822 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 7, 189^ 



time finding; and so by the time we got together again it 

 ■was quite dark. We strayed off the trail and down into 

 a gulch, but out again without any mishaps; and then as 

 it was late and we were completely worn out, we laid 

 the goat skins on the rocks and made for camp. 



While we ate supper Mr. Stout gave U3 his experience 

 for the day. He had a fine large goat skin for his pains, 

 but declared he would not risk climbing the face of that 

 mountain again for all the goats in the range. 



We had now nine goat skins, which, with our blankets 

 and guns, would give us each a heavy pack to the home 

 camp, a distance of eight miles or more, over worse than 

 no road or trail; and so we decided to make a start for 

 camp next day; and turning in before a good camp-fire, 

 we slept under the clear frosty sky as only the tired 

 hunter knows how to sleep. 



Early the next morning, packing our blankets and the 

 skins we had at camp, we went down to where we had left 

 some of the skins the night before; and taking what we 

 could carry, started down to make a temporary camp 

 about a mile down the steepest part of the mountain in a 

 grove of fine timber. 



The morning was clear up where we were, but the 

 clouds below us looked heavier and were higher up the 

 valley, and seemed to be still rising as the wind rolled 

 and tossed them about. The view was fine, but we knew 

 we had a hard day's work on hand, and also made up our 

 minds that it was raining below us; so we lost no time on 

 scenery. 



Half a mile below our camp, at the foot of the slide- 

 rock, there was a thick growth of brush and some 

 timber; through this we had to follow the bed of a small 

 stream down the steep slope; and it was hard traveling. 



By the time we got down to this place, the clouds 

 had reached it from below; as we went down we found it 

 very thick and damp and chilly, and a hundred feet or 

 so down a light cold rain set in. If you have never 

 walked down into a cloud, you have missed a singular 

 and rather uncanny experience. We got very wet going 

 down, but finally reached the grove; found a very good 

 place to camp, and putting blankets, goat skins and pro- 

 visions into a hollow tree, started back to get the rest of 

 the goat skins and the goat that Gardner had wounded 

 the day before. 



We followed the course of the stream back up to the 

 slide-rock, and then the clouds were so thick we could 

 see but a short distance; but we shaped our course as best 

 we could for the trail above. We missed the way, how- 

 ever, but after wandering around for a while the clouds 

 broke for a moment and gave us a chance to locate our- 

 selves before they came down again almost as thick as 

 night. We found our trail and came to the skins, but 

 the wounded goat had gone, leaving no trail behind; and 

 gathering up our packs we started back. 



When we came to the rock slide near the bluff, Stout 

 said we could climb down a gorge to the timber below, 

 and save at least a half mile of hard traveling. We could 

 not see any distance for the clouds, but Stout had been 

 down part of the way the day before and we did not stop 

 to think that then the rocks were dry, but now were wet 

 and slippery. We first had to let ourselves down over a 

 perpendicular ledge some ten or twelve feet high, land- 

 ing on a narrow one below; and it was pretty close work, 

 as now each had a heavy pack and had to drop several 

 feet. Soon we found ourselves in a bad place, but we 

 could not go back very easily, if at all. Removing car- 

 tridges as a precaution against accident, we worked our 

 way slowly down, one going ahead and then handing 

 guns down to him. 



We had descended some distance, holding on to the 

 edges and crevices in the rocks and brush, when Stout 

 slipped, broke off some brush he was holding to, and 

 went down like a flash some ten or twelve feet, when he 

 luckily caught the heel of his shoe on a small stone pro- 

 jection and saved himself. It was a close call for him. 

 I was just out of reach, having started across the gorge 

 on a narrow ledge about four or five inches wide, but had 

 I been within a foot of him I could not have rendered 

 him any assistance, for it was all one could do to hold on 

 for himself. A hundred feet below us the gorge broke 

 off into a sheer cliff several hundred feet high; and had 

 he not caught when he did he would have gone over this 

 like a shot and down on to the loose rock below, a shape- 

 less mass. 



We went on, sliding, dropping and rolling down, turn- 

 ing back and forth along narrow rock ledges; and got 

 safely down after a time, after making one of the most 

 dangerous trips I ever undertook and which neither of us 

 would care to take again. A week later I looked at this 

 place on a fairly clear day, and it hardly looked possible 

 that men could come down it safely. How one can enjoy 

 a good roaring camp-fire after a hard day's tramp in the 

 rain and cold. We had a good night's rest and sleep, 

 which we needed for the next day's tramp. 



