368 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Rune 4, 1885. 



Lis dogs. In fact, almost before, we could think we were all 

 on top of hhn and holding liira down. It was a fearful 

 fight for six of our does. The poor pup, whose inconsid- 

 erate courage precipitated the fight, did not suffer so much 

 as some others, having only been cut through the side about 

 four inchps. But we had trie boar down and were sitting on 

 him. Now what to do with him was the question. I measured 

 his tusks and found them about live inches and a half lone, 

 white as ivory and sharp as a knife. We broke the points 

 off and concluded after a council of war, that we would let 

 him live, if none of the hounds bled to death right there 

 But we were tying up the wounds and staunching the blood 

 in the mean time and found that all would get well with 

 care. So we let the monster go. Even then we were careful 

 to mount and call off the dogs out of his reach, but he simply 

 rose and sullenly stood his ground, while we rode off and 

 left him, the fight not all out of him yet. H. B. S. 



Marietta, O. 



THE CHOICE OF GUNS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I was very much pleased with Mr. L. I. Flower's article 

 in your issue of May 14. It is evidently written by an edu- 

 cated sportsman who has had many years' experience with 

 a variety of guns, and cannot fail to interest those of your 

 readers who contemplate the purchase of new guns, but who 

 are in doubt as to what description of gun will best suit 

 their requirements. There are few sportsmen who do not 

 hope at some time to possess a really first-class gun, but 

 there are very few whose experience is alone sufficient to 

 determine their final choice. The requisite knowledge can 

 only be obtained by experience and a study of articles such 

 as occasionally appear in the columns of the Forest and 

 Stream. It cannot be had from bosks. It is true there 

 are many works on shooting both interesting and instructive, 

 but noue of them furnish the information necessary for the 

 judicious selection of a gun. Col. Hawker, who was per- 

 haps the ablest writer on shooting that ever lived, was an 

 engineer rather than a sportsman, and one who would prob- 

 ably derive more pleasure from shelling a flock of ducks a 

 mile out in the bay. than in making a double on snipes. 

 Roosevelt's work on "Game Birds" is delightfully written, 

 and the late J. W. Long's "Wildfowl Shooting" is perhaps 

 the best work on shooting ever written on this side of the 

 water. I was greatly disappointed in Stonehenge's last book. 

 I may have expected too much from the author's high repu- 

 tation as a writer. "The Gun," etc.. by W, "W. Greener, is 

 pretty well "padded." The author is scarcely fair in his 

 criticism of guns of other makers, and his conclusions are 

 often forced, but the work contains a great deal of informa- 

 tion not elsewhere to be found, and I would advise any one 

 intending to buy a gun to get a copy of this book. 



My own shooting experience is hardly worth recording, 

 although I have shot a good many guns in the last twenty- 

 five years. Two of these guns were Joe Mantons, one a ZQ 

 and the other a 14. The strongest shooting gun I ever used 

 was a long single barrel, which had been altered from a flint 

 to a percus-ion. This gun shot harder and kicked harder 

 than any gun I ever handled, and finally went to pieces in 

 my hands. The best gun I ever had was a little L4, by 

 Hbllis & Sheaf. 



But I will not tire you with my experience with guus, as 

 the object of this letter is to assure your able correspondents, 

 "Backwoods," "Cyrtonyx" and others that their labors are 

 appreciated, and to express the hope that their articles on 

 the clioice ot guns may be continued. Perhaps as good a 

 way as any to draw them out would be to give my own crude 

 notious of what a gun should be, and ask them to point out 

 my errors. 



If I were to buy a cheap gun I would get a muzzleloader. 

 A first-class one can be bought (second-hand) for $50 or $60, 

 and will be a far superior gun to any breechloader at the 

 same price. Indeed until the last five years I used nothing 

 but muzzleloaders, my main objection to them being the 

 tedious work of cleaning. I believe they shoot harder, kick 

 less, and are cheaper in use than breechloaders. Of course 

 one who can afford to get a high-priced gun wants a breech- 

 loader, and a hammerless is preferable in cover shooting. 

