, he came along. It was cold and snowy and Bear was > feeling his age and the change in climate. By then Bear was getting on > in age and the Major had become a Col. We pitched our camp on a snowy > ridge in the Cascades that January with several brothers. The Col. > arranged a bed for Bear up by our heads. Some time in the middle of the > night Bear got sick and woke me to his heaving. I moved my head just in > time to avoid his supper. We cleaned up the mess and went back to bed > with our backs to each other and Bear tucked in between our legs. We all > slept warm that night. > > A couple years back the Col. brought Bear with him when we canoed on > Cooper Lake with "Old Blue" from Albany in my bateau and the Col. and > Bear in his birch bark. You could tell that Bear was feeling his age. He > was reluctant to get into that rickety birch bark but in he went and all > went well. Dang near as stiff as me only not just in the morning but > most all day. He had a good time and we enjoyed his company. We chased > up an elk herd, did some fishing and generally had a nice summer camp > together. > > The Col. and I were going to do some bird hunting over here in Eastern > WA. this week but this past weekend the Col. dropped me a line and told > me that Bear had got stomach sick and ran off. They couldn't find him > and the Col. needed to stay home and see if Bear was coming back or > what. By Wednesday, there was still no sign of Bear. > > I got a note from the Col. this evening. This is what it said. > > "Found Bear's body today in an old tree stump. If there are no dogs in > heaven then Im not going." > > I guess if that's the way it is up there. I ain't going neither. I > remain... > > YMOS > Capt. Lahti' > Just needing to share. > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 08:04:56 -0800 (PST) From: Ronald Schrotter Subject: MtMan-List: wipin' sticks Had a good laugh over the wipin' stick incident. It reminded me of my first rendezvous, many yeas ago. After two solid days of tradin' I finally found myself in possesion of the gun I'd been wanting all weekend, and took it to the range to test it out. Having been away from muzzleloadin' for a number of years, I was a bit nervous, but followed the owners recommendation as to load and patch, took aim, and fired away. I don't know where the ball hit, but I did get to see the rod make a splintered arch over the target and into the backstop. It does feel a bit like a mule kick, doesn't it? I still have that old gun, it took my first deer, and has made meat a lot of times since that first shot. There are probably a lot of us geezers that have made that mistake, but most won't admit it! Dog, Gabe's Hole Brig. ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999 11:47:50 -0700 From: Mike Moore Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Bear After trying three times to write some profound words to help- let me just say, I wish I'd gotten to meet Bear, sounds like a great friend, companion and helper. It is always hard when a animal like him passes on. Makes even us "hard cases" tender hearted. My condolences. mike. R Lahti wrote: > Bear was just a baby when I first saw him some 12 years ago. But baby > rotwilers look a lot like little bear cubs and that's what the Major > called him when he brought Bear home. He was cute and cuddly and quit a > terror for a couple years but he grew into a big calm guardian of his > family. The Major was away a lot those first few years but Bear was > always there to look after his wife and two little girls. Bear did his > job and did it well. > > Bear liked to go camping with the major and I and one winter camp just a > few years back, he came along. It was cold and snowy and Bear was > feeling his age and the change in climate. By then Bear was getting on > in age and the Major had become a Col. We pitched our camp on a snowy > ridge in the Cascades that January with several brothers. The Col. > arranged a bed for Bear up by our heads. Some time in the middle of the > night Bear got sick and woke me to his heaving. I moved my head just in > time to avoid his supper. We cleaned up the mess and went back to bed > with our backs to each other and Bear tucked in between our legs. We all > slept warm that night. > > A couple years back the Col. brought Bear with him when we canoed on > Cooper Lake with "Old Blue" from Albany in my bateau and the Col. and > Bear in his birch bark. You could tell that Bear was feeling his age. He > was reluctant to get into that rickety birch bark but in he went and all > went well. Dang near as stiff as me only not just in the morning but > most all day. He had a good time and we enjoyed his company. We chased > up an elk herd, did some fishing and generally had a nice summer camp > together. > > The Col. and I were going to do some bird hunting over here in Eastern > WA. this week but this past weekend the Col. dropped me a line and told > me that Bear had got stomach sick and ran off. They couldn't find him > and the Col. needed to stay home and see if Bear was coming back or > what. By Wednesday, there was still no sign of Bear. > > I got a note from the Col. this evening. This is what it said. > > "Found Bear's body today in an old tree stump. If there are no dogs in > heaven then Im not going." > > I guess if that's the way it is up there. I ain't going neither. I > remain... > > YMOS > Capt. Lahti' > Just needing to share. > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 14:09:41 -0600 From: "Texan" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Bear Captain, Martin Luther, noted theologian, concluded, after much study on the subject, that pets and animals go to heaven when they die. Have a few waitin' for me. Victoria - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ End of hist_text-digest V1 #405 ******************************* - To unsubscribe to hist_text-digest, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe hist_text-digest" in the body of the message.