178 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
: 
younger days. This comprises ali the dramatic dissipation 
I have indulged in since we sawaplay together. The “side¬ 
splitting” Alt Burnett manifested himself twice at the 
Alamo Literary Hall, but uiy sides were aching from a long 
and hard tramp and didn’t need any splitting. 
H. W. M. 
Ban Antonio, Texas, March,, 1875. 
OVERLAND 
For Forest ami Stream. 
NOTES. 
NUMBER BIX. 
Continued from April G th. 
T HE dawn of a snowy morning had hardly made visi¬ 
ble the banks of our narrow ravine before we were 
in the saddle, malting our way to bring in the bison shot 
the evening before. Our path was the margin of the small 
stream that had In geological periods worn a canon through 
the mountains. A low growth of willows hid the brook, 
except where frequent beaver dams had flowed a space 
that, filled with sediment, formed "beaver meadows.” 
The mountain slope facing north was densely wooded 
with spruce and balsam, the southern Blope, too dry from 
exposure to sunshine, had but scattered trees; and upon 
thiB, where the dry grasses remained, cured into natural 
hay, we cast our eyes as wo went along in file, with the 
hope of finding mountain sheep. Mr. Link was in advance, 
with his twelve pound rifle lying over his saddle, scanning 
with keeu eyes the burned spots and fallen timber, when 
suddenly he'sprang from his horse, and, resting his elbow 
ou his knee, aimed carefully but quickly up the rocky cliff 
and tired. Our dogs rushed up the bank, and in a moment 
were tussleiug with a fatally wounded mountain sheep on 
so steep an incline that all came rolling down, together 
with dislodged stones and brushwood, an avalahche of 
snarling, yelping fur and wool. The animal was just pass¬ 
ing some large rocks, giving Mr. Link no time to point it 
out to your correspondent, or even to wait his coming up, 
and consequently an only fair shot was lost. It was a fine 
animal—agile,.alert, and thoroughly game; more so in all 
respects than the deer, than which the sheep is the finer 
trophy. Leaving it in the snow, observing the hunter's 
custom of laying by it some article that had been worn on 
the person, to keep oil the “varmint" that recognize even 
by scent, the presence of anything indicating man’s royal 
prerogative to his game, we went, on in the snow, that grew 
deep as we gained altitude, until it was up to the stirrups, 
and our animals could only make progress by putting first, 
one and then another in udvauce to stand the fatigue Of 
breaking a track. It was rough riding, stumbling over 
logs, stones, and snow-filled hollows, and an elevation was 
becoming so great that they breathed with difficulty. 
To go light when an ounce becomes a pound, an aneroid 
barometer was left iu camp, but by comparing our height 
with other formerly ascertained points, we made our final 
altitude about 11,500 to 13,000 feet, and when the snow 
squalls drifted away we gaiued views of wonderful variety 
and extent through rifts in the clouds, that hid them 
quickly again with their leaden billows, 
Quite exhausted, we came at last where the bison had 
fallen, and thence following a deep and blood-stained path, 
whore the wounded beast had rolled over the rocks, beat¬ 
ing down the deep snow, we found the finest game animal 
your correspondent ever saw, lying a mass of superb glossy 
black hair, with his white horns thrown back and his jet 
black hoofs in the air, prone like a fallen oak. 
Ilow great a distinction naturalists make between the 
buffalo, or bison of the plains, and his kinsman of the 
mountains, let them explain. Very little anatomical dif¬ 
ference will probably be found, but the noble specimen 
lying before us was far finer in all respects than any from 
the low land, and well might he be, for his home was in 
the pure air of the highest mountains, where the sparkling 
water and fresli verdure of a brief summer, and the keen 
air of a long winter, would bring to perfection all the 
qualities of strength, fine coat, and sure fooled vigor that 
is so admired in game. A second one of the herd hod 
been badly wounded, and had we brought up our blankets 
and provisions we should have followed the trail, now re¬ 
luctantly abandoned. 