 Many guns have the defect of being larger in the true barrel 

 than the internal diameter of the paper "shell. My attention 

 was called to this matter by Mr. E. L. Mills's article in 

 another paper. Most of them are said to be made of inferior 

 metal and to be ill-balanced. Still I have read articles in 

 sporting papers denying these charges, and claiming for 

 American guns equality with those of English make. 



The most important; point to be considered in the selection 

 of a gun is that it should exactly fit the shooter. I am satis- 

 fied that men cau shoot far better with a poor gun which 

 fits him than with the finest arm in the world with an un- 

 suitable length or bend of stock. The balance of a gun is 

 another very important item. I believe most men use too 

 short a stock, and, with very heavy guns, too littlebend or 

 "drop." 



I think the qualities desired in a gun, in the order of their 

 importance are: Strength and durability, range or penetra- 

 tion, regular, even distribution, the required pattern and 

 minimum recoil. 



I agree with Mr. Flower, that for an all-round gun, as large 

 a gun as one can handle is the best, but for one who does no 

 duck shooting and who believes in loading a gun to do its 

 best a 10 would be too large in my judgment. 1 would not 

 feel justified in sending 4i drams of powder and l£ ounces 

 of shot after a single quail or woodcock. But I would not 

 recommend a very light gun, as it is apt to kick too much 

 and will not shoot as hard as one having more metal. My 

 idea of a gun for upland shooting is a la-bore with 30-ineh 

 barrels, weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces. The barrel bored 

 stout at the breech and light forward, with a very straight 

 rib-stock 14J inches to center, 3f inches drop, full pistol 

 grip with 5£~inch band. I would have the right barrel bored 

 to make a pattern of 135 and the left 170, with 3£ drams of 

 powder and 1 J ounces Tatnam's No. 7 chilled shot. I would 

 use above charge for rabbits, squirrels and occasional teals 

 and woodducks. For woodcock, quail, snipe, etc., use the 

 same charge of powder with an ounce of No._ 9 shot, Of 

 course these measurements would vary to suit the sports- 

 man's strength and figure, but I believe this guu would 

 suit most men and answer for any game found in this part 

 of the country. It will kill at short range without mutilat- 

 ing the game, and yet reach out any reasonable distance for 

 a second bird. The gun I have decribed may not be the 

 very best for every variety of sport, but it will answer for 

 all and I believe will be found to be a happy Medium, 

 Wenonah, M. J. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In thirteen years I have owned and shot fourteen different 

