The Mystery of the Cedar River Monsters

Lamoreux tells a story of fishing on the Cedar River which in many respects is wonderful. It was about a year ago, he says, that Justice Caldwell, Brown, and himself decided to try for lake trout fishing in the waters of the river not far from that portion commonly visited by Seattle anglers. They took the train to Cedar Mountain station, rode about thirty miles over a rough trail, then walked six more to the site for a camp. The next morning they got out their poles and tackle and started for the river, which at that season ran between rocky bluffs about forty feet high. Brown had been careful to take off his good shoes and put on old ones, and Lamoreux, who was afraid of spoiling his shoes, quietly did the same. After they reached the edge of the bluff, a consultation was held to decide the best method of getting down to the water. The walls were nearly perpendicular, so to safely descend was a difficult matter. Finally, the course was chosen and down went the anglers, faster than was comfortable, and on sundry occasions their progress was stopped by rocks with sharp edges. Neither did mind that, and even when pieces of their trousers were lost, they did not mind, for the goal that came close down to the water was worth it. The water was deep and had a dark color; it was impossible to see what was below the waves. One by one the fishermen dropped their lines in the current, and for a moment the bait was in sight; then it disappeared. Suddenly the poles were jerked out as if a monster had got hold of the line. The next man tried his luck with the same result, and so on, until they were all devoid of fishing tackle. At last they gave up the sport, down to cipher out if possible what animal or fish it was that baffled them. Lamoreux says that although they lost line after line, they never got sight of the thing. The next morning, Lamoreux, looking at his shoes, said the 'fish' had been at work.