The great head, skin, and legs of the bison made a heavy 
load for one of our horses, a load that would have fright¬ 
ened Tarn O’Shanter, or the schoolmaster of Sleepy Hol¬ 
low, more dreadfully than any they saw had they met it— 
head, horns, bool's, and tail ou a black horse by moonlight, 
nud the quarters were staggering burdens for our two re¬ 
maining horses, one of which, as an Irishman would say, 
was a mule, a wily beast, who, when our eyes were 
turned, would quietly lie down and roll out from under his 
loud, and then stand looking at it with a look of serene 
satisfaction that was not disturbed by the liberal amount 
of kicks and curses that accompanied the laborious work 
of hoisting the meat up again. 
Our camp was well supplied, and wishing to try our dis¬ 
appointed hand again at elk we broke up and went back 
to Mr. Louis Link’s, whence with two horses, our blankets 
behind us, and our mugs and tea pot rattling to the saddle 
bows, Mr. Link and your correspondent started after elk, 
lying under trees, making our tea from melted snow, hop¬ 
ing by going light to overtake a band and win antlers as a 
trophy. 
fieiore night we found a trail of eight elk, and followed 
it l'ar enough to. form au opinion us to where they were 
herded. Early the next morning we were up, and wel¬ 
comed the sunlight as it came gilding the mountain tops. 
A spotless snow covered all—valley, plain, and mountain 
top—and eagerly we scanned the wide outlook for game. 
A sneaking wolf was slowly making his way fiom one 
copse to the next, sniffing the air, evidently unsuccessful 
and hungry after his night’s prowl—the only iivintr thing 
iu sight except some gay magpies and camp-haunting meat 
birds; but as we were watching, a distant roar came raiully 
on the crisp air, and we recognized the call of the elk, and 
a response from some listeuiug rival. Quickly, indeed, 
was our light breakfast made, and we were off. Fortu¬ 
nately there was no fine old china or rarely ugly “majol- 
liea” to wash up, nor had we a hotel hill to settle with a 
leisurely swell clerk. It was only a last puli at the girths 
and fresh cartridges ju our rifles, and we were urgimr our 
horses to the point whence came the elk calls. A lew 
miles brought us to the hill, where Mr. Link's long expe¬ 
rience told hint we were likely to find the game, and here 
the sign were abundant indeed. The snow was printed 
with many paths, some with hoof marks as large as those 
of an ox, but clearly distinguishable by being longer, nar¬ 
rower, and more cleavlycut. Carefullycboosilig the fresh¬ 
est trail, one where there had evidently been a "monarch 
of the glen," with a royal crown of antlers, we followed 
it, with our eyes peeving into every thicket, and with long 
pauses upon each kuoll that gave us a chance to scan .the 
valleys, and thus, with our rifles reiidy, we went for many 
a mile, or, to shorten a long story, fur ten hours, only in 
the end to find that the band had ret raced their steps nearly 
to ourstarlingpoint and thence gone away, perhaps alarmed 
by our having been there. Further present pursuit we were 
unequal to. Our horses were jaded from t heir long travel 
through deep suow, and with great regret we made our way 
homeward, our time not permitting another hunt; hut so 
charmed with the life hevc, and so impressed'wilh the va¬ 
riety and noble character of the game of the Colorado 
Parks, that a strong impulse remains to try it again, when 
more time may admit a long chase. 
Going again, we would use pack mules to carry camp 
necessities, and then, Once on the trail of elk, sheep, or 
bison, keep upon it, camping where night should Und us, 
and thus save the weariness and waste lime of going miles 
back to camp. Thus success in the end would be certain, 
and delays and difficulties merely the enhancement of the 
value of the final triumph of a hunter’s victory over the 
keen scent, the alert eyes, the acute hearing, and almost 
tireless speed of our fiuest game animals. L. W. L. 
For Forest ami Stream. 
NORTH AND MIDDLE PARKS. 