 shotguns and two repeating rifles, four muzzleloadmg rifles, 



and several revolvers. The first of the shotguns was a 12- 

 bore, 7-pound single murzleloader, 32 inch barrel. The 

 second was a 10 bore, 10-pound, 30-inch double gun, muzzle- 

 loader, which cost me $75. I used it a good deal on ducks, 

 penetration was good; did well enough on ducks, etc., in 

 flocks, but scattered too much to be sure of a single object, 

 so I disposed of it; after which I had several guns, 10 and 12 

 bore, single and double breechloaders, 30 to 34 inches. The 

 action on the single guns I did not consider safe. The double 

 guns did not shoot close enough for the kind of shooting 1 

 had, which consisted mostly of squirrels and other small 

 game, so I bought a full choke, 30-inch, 12-bore. 8|-pound 

 gun. This was the best shooting gun I had ever owned ; so 

 was satisfied for a year. But one day in the month of Sep- 

 tember I was cleaned out by a muzzleloading, 18-bore, 40- 

 iuch, 8-pound gun. At a small object at long range I was 

 nowhere. This set me to thinking— was it length of barrel 

 or small bore? So I decided to try bore first, and an 18 bore, 

 31 inch gun was the result. But still I was not satisfied. I 

 wanted a gun that would hit a small object at 60 yards or 

 less, and I bought a 42-inch. 16-bore muzzleloader single 

 gun, 7 pounds weight. Last fall I got more squirrels and 

 small game with that gun than any one around here; and 

 they also debarred me shooting in a match. I admit that for 

 brush shooting it makes but a poor arm. It has only one 

 drawback, that is, being a muzzleloader. The 10 and 12 

 bore guns are not used here lately. The favorite bores are 

 16, 18 and 20, also long barrels from 34 to 40 inches. No 

 doubt if this is printed, lots of sportsmen will laugh at our 

 hnving such long guns; but if they will shoot with us at a 

 mark at long range, say 70 yards, the laugh perhaps will be 

 on the other side. I myself am very well satisfied by trying 

 the different arms, and do not begrudge the time or money 

 spent.' We find that three-quarters of an ounce of shot, and 

 from 2 to 2-J drams of powder in our long guns are equal to 

 li ounces of shot and 8£ to 4 drams of powder in the large 

 bores. There is no theory in this, but all practical knowl- 

 edge. ' J. C. Y. 

 Washington, Mich. 



THE ARK. 



IMIE following account of the famous Cleveland (O.) club 

 known as "The Ark," is given by the Voice of that 

 city: 



As a club wherein men have met almost every day for 

 fifty years to discuss natural science, play whist and chess, 

 and chat about field sports, must have a history interesting 

 to all, we have worked up, in a desultory way, some data 

 about it. "The Ark" is a name familiar to most of our citi- 

 zens, yet popular knowledge on the subject seldom goes be- 

 yond the fact of its existence and the names of a few of its 

 members. The Ark is not a club in the conventional sense. 

 It was nevpr formally organized. It never had a president, 

 a vice-president, a secretary or a board of directors. It never 

 had any by-laws. It never bad a charter. But for all that 

 the membership is as sharply defined as the strictest red tape 

 could make it; audits unwiitten laws hold everything in 

 place as securely as the most formal of enactments. 



In 1836 or '7 a little plain wooden building stood on the 

 ground now occupied by the custom house, midway between 

 Superior and Rockwell streets, fronting on the Park, or 

 "Public Square." It was used by the late Leonard Case's 

 father as an office. William Case, then a young man, had 

 begun to collect specimens of the rarer birds and quadrupeds 

 of Ohio. The eye of an artist and the knowledge of a 

 trained naturalist and taxidermist enabled Mr. Case to mount 

 his collections with unusual fidelity to nature. As this labor 

 of love grew upon him he built against the rear of the office 

 — a one-story structure 20x15 — two rooms for its better ac- 

 commodation. In the front room what was afterward called 

 "The Ark" proper, met, and this opened into the second, 

 which was used for the storage of the specimens. 



In time Mr. Case gathered about him — insensibly almost — 

 men of similar tastes. These earliest associates of the natur- 

 alist—and they were the first Arkites, strictly speaking- 

 were: 



Leonard Case,* 

 Dr. Elisha Sterling, 

 Stoughton Bliss, 

 Col. E. A. Scovill, 

 George A. Stanley,* 

 Bushnell White,* 



John Coon. 



Capt. B. A. Stanard, 

 Dr. Maynard, 

 D. W. Cross, 

 Henrv G. Abbey, 

 R K." Winslow, 

 J. J . Tracy, 



* Deceased. 



By the efforts of these gentlemen an admirable display of 

 birds and animals eventually grew up to grace what was 

 known as the "L" of the building. Besides those who were 

 known as the regulars, there was a number of promoters, so 

 to speak, who were thus far known more as hunters and col- 

 lectors than as actual members. Among these were James 

 or "Dad' Williamson, E. A. Scovill, Oliver Perry and John 

 Wills. From the descriptions of an old member we have 

 been able to vividly imagine those early scenes of study, 

 work and play. Mr. Case and his companions would meet 

 in the front office. Its accessories were a dozen chairs, a 

 large round table, a big open fireplace, with its andirons and 

 shovel and tongs, a few pictures illustrative of shooting and 

 fishing, and a homely mantelpiece, on which stood a con pie 

 of second-hand bottles, doing duty as candlesticks. The 

 drawers of the big table were filled with tools for taxidermy 

 and the skinning and preserving of game, together with such 

 implements as were necessary in the cleaning and repairing 

 of guns. In the course of time everybody who loved out- 

 door sports fell into the habit of looking to Mr. Case's office 

 for any information in the line of his taste; and finally— sug- 

 gested, perhaps, by its array of stuffed birds and animals, 

 and accumulation of nearly everything else— Stoughlon 

 Bliss christened the place "The Ark." 