In the morning, when we had as much as we could 

 possibly carry, we found that we must leave our goat 

 skin and my blanket and canvas. We walked in on 

 the boys in camp about 6 P. M. We came in so quietly 

 that we were at the tent before they saw us. Just then 

 some one rose up and said, "Well, you have lost your bet, 

 for here they are and they have the goats." 



But Uncle David Vandeveer, of Grinnell, la., struck the 

 right chord when he said, "Well, boys, I was rather 

 thinking you would be in to-night; and I have lots of good 

 coffee and bread all ready, for I knew you would be 

 hungry." Uncle Vandeveer, now nearly sixty years old, 

 is an old hunter, and a good one, too, and in fact is one 

 of the best men I have ever been in the woods with; and 

 he knows all about camp life. 



We had to relate our experiences and mishaps between 

 bites, and then the boys made me promise that I would 

 take them up to the hunting ground next week, They 

 had had poor success while we were gone, Mr. Pratt hav- 

 ing brought in the only game — a large wolverine, with a 

 fino skin; and the lucky owner was justly proud of it. 



We decided that we would get an early start Monday 

 morning and reach the hunting ground the first day out 

 from camp; but then you can't always tell, you know. 



En gab, Neb. H. 



An engineer on the Denver and Rio Grande railway shot 

 and killed a wildcat from the cab of his locomotive. Nearly 

 all of the engineers of railroad trains in Texas and most of 

 the Western States carry revolvers, and often rifles, in the 

 cab, for various contingencies that might arise. They amuse 

 themselves by shooting the telegraph poles or any other 

 mark while running at full speed, and attain a wonderful 

 skill in marksmanship.— Springfield Republican. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



CHICAGO, 111., April 2.— In regard to the little game 

 pocket whose whereabouts I have recently discovered 

 but not yet uncovered, several interesting events have 

 transpired. In the first place, my unknown resident has 

 sent me a number of photographs of game, etc., all scenes 

 taken in this locality in question. One picture shows two 

 young moose standing in a wood. Another shows a 

 moose calf standing near a wagon load of prairie chickens, 

 whereto are added a pair of geese. Another scene Bhows 

 a grand lot of chickens feBtooned along a tent pole sup- 

 ported on a wagon. The total effect should convince any 

 one that there is game, big and small, in that country, 

 and the references given me by my informant need not 

 be published here, although I shall retain them. The 

 photos in question have been forwarded to Forest and 

 Stream, and may perhaps be reproduced in engravings. 



The news of this locality came to me in such shape 

 that I could not give names or places. There came a 

 later consent to state the facts, leaving out names and 

 places, and this I did. It appeared to me that this was 

 something which belonged to the friends of Forest and 

 Stream, and not to my personal friends, so I resolved to 

 give the locality to no one whatever until just before the 

 opening of the game season, but to then treat all alike 

 who could show that they were Forest and Stream 

 readers, not market shooters, but gentlemen not disposed 

 to abuse the privileges they might receive, Certainly I 

 should not throw open this little corner to the market- 

 shooting public. To this effect I published a reply to one 

 inquirer, stating, in mere fun, that in due time I should 

 give him the facts, provided that I liked him. To this I 

 added, "Of course, I don't know whether I will or not." 



This last remark was unfortunate, because it did not 

 take into consideration the fact that there are all sorts of 

 people in the world, some of whom don't know that a 

 newspaper man, in spite of his calling, may be some- 

 where near a halfway sort of gentleman, and who don't 

 know that the Forest and Stream staff may include 

 men who try, to the best of their ability, to be as near as 

 they can to what they think the honest newspaper man 

 should be. 



I had no earthly thought of any hidden meaning to my 

 words, until I gbt a letter in which the writer said he 

 thought he "saw some light," and added, "If that coun- 

 try bears investigation, I shall be glad to show my appre- 

 ciation of any information in a substantial manner." 



