FOREST AND STREAM 
259 
water was cold and the mud was awful deep. The drake 
was onlv winged and gave me quite a chase before I drove 
him to land. By the way if }rou wing a duck in the water 
iust wait a little and it is sure to come to the land. Before 
r got out a dozen good shots passed me. It was getting into 
twilight, and they soon came thick enough to empty a 
dozen guns. I now fired as fast as possible (with a muzzle- 
loader) retrieving only such as fell near me. Every 
shot told, for my coat and cap were just the color of the 
grass, and in the dusk they paid no attention to me, several 
flighting in the water within a rod of me. After firing a 
dozen rounds it so happened that I had one barrel empty 
and the other loaded except the shot, and putting the wad 
down while watching a flock of brant, I put it in the empty 
barrel and could not reach it with the wad sciew, thus dis¬ 
abling one barrel. While cursing my awkwardness I heard 
a rush of wings, and looking up saw two brant within 
thirty yards of me. In an instant one of them had turned 
to a limp mass of flesh and feathers, and splashed into the 
water at my feet. I had barely loaded when a hundred 
more passed, high over head. Another long stream of fire 
(for it, was now fairly dark, and cloudy) shot upward and a 
brant came whirling into the water. Well, I took a big 
wade after that fellow, stepped in a hole and fell down, 
getting wet to my waist, but I got that brant. It was now 
too dark to see a duck, so I tied up my game and had just 
slung it across the gun when I heard a faint “honk.” By 
the time I could get the gun free the flock were right over 
me, so close that in the darkness their wings seemed to 
spread ten feet. I knocked one into the pond, and had 
another big wade, but got the gander. Now some of you 
sportsman imagine my situation. Time 8 o’clock in the 
evening, five miles from home, wet to the waist, and my 
clothes beginning to freeze, hungry and tired, with a load 
of eighteen mallards, two brant, and a twelve pound goose 
to carry, the nearest house a mile distant, and no telling 
if I could stay there as I had no acquaintance nearer than 
home. Yet to say I was happy would hardly express it. I 
was exultant. Several of the “boys” had been out and I 
knew my bag would beat all theirs combined, besides I ex¬ 
pected to get at least a dozen dead ducks out of the pond 
in the morning, so I shouldered my load and marched off 
toward the only light that was visible on all that wide 
prairie, and after floundering through mud and water and 
falling over gopher hills for half an hour I reached it. I 
was hospitably received and soon sat down to a smoking 
supper of ham and eggs, and excellent coffee. No one 
who has’nt “been there” can imagine the enjoyment of 
such a supper. My host and I soon found that we had 
been almost neighbors in our native country; so the pipe 
and talk of the “old times” beguiled us into the small hours 
before we were aware. 
After a hearty breakfast (one always gets up hungry in 
the country) I went to get my ducks out of the pond. A 
coat of ice was on the water, and the hawks had picked 
up every duck, (I’ve made hawk shooting a specialty since 
then) so I got no more. 
I have been out a few times since and have bagged one 
hundred and thirty ducks, seven brant, three geese, two 
curlew, one sand hill crane, and a dozen snipe this spring. 
If any of your readers visit me on their shooting excursion 
next fall, and I hope they will, I shall take some pride in 
putting them to sleep on a bed, every feather of which is 
my own killing. O. H. Hampton. 
Redfield , Dallas County, Iowa. 
X' For Forest and Stream. 
THE CRUISE OF THE “TIGRESS.” 
Washington, D. C., May 28th 1874. 
Editor Forest ani> Stream:— 
My time has been so completely occupied with business for some 
weeks back, that I have been unable to render unto Forest and Stream, 
the things that should have been its. but I think that the “Bear Story” 
which I enclose will pay for my neglect. It is as communicated to me 
in a letter from my friend Lieut. Col. White, U. S. Navy, who, while 
executive officer of the “Tigress” in her search for the “Polaris” had the 
encounter, and bagged the bear as he describes. “Piseco. ” 
AFTER A POLAR BEAR WITH A WHALE BOAT. 