The gentlemen we have named were especially attracted 

 to The Ark evenings. In summer the "members" began to 

 come in right after tea. The first thing on the programme 

 was an exhibition of feats of strength and agility on the 

 pleasant grounds outside, in front. William and Leonard 

 were adepts in these, and always took part. When it was 

 time to light the candles there were birds to mount and guns 

 to fix; and then for whist and chess. On a side table, usually 

 littered with books and papers on natural history, a little 

 space was usually made for the chessboard. Those not 

 otherwise engaged would while the time away in conversa- 

 tion and discussion. 



In 1858 William Case employed Julius Gollman, a German 

 artist, to paint a portrait group of the original Arkites, in 

 their characteristic attitudes as they stood or lounged about 

 the room. This picture is now preserved in the present 

 quarters of The Ark, in Case Hall. The portraits are of the 

 men whose names are given in the above list of first mem- 

 bers. A photograph of the painting may be seen in the 



museum of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Goll- 

 man returned to Cleveland a few years ago and opened a 

 temporary studio. He was a painter of repute, especially in 

 portraiture. At the time Mr. Case engaged him he happened 

 to be in town executing some commissions. Mr. Gollman 

 endeavored to make The Ark picture apiece of actual realism, 

 and his success was pronounced perfect. 



Whenever William Case found that the museum lacked a 

 desired specimen, he made the fact known and an effort was 

 promptly made to supply the want. In this respect Captain 

 Ben Stanard was his ablest "lieutenant." He was the genius 

 of the department of construction, mounting, collection and 

 mending. On one occasion he made a pair of skates, out and 

 out, for Leonard Case, who took great pride in them. 



"Captain Ben" commanded the "J. J. Astor," which sailed 

 the waters of Lake Superior "before the canal." In that 

 vessel he explored both sides of the lake in the interest of the 

 American Fur Company, and for the gratification of his love 

 of nature. Afterward he sailed the lower lakes. Later he 

 was appointed inspector of hulls, and still holds that position. 



When the building of the custom house began The Ark 

 was moved to the lot where the Case building now stands. 

 Afterward and finally it was set down on the northwest cor- 

 ner of the City Hall lot. When it was demolished the oak 

 of which the house was built was made into the tables and 

 other fixtures of the new (and present) quarters in the south- 

 east corner of Case flail, secoud story. 



In the design of the Case Building rooms 19 and 20 were 

 set aside for the permanent occupancy of The Ark, This 

 was William Case's idea, and his brother Leonard faithfully 

 carried it out. The rooms were handsomely fitted up with 

 a fine library and other choice and appropriate accessories. 

 The natural history specimens were moved into a special 

 department, where they formed the nucleus of what is now 

 the noble Kirtland Society of Natural Science. Most of the 

 work of remounting was done by Messrs. Stanard and Wins- 

 low, under the direction of Leonard Case. Since then the 

 collection has been steadily enlarged till it has become one 

 of rare completeness and beauty. 



Some time before his death Leonard Case, agreeably to the 

 design of his brother William, deeded the free use of the 

 rooms and all their contents to the following named mem- 

 bers, and to the last survivor of the list — upon his death all 

 the property to revert back to the Case Library: 



Charles L. Rhodes, Stoughton Bliss, 



S. O. Griswold. Levi T. Seofield, 



D. W. Cross, Rodney Gale,* 

 H. M. Chapin,* Jabez W. Fitch,* 



E. A. Scovill, ' Henry G. Abbev, 

 W. H. Sholl* Bushnell White,* 

 J. J. Tracy, B. A. Stanard, 



John Coon. 



