66 



FOREST AND STREAM 



[Aug. 15, 1889. 



%mm §itg and 



AN OUTING IN WYOMING. 



WE left the pleasant little city of Blair, Nebraska, 

 Nov. 4, on the 7 :50 westward bound train on the 

 F. E. &M. V. R. R., and at Arlington were joined by 

 Cook, which made our party complete. Our destination 

 was central Wyoming, where we were going for big 

 game m response to a cordial invitation from Mr. W. J. 

 Crane (a fellow townsman of Cook's), who is interested in 

 a large tract of oil lands. In his letter urging us to come 

 he wrote, "Come prepared for b'ar;" and we were. Jim's 

 rifle was .45-60, model '76. Winchester; Cook had a Win- 

 chester, model '86, .45-90: while I carried a Sharps hani- 

 merless military, .45-70. We were all well supplied with 

 ammunition; and among the rest, each had about twenty- 

 five cartridges loaded with explosive bullets for the said 

 b'ar. We reached Casper at 11 o'clock the next night, 

 and found Crane awaiting us. We spread our bedding 

 on the floor of the depot and turned in. but not until 

 after I had got a big rag stuck in my rifle in trying; to 

 clean it. 



We were up bright and early Tuesday morning, and 

 started for the town of Casper, which was about balf a 

 mile from the depot, for some breakfast and to get the 

 rag out of my rifle. After a breakfast of elk steaks we 

 turned our attention to the gun. I filled the barrel with 

 kerosene oil and let it stand a wbile. then tried to punch 

 it out, but could'nt do it. The rag was fast about three 

 inches above the end of the chamber. Jim said: "Pull 

 the bullet out of a cartridge, fill up the space with paper 

 between the rag and powder, and blow it out." He said 

 he had done it several times, and it came out easilv 

 enough. That appeared to be about the only thing we 

 could do, but I did not like to risk it, for I remembered 

 having read in Forest and Stream a number of years 

 ago an article headed " A Fool and a Gun;" perhaps 

 some of you recollect it. But it was either take the 

 chance or go home, as that was all the gun I had with 

 me. From a cartridge I had loaded myself I removed 

 the bullet, and in doing so spilled a very little of the pow- 

 der not more than five grains; put a paper wad in the 

 shell and then filled the barrel from the rag to the mouth 

 of the chamber, so I could just crowd the shell into its 

 place, stepped out into the street, held the muzzle down 

 toward the ground , and pulled the trigger. It snapped 

 I tried carefully to throw the lever clown, but it did not 

 start easily. I had hold of the barrel just forward of 

 the breech action. The barrel suddenly became so hot 

 that it burned my hands. The powder had burned, but 

 it could not get out. I laid it down on the steps of a 

 store where we Avere getting our supplies, went into the 

 store and shut the door. The bovs wanted to know what 

 was the matter. When I told them they ridiculed the idea 

 there was no appearance of smoke escaping from either 

 breech or muzzle. Brewster, the merchant, wanted me to 

 go out and open it. I respectfully but firmly declined to 

 monkey with it until that cartridge had had time to die 

 After waiting about five minutes Brewster said if no one 

 else was going to open the thing he was. I begged him 

 to be careful, as it would certainly blow out behind as 

 soon as the slide was dropped. He went out, took hold 

 ot the barrel with his left hand, put the under part of the 

 stock against his knee, and with his right hand vanked the 

 lever down, when she went off. making as much noise as 

 ever. The shell struck the ground, glanced and went 

 across the street, over the opposite houses, whistling like 

 a bullet. I then came to the conclusion that it was an- 

 other case of a fool and a gun, and hi this case there 

 were several of us fools. There were at least 65grs. of 

 good powder in the shell; it was a light military rifle 

 and why it did not blow all to flinders I can't see. Now 

 this is no yarn, but strictly true. 