I T has been my fortune to pass several years of my life 
in the western part of Colorado, in close pioximity to 
the fiuest game country in America. The suction com¬ 
prising this being kflowu as the Middle and North Parks, 
lying between two and three hundred miles west of Den¬ 
ver, on the Pacific slope, and abounding in alt kinds of 
game. Large bands of elk, deer (both black and while 
tail), antelope, and mountain sheep roam undisturbed, save 
now and then—very raiely, however—by some liun’ing 
party of TJtes, or by some trappers or venturesome tour¬ 
ists. The latter, however, principally come to fish, and 
the Eagle and Grand ri vers, which abound in the most 
magnificent specimens of the Sabno forUtmUs, afford ample 
opportunities for even the most unskillful, with the rudest 
of tackles, to thoroughly gratify his desire lor trout fish¬ 
ing. To give you an idea of the size of these beauties, I 
Will state that I caught from one hole ou the Eagle eight¬ 
een, which averaged over a pound apiece. 
(Ju my first trip down the Grand, iu company with 
Charley Liter, from Georgetown, the veteran hunter and 
packer, 1 well remember his amusement as well as amaze¬ 
ment as I unrolled my book of flies and lines, preparatory 
lo uUemptrng lhe capture of a few trout for supper, 
“Do you think you tan ever anchor a five pounder with 
that rig?” he askect, looking contemptuously at my light 
bamboo rod and small brown hackle. “Why, he’ll string 
it from here down to the Hot Springs if you try to haul 
him out with that plaything.” 
“That’s what he will have the opportunity of doing,” I 
remarked, as, stepping forward to the edge of the stream, 
I spied a place behind a huge boulder, where the water 
seemed resting after its hard journey, and.its surface was 
smooth and unbroken. “Just the place for one of your 
five pounders, Charley,” 1 continued, as I cast my Uy ou 
the edge of the eddy and sent it skipping across. 
I saw the flash of the long body as it darted upward, 
then a splash, a whizzing of the reel, and away rushed my 
captive will! such force that 1 had no doubt that I had en¬ 
countered one of Charley’s “big uns.” After several min- 
rifle was followed by a frantic snort, and the old fellow, 
after making a few desperate leaps, fell dead. But now ■ 
the bushes seemed fairly alive with elk; out they rushed in j 
all directions; the work was sharp aud quick. I soon had 
four more down, and might have killed the-whole band had 
1 so desired for the batanee after retreating a short distance, 
stood like a flock of sheep, utterly confused by the sudden 
onslaught. At camp I met J-, who had been quite' 
successful, having succeeded, after an hour’s hard stalking, 
in getting on to a band of antelope and killing three of 
them. 1 killed that week twenty three elk, only shooting 
those with fine heads, however, although 1 lmd vowed alter 
the first day not lo shoot another oncT until we needed it; 
but the temptation was too great for me when au unusually 
fine head loomed up before me, aud I constantly found 
myself giving away. We also had a great deal of sport 
running antelope with dogs. We would start a pair of 
fox-hounds on the trail, and then seeking some cover near 
where we thought the hounds would bring them, would< 
take our position with a pair of beautiful greyhounds.- 
The dogs would invariably bring them around. It was au 
exciting moment as a band of these graceful animals bore: 
down upon us, their white bellies flashing in the sun as 
they followed some quick turn of their leader. Now they 
stop and gaze back at their pursuers, but the deep angry 
bay soon decides them, and they turn and dash on with 
renewed speed. Now tire greyhounds spy them. See how. 
their eyes flash aud sparkie us, trembling with eagerness 
and excitement, they draw their long, sinewy bodies close 
lo the ground, waiting for the decisive moment. Now, I 
say to J-. It is the work of a moment to slip them, 
and the noble fellows bound forward and hear down <ui 
the affrighted band with the speed of the wind. Now the 
antelope, conscious of their danger, strain every nerve to 
escape their swift pursuers. Away they go, pursuer and] 
pursued, fairly flying over the smooth Turk. “Ay! Unit's: 
glorious!" shouts J-, his cheek flushing and eye spark¬ 
ling with excitement. Nearer and nearer the dogs draw 
on to the antelope. Soon they seize one, a great cloud of 
dust arises, and running up we find them panting oven 
their prostrate victim. It was indeed glorious sport, welfl 
worth the hardships experienced in getting there. 
