FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



137 



In November Recreation I saw men- 

 tion of Jim Beckwith, an old guide and 

 trapper. None of the old timers seem to 

 know where he died. Some say in Cali- 

 fornia, some, near Denver, Col. I have it 

 from good authority that during the winter 

 of 1866-67, he was at Fort C. F. Smith, on 

 the Big Horn river. The Sioux Indians at 

 that time harassed the troops to such an 

 extent that every team that went out for 

 wood had a strong escort. John W. Smith 

 is better acquainted with the Sioux, and 

 the origin of all Indian outbreaks in the 

 West, for the last 40 years, than any other 

 man living to-day. He was at Fort C. F. 

 Smith, that winter, with goods to trade to 

 Indians. The Sioux were hostile at the 

 time, and the Crows were not in the vicin- 

 ity. He induced the commandant to allow 

 him to send for the Crows. They would 

 be a protection to the fort, and at the same 

 time bring him trade. He sent Jim Beck- 

 with and one soldier to the Yellowstone to 

 bring the Crows. They found the Crows, 

 and were returning with them when Beck- 

 with took sick, and died, and was buried 

 on a tributary of Clark's Fork, below Red 

 Lodge; now in Carbon county, Mont. 

 Thos. H. Irvine, Hamilton, Mont. 



has gone on apace. The winter of '92-'93 

 was the worst on record. 



C. Greenwood, Lake Chelan, Wash. 



I have just returned from a short trip 

 to the mountains to investigate a reported 

 strike of rich gold ore. I and another man 

 took a pack horse and landed near Deer 

 Point. It was 20 miles to the new discov- 

 ery and we followed the summit between 

 Lake Chelan and the Methow. Looking 

 at the rugged mountains from the water's 

 edge, one would hardly expect to find a 

 nice open country, fairly level, and full of 

 beautiful little parks up there, but such is 

 the case. The importance of the strike was 

 exaggerated, as usual; one promising pros- 

 pect and some poor ones were located. We 

 made our way through the mountains, to 

 Meadow creek, 20 miles farther up the 

 lake. Big game seemed very scarce, al- 

 though the surroundings appeared perfect 

 for deer. We took our time and saw blue 

 grouse in great numbers; but only 7 goats 

 and 3 deer. These last were seen when 

 near our journey's end. Only one bear 

 sign was seen. We shot what grouse we 

 needed, with my 32-40 Lyman sighted, sin- 

 gle Winchester; but did not try for the 

 deer, as we had unlimited down timber 

 to contend with. From one point both Mt. 

 Tacoma and Mt. Baker could be seen, as 

 well as part of the Methow valley and the 

 Okanogan hills. The effect of winter hunt- 

 ing, in past years, is now painfully appar- 

 ent. Deer go down the lake to winter on 

 the open hillsides, and can be seen from the 

 steamer's deck, at times. In February and 

 March the snow crusts occasionally, and 

 then, until the last 2 years, slaughtering 



Last fall when I took my annual hunting 

 and fishing trip, up North, I carried with 

 me several copies of Recreation; and 

 there was not a moment when some of the 

 boys were not perusing its pages. 



We had lots of sport, and a fine time in 

 " Camp Comfort;" but seemingly the boys 

 were " hoodooed," in regard to killing 

 deer. They had quite a number of fine 

 chances, but missed them all. The excuse 

 given was, they did not want to kill any. 



I go North, week after next again, to 

 join a party of friends, on our annual out- 

 ing. I shall take my camera, and possibly 

 can furnish you with some good views, and 

 an account of our trip, later. Quails are 

 numerous hereabouts, and after the 10th of 

 November, we will have good shooting. I 

 take several sportsmen's papers, but I con- 

 sider Recreation the best of them all. 



Hope to get the next issue before going 

 into camp. 



I congratulate you on the stand you take, 



regarding game hogs, and hope success 



will crown your effort to make every man, 



who owns a gun or rod, a true sportsman. 



A. L. G., Winchester, Ind. 



Have just returned from a fishing and 

 hunting trip in Aroostook county, Me. I 

 take pleasure in recommending Henry and 

 George Gautier, of Benedicta, Me., as re- 

 liable and competent guides and gentle- 

 men. 



We hunt in the country known as the 

 Aroostook and Dead river sections of 

 Maine. I have been there for the last 10 

 years, and never saw game so plenty as it 

 is this fall. 



Ted, W. Somerville, Mass. 



It was thought that the recent killing of 

 some Utes, by the game warden on Bear 

 river, might make trouble; but the whole 

 thing has quieted down. The Indians on 

 White river took the trail for the reserva- 

 tion as soon as they heard of the killing. 

 We had trouble here in '87. with the Ind- 

 ians, on account of the game, and they kept 

 closer to their reservation for some time 

 afterward. Then they began, coming up 

 the river; getting a little further up each 

 year, and killing all the deer they wanted 

 for meat, and hides. I suppose there will 

 be an investigation* by the Government, 

 and the question whether the Utes have, or 

 have not, a right to hunt here, in violation 

 of the state laws, will be settled once for 

 all. 



Bears have not holed up yet, but are high 

 up on the mountains, ready to do so at the 

 first big storm. 



