Feb. 23, 1888.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



87 



thing were possible, from his teeth ejected about a quart 

 aftobaGco juice, and said. "Stranger, them thar dogs 

 ^pear to me to he right bidable." We acquiesced, as we 

 supposed he meant "obedient." 



The conductor shouts "all aboard," and we are once 

 jjjore moving westward, and our next changing place is 

 ■J&nita, within the limits of the Indian Territory. From 

 lithe time we had arrived at the depot in Saginaw up to 

 jvhe present time we had heard rumors and stories about 

 fcift W hunters had been fired out of the Territory, and 

 llhai the Secretary of the Interior had given orders to 

 ■filpw no hunting, and to confiscate all guns and para- 

 Iffljernalia belonging to the hunters found in the sacred 

 ] limits. While we supposed this applied to market- 

 iKhnters, or those who made a business of it, and were 

 fepnftdent that we would not he molested as we were 

 fgrring as much on a visiting trip to our friends at the 

 Igafctle ranch as anything, still some of the boys at times 

 ■felt uncomfortable and imagined that each stranger look- 

 ing at us was some government marshal! who had noth- 

 BB j to do but spot us. Poor Brooks had brought along 

 ptane of his cherished medicine in a little flask that was 

 Ipot larger than a good sized hen's ejrg, inadvertently 

 Bg&ing it out of his pocket, happened to catch the eye of 

 jl new passenger and immediatety surmised that he had 

 ■Broken the law by bringing whisky into the Territory 

 land was bound to be snaked off the train at the next 

 'fetation. So with a very "pale at the gills" expression. 

 was quietly sneaked to the door, and the next minute 

 Ipe'turned and in a hoarse whisper informed me that he 

 j.tad thrown it away, so that they could not find any 

 luaediciue on his person. We all breathed easier and 

 thought that our lives were saved by his forethought. 

 I Between Monet and Vanita no finer looking ground for 

 Imiail can be found in the world. Numerous cornfields, 

 with hillsides wooded with scrub oak, little marshes 

 ■fringed with clumps of heavy weeds, made a most tempt- 

 1 .ig outlook for a sportsman, and we wished for the old car 

 tend an extra week's time, that we might devote ourselves 

 mo the quail, which we were certain were in abundance 

 ■ere. We rumbled into Vanita and were notified to 

 1-iiange cars for Red Fork, oar train going no further, 

 aruta consists of about half a dozen houses and a good 

 Real of dirt and discomfort. The dirt we discovered in 

 >me pie and sandwiches we had purchased at the stereo- 

 ied railroad eating house. Mose always had a good 

 itite and was able to eat them, but Bob and Nip have 

 od deal of common sense and joined us in flatly re- 

 ting to partake of the repast, and the consequence was 

 it we went hungry until we had supper with the quiet 

 jjts. M. at Bed Fork. A wheezy old engine with half a 

 lozen freight cars attached, the rear one having three or 

 tour old benches stowed in it, was the train that took us 

 toward our journey's end, but the lovely landscape and a 

 perfect day made up for the discomforts of the ride. 

 Probably the finest land in the world, from an agricul- 

 turist's standpoint, is to be found in this same Indian 

 Territory. It is neither a wooded ftor prairie country, 

 but a mixture of both, and* withal is well watered. The 

 larger streams are muddy and sluggish, but any number 

 )f small miming brooks' are to be found in the part of 

 ;he Territory that we went through, some 150 miles of it. 

 5oon we began to see herds of cattle looking in prime 

 condition, when a sudden vigorous tooting of the engine 

 paused all heads to be stuck out of the windows and door, 

 md we saw the cause was that a large beef critter had 

 lisregarded the right of way of the railroad company, 

 md was now lying with a broken leg in the ditch along- 

 side. Our hearts were moved with pity for his suffering, 

 is the day was hot and wo were' told that he would not 

 3$ killed, but left there to die a lingering death. It 

 jeems there is some legal point involved, and if the 

 >wner or any one should kill him or make use of the 

 neat, or even if they did not make such use of it, the 

 railroad company would not be liable for damages, and 

 ihe consequence was that, the almighty dollar being 

 i>afamount. the dumb brute had to slowly die, suffering 

 into! d tor tures from the heat and flies before death came 

 ;o relieve him. This illustrates that there is something 

 (vrong with humanity that one of these days we hope 

 will be rectified. We crossed the Arkansas River along 

 ate in the afternoon, having passed numerous Indian vil- 

 lages of squalid and dirty appearance, but still the most 

 sivilized of any we had seen, going through the far- 

 'ained town of Bushy Bead, across the Verdigris River, 

 ihe waters of which are of a dark green color. We no- 

 iced at numerous stations great piles of walnut logs 

 *diich the Indians had cut and sold to traders holding 

 >ermits from the Government to trade in the Territory. 