I shall do this man the final courtesy of not publishing 

 his name. The forbearance of a large newspaper is wide, 

 though a little insult of this kind is almost as much one 

 to the paper as to its representative. For myself, the 

 most "substantial manner" in which the writer of the 

 above letter can benefit me and himself is by not writing 

 to me any more. He certainly will never learn through 

 me where this good shooting is. For any gentleman who 

 knows better how to treat a paper and a writer whose 

 sole wish is to be fair to all alike this information is 

 ready, on the terms originally proposed, which terms 

 were in effect established by the original informant, 

 whose wishes could not in honor be violated. I have a 

 list of all inquirers. In August Forest and Stream may 

 do with this list as it likes, should there appear to be too 

 many for all to be accommodated. If not too many, 

 then I shall notify all alike. My last letter comes from 

 Mr. Chas. A. Rathbone, Detroit, Mich., who says: "I try to 

 go for a few days' shooting each year, and will be obliged 

 to know the address referred to." If Mr. Rathbone will 

 write me in early August he shall have the address on 

 the conditions above mentioned. 



I have still another letter from my game pocket man, 

 in which he says: "From present appearances, no one 

 will be disappointed, for there are chickens everywhere 

 you look, dancing on every snow drift. We must have 

 driven, going for hay, half a mile, through 300 or more, 

 scattered the whole way to the stack. It was a pretty 

 sight. I often watch them by the hour, and shall try 

 and get a photo of them this spring." 



Our duck season here is pretty much a failure, although 

 large flights have been in for short periods. A number 

 of the Chicago boys have been up at Fox Lake this week, 

 but the bags were all small. On Thursday a heavy flight 

 of bluebills and pintails was coming in. To-day the shoot- 

 ing at Fox Lake should be good. During last night a 

 windstorm of the most remarkable violence prevailed all 

 over the middle West, and its effect was felt seriously 

 here. The ducks came in just ahead of it. 



So far as I know the biggest bag of ducks made this 

 spring in this vicinity was that made by Col. Jas. A. 

 Sexton, at Cumberland club, last Tuesday, 58 birds. Col. 

 Sexton is the urbane postmaster of this village, and his 

 popularity is increased by his practice of giving a mallard 

 duck to every purchaser of more than 25 cents worth of 

 stamps. 



Yesterday Messrs. C. E. Willard and Ed. Bingham 

 went to Koshkonong Lake, Wis. , for some canvasbacks. 

 Mr. Bingham's old home is near by, and they will stop 

 there very pleasantly. 



Mr. F. C. Donald and Mr. C. S. Burton contemplate an 

 early trip to Eagle Lake, near Mukwanago, Wis., after 

 ducks. This lake is the first above the Fox Lake system 

 on the northbound flight to Puckaway, and it is quite 

 possible it may afford better sport than some of the better 

 known spots. 



Poor shooting was reported a few days ago at Senach- 

 wine Lake, but it should be better now. 



Charlie Wilcox is back from McHenry, where he went 

 with 3,000 shells and a heart full of hope. He missed his 

 usual good shooting and bagged only one duck. Mr. W. 

 L. Wells is still up at the lakes, but I do not hear that he 

 has had a great deal of shooting. He is probably study- 

 ing up a new wildfowl picture to add to his "Going Out" 

 and "Coming In," which excellent works have made 

 Billy Wells famous, or will do so. We have no closer 

 student of wildfowl in this section, and I can imagine a 

 pleasant meeting between him and Mr. W. Townsend, 

 whose "Among the Wildfowl" sketches have been so 

 enthusiastically received. 



Col. C. E. Felton, who has lately been out of it by 

 reason of sickness, is now about again and much wel- 

 comed. 



That big-waisted and big-hearted Kansas City shooter 

 man, Jim Riley, abode with the Chicago boys for two 

 brief days this week. Mr. Riley has reformed, and now 

 no longer shoots at the trap. He is in danger of a relapse. 



Last week Mr. R. S. Cox defeated Mr. H. B. Fobs in a 

 friendly trial of skill, as was duly reported in the trap 

 columns. On Wednesday of this week Mr. H. B. Foss 



defeated Mr. R. S. Cox in a friendly trial of skill, 46 to42 

 out of 50. There will be another friendly trial of skill 

 between Mr. R. S. Cox and Mr. H. B. Foss next week, in 

 which Mr. R. S Cox hopes Mr. H. B. Foss will kindly not 

 go quite so high as 46, which is a good many. 



On last Tuesday morning a flock of bluebills attempted 

 to light in the Chicago River at Harrison street bridge. 

 This is in the heart of the city. They could not accom- 

 plish their purpose. 



