The One-Eyed Poacher and the Maine Woods

The One-Eyed Poacher stories were a product of Edmund Ware Smith‘s interactions over the years with game wardens and poachers, both of whom he respected, admired, and was great friends with.  The epic struggle between game wardens and poachers in the Maine woods, and the stories that go along with that battle, needed to be told.  In a stroke of genius, Smith decided to invent a character who was all poachers combined into one, Thomas Jefferson Coongate, the One-Eyed Poacher.  His nemesis was the product of all of Smith’s game warden friends melded into the character of young warden Tom Corn.  From these two characters, and other surrounding cast, developed an incredible set of fictional tales of the poacher, the warden, the Maine woods, and all surrounding elements in which the drama unfolds.

Smith explains more of the background behind the development of the One-Eyed Poacher stories, and reveals some true game warden and poacher stories gathered from his personal experiences in a story from “A Treasury of the Maine Woods”, in the story “My Game Warden Friends and Outlaw Companions”.

The One-Eyed Poacher and the Maine Woods was published in 1955.  It contains an introduction by Bernard DeVoto, a description of Maine’s woodsmen by Smith, and two distinct parts.  The first contains eight One-Eyed Poacher stories, while the second part contains seven essays about the Maine woods.  Stories and essays were reprinted from Collier’s, Esquire, True, Country Gentleman, Outdoor Life, Lincoln-Mercury Times, Sports Illustrated and Reader’s Digest.

Part I.  The Adventures of Jeff Coongate

Jeff Coongate and the Stolen Crony – Zack Bourne’s wife Sarah persuades him to move with her to Boston, leaving the One-Eyed Poacher to roam the forests of Mopang alone.  Bourne wants desperately to leave the city, but refuses to admit it to Jeff Coongate, who played a dirty trick on him when he left.  Coongate finally comes down to visit Zack in Boston on the week of the big Sportsman’s Show.  Never one to shy away from a crowd, Uncle Jeff’s woodsmanship and showmanship skills land him big popularity at the show.  Will the two old woodsmen ever make their way back to the Maine woods?

The Specific Gravity of Jeff Coongate – The One-Eyed Poacher is anxiously anticipating ice-out on the lake so he and Zack Bourne can make a trip to town and try out a new brand of Gin, “Old Perhaps”, that’s supposed to be the cat’s meow.  There’s just one problem: Zack has sworn off drinking after his wife Sarah spent the winter wearing him down.  They make their way to Mopang, and Jeff has a plan to change Sarah’s mind and regain his old drinking buddy.

The Courtship of Jeff Coongate – Old Jeff Coongate isn’t getting any younger, and he realizes the happiness Zack Bourne has found with Sarah.  So the woodsman decides it’s time to find himself a bride.  Things are going well with Letty Turnbuckle as Jeff courts her for a few days, and they get engaged.  There’s only one problem: Letty wants to kill a moose out of season.  Jeff can’t marry a woman who’s a poacher!  He’s the poacher, she’s the princess!  You’ll love how the One-Eyed Poacher gets himself out of this one!

Rum over the Dam – Zack Bourne is missing his old buddy Jeff Coongate, and convinces Sarah that Jeff must come to the cabin to help repair the roof.  When Jeff arrives, he acts offended that Zack apparently only wants him there for hard labor, and really puts on a show.  A deer is illegally killed, and warden Tom Corn stops by to accuse Jeff of the crime.  The story isn’t over, though, and the One-Eyed Poacher ends up with the last laugh.

The Short, Happy Death of Jeff Coongate – Jeff shows off at the Mopang Fair, and earns himself a job tending the dam at Little Mopang Lake.  He spots the perfect opportunity to poach a deer with warden Tom Corn unawares, but doesn’t quite get away with it.  After Jeff fakes his death in the lake, he watches as Tom Corn outwits the old poacher.  The warden shows his kindness in the end.

The Long Night – Jeff Coongate’s old hound dog Zibe is brutally shot by the Hackett brothers, and the One-Eyed Poacher vows revenge.  With a tip from the Indian Tom Compus Mentis, Jeff knows where to look for the Hacketts, where they are pursuing an illegal moose that they can sell for $1 per pound.  Jeff runs into a brand new game warden in the district, saves his life, and makes off with some moose meat to boot!  Only uncle Jeff could avenge his beloved dog with such style.

Gates Ajar – The One-Eyed Poacher and Zack Bourne are in town buying poaching supplies at the time of friend Ambrose Crib’s death.  Jeff and Zack procure a new bottle of whiskey called “Gates Ajar”, and as they empty the bottle, thoughts of their own mortality ensue.  The two old poachers want to be buried together, with their gill nets, rifles, cartridges, and a bottle of rum beside them.  The fellas get their wish, kind of, but at the end of the day they wish they’d been alive and at Zack and Sarah’s cabin!

The One-Eyed Poacher’s Revenge – Warden Tom Corn is laid up in the hospital, and decides to appoint Zack Bourne as temporary game warden in his absence.  Meanwhile, Jeff Coongate’s house burns down, and he ends up living in Zack and Sarah’s house for the month.  Zack is not about to let his friend poach in the woods of Mopang on his watch, but Jeff finds a way to get meat on the table while allowing Zack to complete his duties as warden.

Part II: Pine Spills from the Maine Woods

Woodsmoke from Old Cabins – Smith reminisces about old cabins across the country he has visited.  You can click here to read the story in full.

The Axe on Slumber Lake – Smith and his wife are flown in to camp on a remote lake in northern Maine.  He reflects on his experiences and the Maine woods.

Men, Women and Wilderness – An old guide tells Smith about problems with women in the wilderness, while unintentionally introducing his own wife, met on a river guiding trip.

The Most-Remembered Pools – Smith thinks back to old stream and river pools he has fished, and caught memorable fish in.

An Angler Comes to Life – After several years of no fishing (hard to believe!), Smith goes on a fishing trip with his wife and another couple.  It’s just what he needs to get back into the swing of things.

The Decline and Fall of a Purist – Smith talks about his ‘career’ as a fly fishing purist.  In this purist’s mind, if you weren’t catching a trout with a dry fly, you weren’t really fishing.  But then something happens, and the purist descends to the lowest form of fishing life, dunking worms and fishing without a pole.

Escape to Reality – Smith describes he and his wife’s dream to build, and live in, a cabin on a lake in remote northern Maine.  Most dream about it, but they actually made it happen.

Overall, “The One-Eyed Poacher and the Maine Woods” is a great collection of stories.  The Jeff Coongate stories are hilarious, and the Smith essays later in the book provide a nice change of pace.  While it’s one of the more difficult Smith books to find, I would highly recommend picking up a copy and giving it a read.