 Phe train whistled for Red Fork. 

 Each year after one of our blow-outs, the boys always 

 iy, "Now some one ought to write jthis thing up and 

 e it published, and while it may afford some pleasure 

 fibers to read it, it will afford us a great deal in going 

 and recalling to our minds the events that have 

 dace in previous years." But it has always been 

 , and only odds and ends of the trip have been 

 shed from time to time in Forest and Stream. 

 year I made an agreement with the crowd that if 

 one wotdd contribute I would get the thing together 

 we would see what we could do. Consequently I 

 ite to the different ones, and I am glad to say they 

 stuck to their bargain and helped me out. The fol- 

 ig is from the shores of Lake Superior from the 



and we must therefore excuse him. He writes: 

 ;quette, Mich., Dec. 1, 1887.— My Dear Sir: In 

 inswer to your letter of the 28th ult. WMle thanking 

 r ou for your kindness, allow me to offer as my excuse 

 be fact that it was my virgin trip, and that I am not ac- 

 Ustomed to write for the public print, so that I feel that 

 he old campaigners would be better fitted for chronicling 

 lie events. [It should be stated that the Doctor did not 

 are much for shooting, and the closing part of his letter 

 3 thereby explained, and will throw no discredit on some 

 if the large stories the boys may hereafter tell.] As I 

 Uad no more shooting than one duck while afloat, and a 

 attlesnake without waiting for him to rise while ashore, 

 I shall have to be classed as a pot-hunter, and the sever- 

 !St contest I had was with the Red Fork fleas. With 

 aany kind regards to yourself and the boys. I remain, 

 ■ours truly — The Docter. 



The next to respond was Genial George. The subjoined 

 ecital is his account of what bef el us after our arrival at 

 ted Fork. Buzzard Bill. 



On Thursday, Oct. 13, at about three o'clock in the 

 iftemoon, our train drew into the station at Red Fork, in 



the Indian Territory. The town is situated a short dis- 

 tance below the junction of the Arkansas and Cimarron 

 or Red Fork rivers. The Cimarron is so named from its 

 color, which especially in times of high water is a deep 

 brick-red. The water of the Cimarron, as is the case with 

 sumo other streams in the Territory, is brackish and un- 

 palatable. 



The town of Red Fork is but a small hamlet, consisting 

 of a few scattering houses, a post-office, two or three 

 stores, a blacksmith shop, etc., but no saloon, the sale of 

 liquor or the bringing of it into the Territory being 

 strictly prohibited by Government regulations. The 

 stores carry on the most important and extensive business 

 in this place, as they furnish supples to the cattle ranches, 

 and also to the Indians, some coming a hundred miles or 

 more for their groceries. 



A portion of our party made headquarters at the store 

 opposite the station house, and we were surprised at the 

 large, varied and well assorted stock on hand, consisting 

 of almost everything required in house-keeping, except 

 furniture. We found the proprietor of the store a very 

 hospitable and pleasant gentleman, who made us feel at 

 home at once, he insisted on our carrying trunks and 

 baggage into the wing of his store, which we converted 

 into a dressing and storage room, and in which we also 

 tied our dogs for the night. After safely disposing of 

 our effects, wo began looking about for a place to sleep in 

 and for meals. The proprietor tendered the use of a large 

 bed-room over the store, which would accommodate 

 three of us, and which was accepted with thanks. We 

 then set forth to find a place for the remainder, and wero 

 directed to the house of a Mrs. M. Upon inquiry we 

 found she had a room, and could furnish our meals, so 

 stepping into the back yard and on a bench near the well 

 we made an elaborate toilet, by the light of a kerosene 

 lamp, and re-entered the house. 



Many of us had in our travels met with persons of 

 great and exceptionally marked conversational powers, 

 and some of us even thought we could talk pretty well 

 ourselves, but Mrs. M. soon convinced us that we had all 

 been laboring under a delusion, for from the moment we 

 entered her house until the time of our leaving her talk 

 did not cease for a moment. She gave us her whole his- 

 tory from childhood, that of her husband, a description 

 of the Indians and their habits, and all the gossip of the 

 town for years past. We were all thoroughly subdued, 

 and even the Doctor, who could usually hold his own, 

 was hardly able to edge in a word. We' ate our suppers 

 to the running fire of her conversation, and the three 

 who were to sleep at the store hurried away, leaving the 

 Doctor, Jack and myself listening sadly to some un- 

 finished recital. At the store they retired at once, being 

 thoroughly tired out, and slept soundly until awakened 

 long before daylight, at about four o'clock, by the bark- 

 ing of our dogs and the shouts of our trio who had been 

 left at the house. After letting us in, Ed wished to know- 

 why they had been routed out at that too early hour. 