I finally got the rag out by taking a three-eighths rod 

 ot iron, sharpening one end to a point, heating red-hot 

 and burning it out. After I had got my rifle in shape, 

 we loaded up our traps, laid in a supply of grub, also of 

 baled hay and oats for the horses, and started for Crane's 

 camp on Spider Creek, about forty miles northwest of 

 Casper. There was about eight inches of snow on the 

 ground, the wind was north, and cold was no name for it 

 We had a good span of horses and a lumber wagon; but it 

 was loaded with about 18001bs., the road was a mixture 

 ot sand and snow; and our fastest gait was a walk. We 

 took turns driving, and when one got cold he would get 

 oft and walk. We wanted to get to the derrick that day, 

 as it was the only house we should see on the road and 

 this was about twenty miles from Casper. It was late in 

 the afternoon and we had got within two or three miles 

 of the derrick when we saw the first band of antelope; 

 there were about 150 of them; they were to one side of 

 the road and ahead of us. Crane drove the team and 

 Cook, Jim and myself kept behind the wagon out of 

 sight until we had got as near as we thought we could 

 come before they would leave, when we stepped out and 

 opened up on them. They were about 400yds. distant; 

 they ran across the road ahead of the team and then 

 doubled back the way we had just come. 



When the battle was over we saw one was down, we 

 went up to it and found it was shot through the back I 

 shot it through the head to put it out of its misery; we 

 then dressed it, and in carrying it to the wagon found 

 tbe trail of another that was bleeding badly. Cook and I 

 wanted to follow it, but Crane said no; we had not time 

 However, as he said it was only about a mile to our stop- 

 ping place Cook and I started after it. Cook gave it up 

 after he had gone about a quarter of a mile. I stuck to 

 the trail for about two mfies and came to where it had 

 lam down m the snow. The bed was all bloody: but the 

 snow must have stopped the bleeding, for I could find no 

 more blood, and it was impossible to distinguish the track 

 from the hundreds of others that covered the ground I 

 hated to give it up, but there was no help for it. I took 

 my back track until I struck the wagon track and then 

 pulled on after the rest. I found Jim waiting for me 

 and we finally got to the derrick a little after sundown' 

 oh, so tired. The derrick, so-called, is where an Omaha 

 company have been drilling for oil. In the house, half 

 'dugout and half log cabin, lives a Mr. Van Gordon 

 with his wife and brother-in-law. One year ago they 

 carried her there on a bed, and now she is the picture of 

 health. They entertain travelers, she doing her own 

 work with what help she gets from her husband and 

 brother. She gave us a supper and breakfast that would 



shame many a swell hotel. May her days be many and 

 happy. J 



Wednesday morning the wind was north, it was cold 

 and snowing some but the clouds were thin and it looked 

 as it it would clear up after a while. A Mr. Ayers had 

 stayed at the derrick the night before, and as he had four 

 horses and a light load, and was going our way, I rode 

 with him. We shot at some sage hens, but did not get 

 many I shot a Jack rabbit on the run. The weather 

 cleared up at noon; we reached Crane's camp about 4 P. 

 M. Alter supper Crane showed us an Indian mummy, 

 that they found laid away in a cavity among the rocks 

 near his camp; the grave had been opened before Crane 

 found it, but there was a cart load of stuff left that had 

 been buried with him, blankets, tin pans, and cups 

 several of each, a long-handled frying pan, stone axe 

 arrow points, files, knives, spurs, saddle, saddle bags, 

 bits, and a hundred and one other things. 



We stayed at Crane's camp that night and the next 

 morning loaded up for our hunt. It was Crane's inten- 

 tion to take us to Garfield's Peak, in the Rattlesnake 

 Mountains, but there was so much snow he thought we 

 could not get in there, so we pulled for Pine Mountain 

 on the opposite side of the- valley from Garfield^ peak, 

 and distant about 10 miles from camp. 