Since then a wagon road has been constructed fronD 
Georgetown to Middle Talk, by way of Berthoud Pass! 
opening that country to the public, and consequently fore-4 
ing the game back. It has also opened a path to the mar-j 
ket hunter, and immense quantities of game are shipped! 
to Georgetown and Denver. Not the slightest attention 1(3 
given toTlie game laws, the people seeming to labor undeiS 
the idea that it is impossible to drive the game away. I -list t 
winter, iu the Middle Park, men were even shooting elk » 
solely for their hides. To my mind, extermiuntion is ibM 
work only of a few years; and what was a short lime agoj 
the finest'game country iu America will soon be entirely - 
deserted by those noble animals that have for centuries: 
-oamed there rarely disturbed. " ■ 
Jackson, Michiyan. 
ules' play, 1 landed him, much to Charley’s astonishment 
aud admiration, who affirmed that “lie never would have 
believed it possible if he hadn’t seen it done." it weightd 
over two ami three quarter pounds, and was the handsom¬ 
est fisll I had ever seen. 
The shooting is confined principally to the wooded slopes 
and bare tops surrounding the Parks. Here Is l lie home 
of the noble elk, deer, hear (both black and ciuuamun), 
mountain lion, and ou the high tops above timber line, on 
precipitous and rocky ridges, one finds the mountain sheep, 
ilie noblest of game animals, and the one most prized by 
the sportsman. The California grizzly is not an inhabitant 
of this country. There is, however, wlial is called the 
range grizzly, undoubtedly a cross from the larger speoies, 
but never attaining tbe size of his formidable relative. It 
is, however, in the viciuity of North Park, which is north 
and west, from Middle Park, that game is found iu the 
greatest abundance. Here, indeed, is the sportsman’s 
elysium. The ordinary tourist never thinks of venturing 
here. The journey from Middle to Ndrlli Park is rough; 
the trail iu many places hardly distinguishable. No civil¬ 
ized habitation within a hundred miles. 
The best time lo huul is about the middle of October, 
wlteu the game is generally on the move. Then it seems 
as if the country was fairly alive with elk and deer jour¬ 
neying south, while the Park itself seems fairly to swarm 
with antelope. I have frequently heard it asserted by hunt¬ 
ers that a lew years ago the Pies, during their full hunt 
there, killed over five thousand head of antelope. 1 have 
no doubt myself hut t Imt while I was there 1 could have 
killed fifty elk a day bv simply sitting duwn by their trail 
and shooting them as they passed by, iu such great num¬ 
bers were they. 
On the 2Jsl day of October, '73, in company with three 
others—a packer, guide, and J-, an English gentleman, 
and a most thorough sportsman—I pitched camp on the 
edge of one of tbe heavily timbered gulches in the south¬ 
east corner of the Park. After’having eaten, a lunch, I 
took my rifle, a Sharps .44 (which, by llie way, I consider 
a perfect spotting rifle), determined to procute some fresh 
meat for supper. 1 crossed a low divide, on. the other side 
of which 1 struck a small stream, and had followed it 
down for perhaps a half mile, aud was standing gazing 
upon the multiplicity of fresh sign, principally elk, with 
which the ground was fairly covered, when a cracking 
among the chaparral bushes at ttty left caused me to raise 
iny head; there, with head, neck, and shoulders exposed, 
stood a noble bull elk. His head, surmounted by a pair of 
magnificent antlers, was thrown back in a most graceful 
ami rnsjeslic attitude, while the long dark mane around 
his neck gave to him an additional air of fierceness and 
beauty, lie was indeed a veritable "monarch of the glei 
Scarcely sixty yards distant, broadside on; no wonder I 
felt the blood rush through my veins as I raised the rifle to 
nty shoulder. J ust as the sight durkeued back of the fore- 
shoulder I touched the trigger. The sharp crack of the 
jft'or jtfor&st and Stream .•1 
HUNTING ON MT. VANDER-] 
WACKER. 