T HE scene is laid in Melville Bay. To geographers 
this bay is an indentation of the west coast of Green¬ 
land, extending from Cape Shackelton on the south, to 
Cape York on the North; yet Melville Bay to the Arctic 
navigator comprehends much more, its shores are the 
fruitful source of many of those huge masses of ice which 
so often imperil the safety of the northern cruisers, and its 
waters the birth place of the heavy pack ice, which so 
often has caught unawares the whale fleet, sending to de¬ 
struction the strong ribbed ships and their crews. Very 
tew of tlie«gentlemen sportsmen of any country are permit¬ 
ted to witness the scenes to which for a moment I would 
ike to introduce you. The entire coast of Greenland from 
Cape Farewell to the most western limit visited by ex¬ 
plorers, is composed of lofty precipitous mountains, down 
Tb °n e * n . nuraera kle gorges flow those great Arctic rivers— 
the Glaciers—the most inferior of which overreaches by 
rar the famous Mer de Glace, and Grind elwald of the Alps, 
and from these frozen streams, the great icebergs are 
constantly pushing their way into the adjacent waters. 
Melville Bay is a famous rendezvous for these huge ice 
mountains, they being swept into it by the currents which 
seem to centre there, running from the north as well as the 
south. Six hundred bergs were counted, on one occasion, 
Mom the deck of our little vessel, of all sizes and shapes’ 
Mom the “hummocky bits” of the whalers, to the towering 
masses, iu some cases reaching an attitude of four hun- 
U’ed feet, and their whole mass may he imagined when it 
s known that but three tenths of the bulk is above water, 
eaving seven tenths as the under water body. Imagine 
-ese huge floating monsters lighted up by the varying tints 
i the never setting sun, during the Arctic day, reflecting 
om the deep chasms all the colors of the prism, or from 
°me salient angle the rich deep colors of the amethyst, 
sapphire, or jasper-; or perhaps from a score of beautifully 
hiseled minarets of some imaginary mosque of a warmer 
‘hme, or the well defined battlements of a mountain fast- 
ess , come the flashing brilliant tints of the diamond or 
mierald; and this, not from a single iceberg, but from 
unclreds, as far as the eye can reach iu any direction, all 
gmaming in their cold magnificence, producing a fairv 
ceue, which tales of oriental splender cannot surp:\ . 
1 l ^ e midst of just such a scene as this, we found our- 
0Q e morning, and while dreaming of the disasters 
hich Melville Bay has witnessed, and of the scores of 
good ships whose strong frames are strewn over its bot¬ 
tom, I was aroused by the cry “A Bear”! “A Bear”! As 
a single man, officers and crew jumped to the deck to see 
the stranger who had ventured so far from terra firma , for 
we were seventy miles from the nearest point on the Green¬ 
land coast. Rifles were at once called into requisition, hut 
our game was out of range, as a shot or two proved; the 
hear was swimming about, turning his great head from 
side to side, looking curiously at the ship as if in wonder* 
ment what such a superior sized animal could possibly be, 
half desirous to approach and satisfy his curiosity, and 
half afraid thus to indulge himself. If he was to be cap¬ 
tured, evidently it must he by giving chase in a whale boat; 
here was a chance not to he lost, and with four men and 
my carbine I started. The waves were running high, the 
effects of a gale of wind the day before. Bruin evidently 
did not fancy the appearance of the whale boat; he disap¬ 
peared at times, and was sagacious enough each time he re 
appeared to change, his bearing from us. The chase was 
a hmg and exciting one. In my eagerness to start in pur¬ 
suit I had neglected to take any other weapon than a single 
carbine, a neglect which might have resulted seriously had 
any accident happened to the piece, or had it missed fire at 
close quarters; with this thought in my mind, I decided 
upon a shot when still at a respectable distance away, but 
the heavy sea made my aim uncertain, and resulted in 
wounding the bear in the lungs, a painful wound, which 
made him perfectly furious. He at once turned upon us, 