The day before, when about rive miles from Crane's 

 camp, we had met a party of five hunters on their way 

 home. They were from Norfolk, Neb.; had been out a 

 month and had a wagou load of meat, heads and other 

 trophies. They were Dr. Hassen, John McClarv, Geo. 

 lies, L. Sessions and P. F. Bell, all from Norfolk. We 

 had the same team we came from Casper with, and in 

 addition two saddle ponies: to be used for riding or pack- 

 ing our game into camp. One of Crane's men accompa- 

 nied us, Jack Courrier, a fine fellow and a good hunter. 

 He had been on the frontier for years and knew- the 

 ropes. He had a Sharps hammerless military which he 

 called "Screaming Betsey," but he was carrying a Win- 

 chester that Crane had borrowed for him for tbe occasion. 

 The sights of this were out of whack, which brought 

 Jack to grief that day. Cook and Jack were afoot and a 

 short distance behind the wagon, Jim was driving, and 

 Crane and I were riding the ponies, when we discovered 

 a large band of antelope, several hundred of them, near 

 the east side of the valley and some way ahead'of us 

 About opposite us near the east side of the valley was a 

 swell or hog-back, and the antelope were near the upper 

 end ot it. Cook and Jack ran for the lower end of the 

 pass, between the bluffs and the ridge, Crane rode over 

 it into the hollow, while poor Jim had to tend to the 

 team. I hurried up my pony and tried to head them off, 

 and turn them down to where the others were waiting 

 for them. Before I had gone far enough up the valley 

 to turn them, four of them ran across in front of me and 

 a. fine buck stopped and stood broadside at about 200yds. 

 I had plenty of time to get off and shoot him before he 

 ran, but I was afraid that if I opened upon him it would 

 drive the rest of the game on up the valley, and that the 

 other boys would not get any shooting, so I paid no at- 

 tention to him and kept on, and succeeded in driving 

 about fifty down toward the boys. They nearly ran over 

 Crane who was sitting on his pony looking the other way, 

 and when he did see them he was too badly rattled to 

 shoot at all. A moment afterward I heard the music of 

 Cook's and Jack's Winchesters; they kept it up lively for 

 a short time. In the midst of the shooting I saw Jim get 

 down off the wagon in a hurry and get behind it. He re- 

 marked afterward that a .45 was all right in its place, 

 but that he did not like them quite so close. I expected 

 from the amount of shooting Jack and Cook had been 

 doing that they had got lots of game; but when they 

 came over the hill with Crane and I asked them about it, 

 all I could make out was something about a thousand 

 antelope and a blank blanked gun. They had not raised 

 a hair, and Crane said they ran within 30ft. of him. 



About a mile further on we again sighted the antelope 

 and the ground was very much the same shape as before 

 Cook and Jim took the lower end of the draw, between 

 a long, high hog-back and the bluffs, Crane was out on 

 the bottom with the team; Jack and I, on the ponies, suc- 

 ceeded in dri ving about half the band, I should say about 

 two hundred, down the hollow to where Jim and Cook 

 were waiting for them. Soon we heard the Winchesters 

 going it merrily, and Jack and I beat the devil's tattoo on 

 the ribs of our ponies to get into position to receive such 

 as should run back past us. Just as we got there, Jack 

 says, "Here they come." We had just time to throw the 

 bridle reins over the ponies' heads, letting them drag, in 

 which condition the ponies would stand as if hitched. I 

 turned up my Lyman sight for 500yds., for I saw they 

 would cross us at about that distance. There were about 

 fifty of them, running in Indian file, and making good 

 time, too. I pulled in just ahead of the leader, a big doe, 

 and cut loose. She went on as if nothing had happened: 

 and while I was loading I saw Jack shoot twice with the 

 borrowed Winchester, and his bullets struck the ground 

 about half way to them. I then shot at a fine buck, and 

 had the satisfaction of seeing him turn a sommersaul't ■ he 

 was up again in a second, and left the band and ran 

 straight away from me. I let the rest go and shot at him 

 again, but missed. Jack said, "You have got him, he 

 won't go far." We went back and got on to the ponies 

 We could see my buck a short distance off; he had lain 

 down; we rode up to within about 100yds. of him; he had 

 his head up watching us. Jack said, "If you don't want 

 a devil of a chase after that fellow, you had better give 

 him one through the shoulders as he is." 