 Our answer was that it had been done in self-defense; for 

 after they had left us we retired to the sitting room, 

 where our beds were to be made, and Mrs. M. had im- 

 mediately dropped in on us and continued her conversa- 

 tion for about three hours more, untd we were all com- 

 pletely used up. The Doctor at last, during a lull, was 

 enabled to get in a few words, and said, "Now, Mrs. M., 

 if you will kindly retire for a few moments we will go 

 to lied and will then be pleased to have you rettxrn and 

 talk us to sleep." To our great joy the hint was taken, 

 and Ave were not again disturbed untd after three o'clock 

 in the morning, when we heard Mrs. M. getting things 

 ready for the early breakfast and busily talking to her- 

 self for lack of other audience. Being fearful of another 

 attack we arose, and quietly dressing, slipped out of the 

 house and came down to the store. Under the circum- 

 stances Ed readily forgave us for the early call. 



While waiting for breakfast we employed our time in 

 getting into our hunting clothes and carrying our trunks 

 and baggage out to the platform in the rear of the store 

 ready to be loaded on the wagon. Breakfast finished and 

 the dogs fed, we bade good-by to Mrs. M. and returned to 

 the store, where we found awaiting us a double wagon 

 for the baggage and two two-seated "democrat" wagons 

 for ourselves and the dogs. Everything was quickly 

 loaded, and at 6 o'clock we commenced our journey of 

 fifty miles across the reservation of the Creeks to the 

 ranch of the Saginaw Cattle Co., situated in the reserva- 

 tion of the Sacs and Foxes. The country through which 

 we passed consisted of beautiful, fertile plains and 

 wooded hills, interspersed with numerous streams and 

 well suited to the raising of stock and ordinary farm 

 crops. Occasionally we passed a house or a cluster of 

 houses and barns where some Indian had settled and 

 fenced in a farm, and in most cases not only were the 

 buildings comfortable, but the crops also seemed to have 

 been properly cared for and were abundant. As we con- 

 tinued, however, the houses became further and further 

 apart, and during the last half of the distance not a place 

 of abode was seen from the road, except one or two 

 hunters' tents or camps. 



On coming out of one of the plains and ascending a hill 

 we came upon our first game, a covey of quail feeding in 

 the road and in the grass along its side. A halt was 

 called and all was excitement, getting the guns out of 

 theu- cases, and hunting out ammunition belts and boxes 

 from the bottom of the wagons. Giving word to the 

 drivers to hold the dogs, a careful advance was begun, 

 but just before getting within reasonable range, the dogs 

 were, by some carelessness, let loose, and being very rank 

 for want of work, they made a dash into the covey, scat- 

 tering it in every direction. However, each man let go 

 his right and left, and a few birds fell. No attempt was 

 made to mark down the others, and only two or three 

 shots were had. Upon gathering up the birds we found 

 that we had secured only seven out of a flock of about 

 twenty, but of course some allowances must be made for 

 the excitement incident to coming upon the game totally 

 unprepared, and also for the action of the dogs. We again 

 started up our teams, but took the precaution to have our 

 guns and ammunition ready for action. 



No more game was seen, however, for several miles. 

 At last Brown, being on the lookout, called our attention 

 to a large yellowish-red animal about a quarter of a mile 

 ahead of us and to the left of the, road, which was evi- 

 dently intending to cross the road to a deep wooded draw 

 on the right. He would make a few jumps over the tall 

 dead grass and then stand and look toward the wagon. We 

 soon made up our minds that it was a wolf ; and Billy 

 taking his long-range Bullard rifle got out into a sniail 



ravine on our right and ran swiftly forward under cover 

 of its banks to intercept the wolf. We remained quiet 

 in the wagon for some time, expecting each minute to 

 near the crack of the rifle, but all was still. Finally we 

 saw Billy come out on the road ahead of us and about 

 where the wolf crossed. We drove up to him in anything 

 but a good humor, for it seems that he bad succeeded 

 twice in getting into position when he had a good sure 

 shot, and each time the rifle snapped so that the wolf 

 escaped unharmed. Upon taking the lock off the rifle, 

 arriving at camp, it was found that for some cause the 

 spring had become weakened and required tempering. 



At noon we arrived at Salt Greek, where, after driving 

 down one very steep bank, which made the full applica 

 tion of the brakes necessary, aud ascending on the other 

 side into a beautiful clump of trees, we unhitched and 

 fed and watered the horses, the stream being salt only in 

 name; and after taking a lunch we rested for an hour, 

 and again continued our journey through a succession of 

 hills and valleys, and over and across water courses, some 

 dry and others of running water, until just before dark 

 we crossed the stream called the Tiger, which we knew 

 to be only about three miles from the ranch. The country 

 about the Tiger was the wildest we had seen in the Terri- 

 tory, the woods being densely thick, the banks very high 

 and rocky, and, as we afterward found, with plenty of 

 game along its borders. Ascending from the bed of the 

 Tiger to the top of the hill, we followed the road along 

 an elevated plain until we came to a fence which divides 

 the Sacs and Fox and the Creek reservations, passing- 

 through the gate and down the road for a quarter of a 

 mile we arrived at the ranch erf the Saginaw Cattle Co. , 

 where we were welcomed by the inmates, as well as by 

 the baying of two or three "deep-mouthed" hounds. Our 

 baggage wagon did not arrive until the following morrT- 

 ing, having broken down while crossing the Tiger. 