and seeing his move to flank us, I placed my carbine in a 
secure position and turned quickly to catch the steering 
oar; an unfortunate sea at this moment struck the boat, 
threw me over the gunwale and carried away from my hold 
the steering oar. To regain my footing in the boat was 
the work of an instant, and by means of backing on one 
side and pulling on the other, I finally succeed in getting 
the boat into a favorable position, head to sea. My enemy 
now was close aboard, urging himself onward by his great 
outspread webbed paws, bleeding profusely, and howling 
with pain, and showing an excellent set of teeth with which 
it was his evident intention to satisfy himself for the injury 
I had done him; and the look which he gave me from his 
fiery eyes, I shall never forget. Now was the critical mo¬ 
ment! to miss my mark now, would result in a heavy 
breakfast for bruin, for one paw on our gunwale, he would 
have it all His own way, and the ship was at least two miles 
awajL The men appreciated this fact, and never was a 
boat in a heavy sea kept more religiously in position than 
was ours. “Steady” was given to the men, who waited 
breathlessly the result. Crack went the carbine, and the 
great beast, his defiant angry look unchanged, bowed his 
head, pierced through the brain. So close were we to him 
that before his struggle was ended, I had grasped his short 
fat tail and slipped a bowline about liis quarters; be proved 
a heavy tow, but in the course of time we reached the ship, 
and all hands turned to hoist the prize on board. He meas¬ 
ured eight feet in length and-his weight was six hundred 
pounds. His color, like that of all the so called polar bears, 
was a yellowish white, with a firm thick coat of hair; the 
stomach was found to be quite empty, and his famished 
condition was probably the cause of his boldness in near¬ 
ing the ship, for in the water the white bear is cautious. 
The meat of a lean bear is much more palatable than that of 
the well fed animal. Their diet consists of seals caught 
either in the water or on the flat floating ice. And in the 
well fed hear the impregnation of the oil, through the cellu¬ 
lar tissue, renders the meat next to uneatable, except to 
the Esquimaux. Fortunately for us the hear which I ob¬ 
tained was lean, the flesh was of a rich dark color, much 
resembling reindeer meat, sweet and tender, and for a week 
all bands regaled themselves with bear steaks and roasts 
from his generous sides. 
The skin now forms the most choice of my collection of 
trophies, and the ball which gave him the coup de grace 
next in value. Aud in a more genial, though less roman¬ 
tic climate than the one I have attempted to describe, I 
find myself constantly and pleasantly reminded of the most 
eventful of my sporting days. 
Jp£ J §orsq Htjd the (^out[sq. 
—Quite an effort is now being made in England to intro¬ 
duce cattle from the Argentine republic into England, and 
very probably before long horses from South America will 
be put in the English market. We remember (we think it 
is some three years ago) to have seen, corailed in a lot in 
Brooklyn a number of South American horses. Poor 
yicious looking brutes were they, undersized, and in dread¬ 
ful condition. We think there came up in our minds, at 
the time, some idea of addressing Mr. Bergh in regard to 
them. Many of them had their under-jaws cut from 
cruel handling. They were a sorry lot, though some few 
of them had clean limbs, and game heads. We were told 
the horses were the property of a traveling circus, that had 
just arrived from South America. 
The bulk of these animals were sold at auction, and 
brought very low prices. W e should feel exceedingly obliged 
to any of our readers if they would give us any informa¬ 
tion in regard to these horses, and how they turned out. 
—The Fleetwood Park Association closed the spring 
meeting on May 29th with two splendid trots. The first 
trot was purse No. 7. of $500 for horses that have never 
beaten three minutes, mile heats, best three in five in har¬ 
ness. There were eight starters. Lady Dohlman being 
the favorite and winning the first heat. Cora P. won the 
three next heats and race. Time, 2:36$, 2:38$, 2:35$, 2:37f. 
