XXIV 



RECREATION. 



LOST HIS TROPHIES. 

 Editor Recreation: Warren, Minn. 



One morning a cavalcade rods forth from 

 Boone, Minn., on an errand of destruction. 

 Frank Cornman, armed with -a 38-70 Win- 

 chester and mounted on a good tough sor- 

 rel, led the way. I followed, carrying a 

 Savage and riding a roan beast which I 

 was instructed to approach always from the 

 left side and "be kind o' careful of." Not 

 exactly reassuring to a tenderfoot and, 

 moreover, a libel on my nag. She was 

 really a good saddle horse and knew more 

 about antelope hunting than I did. Behind 

 me came Sam and Jake Cornman ; the first 

 with a 38-56 Winchester, and the latter with 

 a worn-out Sharps. 



Frank and Jake carried, as side arms, 

 each a pair of heavy pliers. The plains 

 here are largely fenced into great pasture 

 lots, of perhaps several sections. When we 

 came to a fence the pliers were used to pull 

 the staples and while 2 of us held the wires 

 down, the others led the nags across. Then 

 we fastened the wires and went on. 



Our first antelope was seen about 9 miles 

 out. An hour later Frank got a shot at a 

 buck and broke its back. About that 

 time we saw a band of 6 or 7 making for 

 the sandhills, half a mile away. We gave 

 chase but failed to locate them again. In 

 the hills we routed out a coyote and shot 

 up the sand all around him, but the beast 

 kept on running. 



From then on we saw many antelope, 

 probably 50 in all, besides several coyotes 

 and 2 or 3 big grey wolves. I had the satis- 

 faction of being in at the death of one ante- 

 lope, an old buck that trotted up a ridge 

 where Sam and I sat waiting for him. I 

 think it was a Savage bullet that knocked 

 6 inches of bone out of one of his hind legs, 

 but I must admit that Sam's shot did the 

 killing. The buck ran 200 yards and was 

 dead when we got to him. His horns were 

 large and heavy but the points were bruised 

 and splintered. 



It was then about 4 p.m. and we had 

 gone all day without a drop of water or a 

 bite of food. We went about 4 miles out^ of 

 our way in the dark, and found a spring 

 where cattle drink. 



All through this barren, desolate country, 

 50 miles from the mountains and I don't 

 know how much farther, there crop out, oc- 

 casionally, clear, running springs. Some 

 are of soft water, and others alkaline. 



We got home at last about 9 o'clock, one 

 of the crowd, at least, nearly "bushed." I 

 had ridden 50 miles, and never rode enough 

 before to learn how. In 2 weeks I recov- 

 ered so I could sit down to my meals. 



Next morning I pulled the skins off the 2 

 antelope, stripped out the leg bones and 

 skulls, and started for home. I salted the 

 skins and laid them up in a big box to dry, 

 but the darned dogs got to the box, chewed 

 holes in the skins and stole the bones. 



H. F. Brown. 



AT MICHAEL'S LAST FALL 



W. L. FISHER. 



After a week of preparation a start was 

 finally made September 16. The party 

 at first consisted of Jim, Charlie Ed, the 

 Doctor and me. Among other things we 

 carried 300 hellgramites and 300 red catfish 

 for bait. I was detailed to keep the latter 

 alive during our journey, and as a caterer 

 to bullheads I did fairly well, losing only 

 40. 



At Portland, Pa., we were joined by 

 Skinner, conceded to be the crack-a-jack 

 angler of his county. It was he who in- 

 duced us to put up with M. L. Michael, at 

 Calno, N. J. We left the train at Delaware 

 Water Gap and were met by our corpulent 

 and genial host. Five of the boys drove on, 

 leaving Michael and me to bring the bait 

 pail, which had been anchored in the river 

 some distance from shore. When all was 

 in readiness for a start, we went after the 

 bait. Michael stepped into the boat and 

 sat in the stern; I pushed off and jumped 

 in the bow. Our combined weight, 540 

 pounds, was too much for the boat. She 

 carried us safe to the bottom in 3 feet 

 of water. We disembarked and she re- 

 appeared on the surface, none the worse 

 for her trip. After bailing out, I left 

 Michael on shore while I went alone for 

 the bait pail. 



The drive to Calno was through a beau- 

 tiful country. The pike was not entirely 

 smooth, but the weight in our vehicle held* 

 it down and we made good time. 



Immediately on reaching Michael's we 

 rigged our tackle and sought the river. 

 Trolling is my favorite method of angling, 

 and following it I caught 4 bass before 

 dusk. 



As I reached the house the others came 

 trooping along, Skinner in the lead and 

 talking hard. He had proven his ability 

 by taking a s J A pound fish. It was then 6 

 o'clock, and at 10.30 he was still telling the 

 rest of us how to catch record breakers. 



All the party except me went next morn- 

 ing to Mary's riff, 4 miles up the river. 

 As the weather threatened rain I preferred 

 to fish nearer the house. At the riff the 

 boys caught some big fish ; also a wetting. 

 We all cruised up the river the second 

 day, but had little luck. However, when 

 ready to return home after a 4 days' stay, 

 we had 39 black bass running from one 

 to 4^4 pounds, and 3 pickerel of nearly 5 

 pounds each. 



Fishing is excellent in the upper Dela- 

 ware, and there is no better point than 

 Calno. 



The Michael farmhouse is an old fash- 

 ioned country home, and can accommodate 

 10 guests. The table is bountifully sup- 

 plied with the best of country pioduce. 

 Rates, $6 and $8 a week. 



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