What we did after our arrival at these "Happy Hunting 

 Grounds" will be given by another member of the party, 



George. 



A MICHIGAN BRUTUS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Not every day comes it about that we have the privilege 

 of recording an instance of such Roman justice as was 

 last Saturday dealt out by one of our Deputy Wardens to 

 an offender against the statutes of the State of Michigan, 

 made and provided against the killing of game outside 

 the proper season. 



The warden at this place is Jesse A. Gary, and it happens 

 that he has a son-in-law named George Dawson, a young 

 man of good repute, and on the most friendly terms with 

 his father-in-law, with whom he is now living, having 

 but recently returned from a long absence in a far country. 



Now it came to pass that this young man, albeit aware 

 of the existence of a game law of some sort, had no defi- 

 nite idea concerning the nature thereof, and still less re- 

 garding the extent of the racket which has been stirred 

 up of late in this regard; and seeing the other morning 

 a flock of winter ducks disporting themselves in the open 

 water near our village, the said Hawson shouldered his 

 muzzleloader and went forth to slay, returning shortly 

 with two trophies of his deadly aim dependent from his 

 belt. 



No concealment was attempted or thought necessary , 

 and the shooter bearing the ducks strode manfully up the 

 street and into the house, under the very nose of the 

 astonished deputy game warden, who chanced to be at 

 that moment sunning himself upon his piazza. 



To say that the official was disgusted does but faintly 

 express the state of his feelings. Repeatedly of late had 

 he been importuned to find some loophole in the law by 

 virtue of which some of those very ducks might be taken 

 in and roasted, and still had he set like a flint his frown- 

 ing face in sternest opposition to any infraction of the 

 statutes. 



I think, nay, I am quite sure, that he gave audible ex- 

 pression to his feeling within hearing of the culprit, 

 having done which he went to the nearest justice of the 

 peace and quorum and swore out a warrant for the arrest 

 of the offender. 



The justice is a clever old Scotchman, and before the 

 trial I stepped in to see him, and suggested that under 

 the circumstances and considering the inexperience of 

 the fowler, he might do well to exercise his discretionary 

 power, and let him off as easily as possible. "Ay," said 

 he, "I'll joost do't for this time. The boy wasna that cul- 

 pable after a', an' it's his first offense." 



So the Deputy Warden proceeded in due form to con- 

 front his son with the majesty of the law, and marched 

 him down to the office of the J. F. It was short work, 

 the plea was "Guilty," the fine five dollars and costs, 

 which out of compassion were made nominal, and the 

 bill was paid, $5.50 in all. Justice was vindicated, and the 

 parties to the suit shook the snow from their moccasins 

 and departed, 



"Ah," said the venerable jtistice, as he shoved into 

 the roaring stove a. few more maple blocks, "he's gotten 

 off easy-like for this time, but it's aneuch — yes, it's aneuch ; 

 for the bit duckies werena worth two shillings, an' they've 

 cost him for flk ane o' them twa dollars an' seventy-five 

 cents. But the neist time I'll joost slap the haill fifty 

 dollar fine a tap o' thir job, an' ye'll a' mind that." 



Kelpie. 



Central Lake, Mich., Feb. 13. 



A Reminiscence of the Late Prof. Linden.— He 

 was an ardent sportsman, spending many happy hours 

 with dog and gun. I well remember being out with the 

 professor on one occasion in the month of September on 

 a partridge hunt in the Conewango Valley. The day was 

 all the heart could wish, and the dogs were anxious and 

 worked well. We started a large brood of young birds 

 out of range and marked them down. After consulta- 

 tion the professor was to go in one side of the cover and 

 I was to take the other. I did so, and before proceeding 

 far my dog showed game and the birds flushed. After 

 showing through the cover, and bagging six birds, I was 

 surprised not to hear the report of the professor's gun, as 

 I had marked a number of birds going in his direction. 

 I became somewhat alarmed and concluded to investi 

 gate. After searching through the woods for some time 

 I found the professor, and to my disgust his gun lay on 

 the ground with note-book and pencil beside him, and 

 knife in hand dissecting a villainous looking lizard. 

 Many and many a happy day have I spent with the pro- 

 fessor in just such amusement, always ending in the same 

 characteristic manner.— Capt. Tom Collins. 