The last race was the great event of the meeting as Judge 
Fullerton and American Girl were to meet in the $2,000 
free for all purse, mile heats, best thiee in five, in harness. 
American Girl won the first heat. On starting for the 
second heat American Girl broke up badly. Judge Fuller¬ 
ton trotting along at a rapid gate, and won easily. The 
horse won the next two heats and race. Dan Mace drove 
Judge Fullerton and he was so weak from his late illness 
that he had to be helped on and out of the sulky during 
the race. Time, 2:25$, 2:23f, 2:22, 2:23. 
—The Jerome Park stables are rapidly being filled with 
arrivals of thoroughbreds engaged in the stakes at the 
forthcoming meeting of the American Jockey Club, which 
will begin on Saturday next. The latest arrivals are the 
stables of Col. Daniels, George A. Rice, D. J. Bannatyne, 
A. Belmont (the Baltimore horses), and D. J. Crouses. 
Col. McDaniel’s string comprises twelve horses—Abdel 
Korie, Katie Pease, Sue Washington, colt by Asteroid, 
JosieB., Stony Brook, Springbok, Mary Buckley, Madge, 
Willy Burke, Fluer Ange, and bay filly by Red Dick, dam 
Etta Shippen. D. J. Bannatyne’s horses at Jerome Park 
are Duffy, who will no longer take part in hurdle-races or 
steeple-chases; Yonved, Electric (a green steeple-chaser), 
and Elmwood, by Baywood, dam Lark. George Rice’s 
string'comprises Wanderer, Stampede, Yortex, Yolcano, 
and Moonbeam. Except Wanderer, all the others will not 
be able to run at Jerome Park. Several other stables ex¬ 
pected were to arrive from Baltimore and the training 
quarters in this neighborhood. Mr. Belmont’s string will 
comprize fourteen horses; Messrs. Hunter & Travers’s, 
twelve; Mr. Sanford’s, eight; Mr. Morris’s, six; Mr. Lorril- 
lard’s, twelve; A. B. Lewis & Co.’s, eight. There will be 
nearly two hundred horses at Jerome Phrk during the com¬ 
ing meeting. 
—The Harlem Railroad Company will run trains to Ford- 
ham and the Jerome Park siding, leaving the Forty-second 
street depot each day during the meeting at twenty minutes 
to twelve A. M., five minutes past one, two, and half-past 
two P. M. The two P. M. train is a special, and will have 
cars especially reserved for ladies. 
— There were five match trots at Fleetwood Park on June 
1st. The first was a match for $2,000 between J. De 
Camp’s g. g. Billy and J. Trout’s hr. m. Ledger Girl. The 
former was the favorite and won in three straight heats. 
Time. 2:40$, 2:40, 2:38. The second race was for $1,000 
between John Murphy’s gray mare Alice Gray and Dan 
Piffer’s hay mare Even Jane. The former was a great 
favorite, and won the race at her ease in three straight 
heats. Time, 2:49, 2:59, 2:52. The third race was for 
$500 between J. L. Doty’s black mare Bet and John Mur¬ 
phy’s bay mare Maggie. For the first heat Bet was the 
favorite, and won the race in fine style in three heats. 
Time, 2:55$, 2:52,2:52. The fourth match race "was won 
by Bricks in three straight heats. Time, 2:43, 2:49$, 2:49, 
and the fifth and last was won by Patsey Bolivar, Time, 
2:48, 2:47, 2:50. 
—The Suffolk Park Trotting Association at Philadelphia, 
closed on May 29th with a good attendance and fine trot¬ 
ting. The first, race was to saddle for horses that have 
never beaten thiee minutes. There were three entries, the 
b. g. Irishman, b. m. Gold Elsie, and b. g. Daniel Tomp¬ 
kins. Four heats were trotted, Irishman winning three of 
them in 2:40, 2:38$, and 2:34$. The second race was free 
to all for a purse of $600, and the entries were the b. m. 
Ella Wright, b. g. Stewart Moloney, and b. g. Hotspur. 