I slipped. off the pony and shot my antelope, hitting 

 him in the heart, killing him instantly. Crane came up 

 with the wagon. I dressed my game, and was about to 

 put it on the wagon, when Crane said, "We don't want 

 those forequarters; we can get meat enough, and we have 

 got so much load now that we shall have all we can do 

 to get up the mountain." So much against my inclina- 

 tions I skinned out the forequarters and left them for 

 the coyote and the raven. In a short time the boys came 

 in sight, bringing the saddles and heads of four more that 

 Jim and Cook had killed. They had several more down 

 in sight, and Jim started after them, but a bunch of 

 range cattle started for him, and he concluded he had 

 got antelope meat enough for the present. The cattle 

 will not often go for a horseman, but it Ife not safe for a 

 foot man to get near them, for they are very apt to come 

 for him, and if they do, the only thing to do is to get out 

 of sight if he can, and if not, shoot, and shoot to kill 

 Jim got behind a point of rocks and the cattle left. We 

 put our meat on the wagon and started, and over behind 



a swell, where the antelope had disappeared, we found 

 my doe shot through the lungs, and dead. We saved the 

 saddles and kept on. 



Now, I suppose it will be in order for some one to rise 

 up and call us game butchers and give us fits for wasting 

 game. Well, we did waste some meat, but we could not 

 very well help it. It was getting late, we had a big load 

 and there was a pull of three miles up a steep mountain, 

 but we made it got our tent up and supper out of the 

 way before dark. Our team was about played out, but a 

 good teed and rest brought them around all right 



The principal reason that Crane decided to take us to 

 Pine Mountain was, that about two weeks before Jack 

 had been up there and found a band of elk of about fifty. 

 He killed two and wounded two or three more, and we 

 expected to find them. Besides, there was plenty of deer 

 there. The mountain is about four miles long and one 

 mile wide; the top is like any other patch of rolling 

 prairie, covered with a stunted growth of sage brush 

 All around the sides are canons or gullies, narrow at the 

 top and wide at the bottom or foot of the mountain, and 

 in them near the top is more or less timber, pitch pine 

 and cedar. While we were there the went her was fine 

 clear, and quite warm through the day, but it froze hard at 

 night. We had a good tracking snow nearly all the 

 time. 



After supper we skinned our antelope saddles and cut 

 the hams up into suitable pieces to dry, rubbed them 

 with salt, and hung them up on the ridge pole of our 

 tent. The rest we kept for camp use. We skinned and 

 prepared /or mounting some of the best antelope heads, 

 chen made our beds and turned in to be ready for busi- 

 ness m the morning, 

 Blair, Nebraska. Dr. E. A. PALMER. 



|TO BE CONTINUED.] 



A MAINE HUNTING 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



GROUND, 



Readers of the Forest and Stream who are looking- 

 for big game next fall will be interested in a brief ac* 

 count of a hunting trip which Mr. A. S. Tbomoson and 

 his brother made last fall in northern Franklin county, 

 Maine. It is a region which is swarming with game the 

 most important being bear, moose, deer and Caribou. 



portion of the country over which our trip extended 

 says Mr. Thompson, lies about ten miles northwest of 

 Phillips village, and consists of the large timber belt ex- 

 tending from Jerusalem twenty-five miles north of Kins.. 

 held on the east to Rangeley on the west, at which point 

 it is cut from the northwest forest by a buckboard road 

 from Rangeley to the Kennebago Mountains; and em- 

 *J^£ ing l n lts limits the townships of Mt. Abraham (or 

 Million Acres), Jerusalem, Redington, Dallas, also towm- 

 ships 1, 2, 3. The most important mountains are Mt 

 Abraham range, which lies from the east to Redington' 

 while Saddlerock and the Boil lie further west. 