Editor Forest and Stream .-—I ltovereceived from Charles Fenton, Esq,!, 
of Adirondack fame, tlie following incidents of a linul which took ]lli 
1957. It may prose intetesting to your numerous readers. Yoi 
truly, Fkjvnk Bolj.es, Jb., Windsor, ct. 
A FTER five days' bouncing over the Catamount, or 
Carthage and Lake Champlain lloud, in a wugotil 
containing our supplies fora two months’hunt, we reached 
the little settlement or Pendleton, where four or five land-1 
lies lived. The road had been given up as impassable sev-1 
eral years before, and we asked a grave looking man wlnm 
the chances were of getting over it. He shook his head, 
doublfully. Then we turned to our teamster. “WollfB 
said he, “I hcv driv this old team for twelve years in the 
woods, aud I hev never seen that place so lmd that i. 
Ai-mlfln'l I Urrtmrh Kfinif 
couldn’t git through someway." And so we moved on. 
That our faith in his assurance was well founded, the se¬ 
ed. The road getting l'roht bad to worse, we 1 
quel showed, 
came at last to a stand, where the corduroy w: 
up, and the mud holes unfathomable. Our party were 
some distance ahead, walking; und wishing to see wltafl 
our teamster would do under, the circumstances, we secrcj 
ted ourselves behind some trees and watched. Well, as 
soon as he came itr the place lie rose up in his wagon,, 
scanned the ruius of the old corduroy for a moment, then 
glancing his eye up the road to see if we were insight, settled* 
back iu his seat,, took a firm grip on the reins, aud plungetfi 
in, Down, down, went llie horses into the mud among Ih^, 
broken logs, the driver swinging his whiplustily andlotid'lw 
urging ou ills horses. But it was no use; they floundered 
along until they got to about the centre of the mud hollij 
when one of them became eutangled and fell upon hffl 
side. A few ineffectual struggles lo rise only brought him 
deeper in the mire. Our driver was not discouraged by 
any means at this. He dismounted from his wagon antf 
patted his horse cm the head, telling him to keep quiet! 
little while, and he would help him. He then coolly ST 
down on a log, drew forth his pipe, charged it, aud cut 
menced puffing away as if nothing had happened. A l td 
awhile he took his ax, cut a lever, adjusted a fulcrum, rug. 
his lever under llie horse, aud commenced prying him u 
At this turn of affairs we could hold iu no longer, hut i 
vealed our hiding place by uproarious laughter. So w« 
came to the rescue. A short time sufficed to extricute th~ 
horses, and we went on our way rejoicing. 
Our camp was located at the base of Ml. Vanderwacktfl 
oue of the most imposing of the Adirondack mountain® 
I have looked ou the Wilderness Map, but fail to find any 
mountain by this name. Probably’ the name has bet 
changed. Do you know? it stands isolated from ll 
surrounding mountains, and has a base of fifteen miles ( 
circumference; its southern base is washed by the lludsjS 
River, which was five miles freon us. The first two dajfj 
we spent about camp, mu lung general repairs throughout,f 
cutting wood, etc. Ou the third day I succeeded iu sec” 31 
ing a line doe, but my two companions, who went in t 
other direction, got lost it: an immense windfall, and spe_ 
most of the day trying to find their way out. So 11*9 
brought iu nothing. The next day, the weather shiftily 
cold, froze the damp leaves so that there was uo more huut, | 
ing, as deer could hear us upprouching much farther iltsr 
we could see them in the thick woods. At last,, after St" 
ctal days, came a light fall of suow one night, just euotij 
to cover the ground, but not euough to make good traf 
ing. However, as soon as it was light enough to Bed 