The race was won by the latter in three straight heats in 
2:31, 2:28$, and 2:31. 
—The race at Point Breeze Park, Philadelphia, on May 
30th between the pacer Copperbottom and the trotter Gold¬ 
smith Maid was witnessed by three thousand persons. The 
track was rather heavy and the time made was not as good 
as expected. The trot was for a purse of $2,500, mile 
heats, best three in five, in harness, $1,500 to first, $1,000 
to the second horse. Goldsmith Maid won in three straight 
heats. Time,* 2:25$, 2:24$, 2:35$. Another contest for 
$200, three in five, in harness, between s. g. Hunter, r. m. 
Lady Norway, and b. g. Daniel Tompkins, which was 
terminated by moonlight, resulted in favor of Hunter. 
Time, 2:25$, 2:24$, 2:25$. Another contest for $200, three 
in five, in harness, between s. g. Huuter, r. m. Lady Nor¬ 
way, and b. g; Daniel Tompkins, which was terminated by 
moonlight, resulted in favor of Hunter. Time, 2:45, 2:42$ 
2:41$. 
—The arrangement proposed by the Monmouth Park As 
sociation, by which it was intended that the American 
Jockey Club should control the the racing at Monmouth 
Park, not having been carried into effect, the American 
Jockey Club will not participate iu the management of the 
coming meeting at that course. 
—The Maryland Jockey Club closed the spring meeting 
on May 29th with the following events:— 
First race, Selling Race, for three-year-olds; mile and a 
quarter; purse $5,0o0, of which $100 to the second horse; 
six horses started. Hurrah, 1; Mollie Darling, 2; Hattie 
Howard, 3. Time, 2:15. 
Second race, Handicap purse, for all horses that have 
run during the meeting; $600, of wnicli $100 to the second 
horse; two miles; four started. Granger, 1; Catesby, 1; 
Business, 3. Time, 3:35$. The judges declared a dead’ 
heat between Granger and Catesby, and their owners divid¬ 
ed the purse. 
Third race, Compensation Purse $500, mile heats, three 
started; Fadiadeen winning, Dublin being seeond, and 
Coronet distanced. Time, 1:44, 1:44$, 1:49$. 
Fourth race, Grand Steeple chase; Post Stakes of $50 
half forfeit; club to add $700 for the first horse, $100 for 
the second, and $75 for the third; about two and a half 
miles, and the regular steeplechase course; five subscribers; 
two started. George West, 1; Milesian, 2. Time, 5:47. 
—The Beacon Park spring meeting, after two or three 
postponements on account of rain and the engagement of 
professionals at Lawrence, was brought to a close on May 
29. There was but one regular race on the card. A purse 
of $150 for 2:50 horses, mile heats, three in five, to harness. 
Carroll’s b. m. Glencoe Belle won in three straight heats, 
beating Woodard’s b. g. Tom and Brock’s b. g. Eugene’ 
Time, 2:38$, 2:41$, 2:30$ 
There was a match for $500 between Owner’s Little 
Dick and Owner’s Champion light weight, and was won by 
the former in 2:48, 2:53$, 2:43$. 
—The Utica Park Association will hold an extra meeting 
on Friday and Saturday July 3rd and 4th. The first day- 
purse of $500 for horses that have never beaten 2:48, also 
a purse of $800 for horses that have never beaten’2:34. 
The second day there will be a purse of $700 for horses 
that have never beaten 2:38, and one of $1,500 for horses 
that have never beaten 2:27. 
—The Auburn Driving Park Association will hold their 
meeting on Friday and Saturday, July 2d,. 3rd, and 4th 
The meeting will be held on the grounds of the Cayuga 
County Agricultural Society, and promises to be one of the 
largest ever held in Auburn. 
—A saddle put on loosely, with a slack girth is very ir¬ 
ritating to a horse, and soon produces a sore back. 
—All carriage shafts of right construction should allow 
the body of the animal perfect freedom, and only touch at 
the well-padded saddle and full collar.—W. E. Farmer. 