Small lakes and ponds and brooks abound and are full 

 of trout, as are also the numerous streams which go to 

 make up the Sandy River on the south, the Dead River 

 on the north and Caribou Valley streams being the head- 

 waters of the Carabassett on the east, I can say after 

 twenty years' tramping in the forests of Maine, that I 

 never saw such a sportsmen's paradise. 



We made our home camp at the home of our old friend 

 the veteran hunter, Cylas Wing, of Phillips, who. not- 

 withstanding that he is on the shady side of sixty, drove 

 us seven miles in the sparkling zero morning to the last 

 clearing, where he headed the party for the day's hunt 

 A hue day was before us. The earth was enshrined with 

 twelve inches of snow, with a crust sufficient to bear us 

 on snowshoes, with two inches of recent snow on top of 

 this, thus makiug it favorable to judge of the extent of 

 the game m this wonderful winter pasture. At about 9 

 A. M. we entered the woods and within fifteen minutes' 

 tramp the deer tracks resembled a sheep yard. At 11-30 

 A. M. we came up with a large buck deer, whose antlers; 

 showed us seven prongs.; but our guns with buckshot, 

 failed to bring him down. At 1:30 P. M. we came upon 

 a small one with equally bad result. Finding our guns: 

 inadequate, we returned home, where we arrived at 

 6:30 P. M. 



The next day we provided ourselves with Winchester 

 rifles and with Mr. John Shepard as guide we started for 

 the Abraham range in quest of caribou, making Reding- 

 ton our center, the camp being on Sluice Stream At 

 9 A. M. we struck the tracks of five caribou, but wishing 

 to ascend Mount Pisgah, the west arm of Abraham lyin^ 

 west of Caribou Valley, we at once made for the heights' 

 where we found a most enchanting view. The scenery 

 was charming and picturesque. Here we found the snow 

 literally tramped down by large herds of caribou; twentv- 

 two in one herd were easily counted, all traveling in one 

 direction. After admiring the beautiful scenery spread 

 out before us, and obtaining such knowledge of the hunt- 

 ing and fishing advantages of this section, we took the 

 trail of our game, which we brought down at 3:30 P. M. 

 It was a large blue buck caribou of 400lbs. weight and 

 stood thirteen hands high. After admiring him we left 

 him where he had fallen for the night, and starting for 

 the settlement arrived at 6:30 P. M. On the following 

 day with a sled and friendly aid we brought him out for 

 the admiration of congratulating friends. Several foxes 

 were also killed by our party. 



For several years the forests far beyond bordering on 

 Canada north of Rangeley and Kennebago have been°the 

 resort for sportsmen, and I account for the unusual 

 amount of large game now- in this region by the fact that 

 they have been driven to this quiet home which has 

 abundant pasturage. Convenient camps will be built the 

 coming season on the above grounds, and I would recom- 

 mend all sportsmen who contemplate a hunting trip next 

 season to take this into account. Either for trout or 

 game there is no more genial and relhble guide than 

 John W. Shepard, of Phillips, Me., who will cheerfully 

 answer any inquiries and will have every comfort in Iiib 

 camps for nimrods and sportsmen the coming season and 

 for all who wish to visit this virgin hunting ground. 



With our fox pelts and caribou I returned to my home 

 and business. Mr. Thompson says he would be pleased 

 to meet some lovers of the chase at the new camp in 

 Caribou Valley in October next. W. H. Allen. 



Liverjviore Falls, Me, 



Forest and Stream has illustrated circulars of G. O. Shields' 

 new book, 'Cruising* in the Cascades, and Other Hunting Ad- 

 ventures, which will be sent to any address on annlication. Th« 



i „„v «„- ~i -™- any address on application. The 



book is pronounced by l ;P." T. S. Van Dyke, "Sillalicum," and 

 other authorities one ot the most entertaining and instructive 

 works on big-game hunting ever published. ' 