♦Deceased. 



The personal annals of The Ark-deserve to be worked up 

 by some veteran. Few associations can boast of more 

 brightness, genius and talent. The Ark illustrated the social 

 graces in a high degree. Repartee, wit, humor and harm- 

 less conviviality, sat by that quaint fireside. A dull, com- 

 monplace man could not thrive in its atmosphere. 



Leonard Case, without saying much himself, was a re- 

 markable inspirer of conversation and discussion. He could 

 draw out people. As a mathematician Professor Loomis 

 said he had no superior in the United States. He was a lit- 

 erary man of fine taste and discrimination, and his ability as 

 a writer was attested by "Treasure Trove." A specimen of 

 his mathematical quality was the calculation of the flight, 

 velocity, effect, distance and time of every grade of projec- 

 tile from the ounce bullet to the No. 10 shot, which Mr. D. 

 W. Cross embodied in his work, "Fifty Y^ars With the Gun 

 and Rod." Except with his intimates Mr. Case was reserved. 

 He was benevolent beyond the knowledge of his closest 

 friends. Leouard Case died Jan. 6, 1880. 



Elisha Sterling is a naturalist of a high order and an able 

 surgeon. He began his professional studies at the old medi- 

 call college on Erie street (now demolished), under Professor 

 Ackly, and supplemented them by a course in Paris. 



Oliver Perry, a brother of Mrs. Senator H. B. Payne, was 

 a keen sportsman and an ardent student of nature. He was 

 a particular friend of Mr. Case, and contributed as much as 

 any one to The Ark Museum. He was killed in a railway 

 accident near Hudson, Dec 23, 1864, while on the way to 

 some shootiug ground accompanied by his two dogs. The 

 portrait of one of these dogs was afterward painted from a 

 photograph for Mrs. Payne by Beard, of New York, who 

 used Mr. Perry's gun and hunting outfit for the accessories 

 of the picture. 



Mr. Willis was one of the early municipal officers of Cleve- 

 land and displayed great activity in the promotion of tree 

 planting, a service which resulted in the giving to Cleveland 

 the title of the "Forest City." 



In the beginning of this sketch we have mentioned certain 

 characteristics of William Case— Mayor of Cleveland, the 

 first president of what is now the Lake Shore & Michigan 

 Southern Railroad Company, procurer of the right of way 

 for the old Columbus road,' etc. He died April 19, 1862. 



R. K. Winslow is a keen lover and student of nature. He 

 is an officer of the Kirtland Society of Natural Science and 

 one of the most active promoters. For taste in taxidermy he 

 is unrivaled. 



The late Bushnell White will live in the history of The 

 Ark as one of its best whist players. In whist, White, Cross, 

 Ed. Scovill and Leonard Case constituted the "old squad" of 

 forty years' service. 



James Tracy, identified with the earlier banking interests 

 of the city, is now a trustee of the Case School of Applied 

 Science, 



John Coon is a graduate of Yale College, and known to a 

 large circle as a gentleman of fine culture and many accom- 

 plishments— a wit and raconitur of the first water. 



Henry G. Abbey was one of Leonard Case's prized in- 

 timates! The two often went on long journeys together— 

 once to the Black Hills; and for years Mr. Abbey was Mr. 

 Case's confidential adviser and agent, eventually becoming 

 the managing trustee of the Case estate and one of the trus- 

 tees of the Case School. All the property which Mr. Case 

 devoted to public purposes was transferred through Mr. 

 Abbey's hands. 



No social chronicle of Cleveland would be complete with 

 Colonel E. A. Scovill omitted. Before the war he was ex- 

 tensively engaged in the packing business with William 

 Sholl, and during that period he commanded at Fort John- 

 son, on the lake. He is an honored member of The Ark 

 circle. , 



Mr. Spangler was an old-time merchant, once associated 

 witn Dudly Baldwin. His store stood on the site of the 

 Weddell House, corner of Superior and Bank streets. 



Mr. Rattle had charge of the Case farm for several years 