At the meeting of the executive committee of the 

 Illinois State Sportsmen's Association this week, it was 

 decided that this year there would be no personal solici- 

 tation of dealers for donations to the prize lists. The 

 secretary was instructed to write to the dealers and 

 announce a readiness to receive any voluntary donations. 

 Mr. Abner Price will award the publication of the pro- 

 gramme to Mr. A. W. Knox, who has handled it so well 

 in years past. New clubs formally accepted for member- 

 ship at the meeting are: Pekin Gun Club, Pekin, III.; 

 Highland Gun Club, of Moline, 111.; English Lake Club, 

 of Chicago, 111. General discussion followed on the old 

 question of admitting members who do not belong to any 

 regular club. 



The first of the snipe flight got in this week. Lem 

 Willard killed twenty-two on Thursday. This early 

 flight will not afford much shooting, and the birds will 

 be lean and wild. In two or three weeks the shooting 

 will be much better. E. Hough, 



SPRING SHOOTING OF PLOVER. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



The spring migration of plover is now at its height, and 

 from dusk to dewy morn their mellow notes are heard. 

 Every tract of prairie with short fresh grass and gemmed 

 with gorgeous flowers invites them to tarry and search 

 for its insect harvest during the day, but the south winds 

 of the night again starts them on the long journey. 



Every horse, not gun shy, is now daily hired, and 

 Bennie, who always is too tired to hunt in a legitimate 

 manner and exercise bis legs, now, with Phyllis sitting 

 beside him and driving the disgusted horse, hauntB 

 the blossoming prairie, displaying his skill and posing as 

 the "mighty hunter." 



It may be fun for the dude shooters, but is destruction 

 to the game, for, besides the plover, even the innocent 

 quail, now happily mated, is not spared, and Bennie will 

 even condescend to get his gaiters muddy if a poor un- 

 seasonable duck is discerned in a branch or pond. 



Will public opinion and the law jointly ever stop the 

 spring shooting? J. V. B. 



AcSTrN, Texas, March 31. 



North Dakota Game Notes.— Towner County, N. D., 

 March 29.— I noted the following game birds the past 

 week: Canada geese flying round in some numbers. 

 March 25 saw a flock of sharptail grouse flying north 

 about Bunrise; 26th, pinnated grouse were first seen, 

 heard of quite a number being seen by different persona; 

 28th, mallards and pintail ducks were first seen by me ; 

 on the 29th quite a number of small flocks were seen fly- 

 ing around seeming not to be able to settle down in any 

 hole for any length of time. The weather for the past 

 week has been warm, some showers of rain and a Btrong 

 south wind combining to make the snow disappear and 

 pools of water form all over the prairies, only large drifts 

 of buow being left. I heard lately of an incident of the 

 big blizzard, that of the discovery of some seventy odd 

 Canada geese that were found frozen in the edge of a 

 slough hole near Wahpeton, Dakota.— E. T. Jtjdd. 



Notes from Raritan Bat.— Perth Amboy, N. J., 

 April 4. — Several hair peals have been seen and two cap- 

 tured this spring in Raritan Bay. The Applegates of 

 Cheesequake Creek have killed a good many ducks since 

 last fall. Two male wood ducks were shot on Saturday. 

 Wm. Hartmann has had considerable sport shooting 

 ducks from the boundary monument over decoys. A 

 large flight of flickers (highholders) occurred yesterday, 

 and numbers of them were killed at Morgan Station 

 (Cheesequakes) while flying across the Long Branch Rail- 

 road bridge. Robins, blackbirds and bluebirds are 

 numerous. — K. 



Notes from Mexico. — Eddy, New Mexico, March 31. 

 —I have just returned from the Geyser Springs ranch at 

 the base of the Guadalupe Mountains, forty miles west of 

 here. On the trip there and back we killed forty-two 

 quail and two jacksnipe without leaving the road. Mr. 

 Rush, the owner of the ranch, has a pack of eight hounds 

 and during our stay there they, with the aid of the men, 

 killed two wildcats. Mr. J. H. Hickman, of Dorchester, 

 New Brunswick, is here in search of sport and health. 

 He has killed about thirty jack rabbits but has not yet 

 been out after other game.— G. O. Shields. 



Florida Alligator Farm.— The slaughter of alligators 

 for sport and for the demands of trade has caused a scarcity 

 of this formidable reptile in some parts of Florida. To 

 repair the waste as far as possible, and to establish a 

 profitable business, it is now proposed to rear the alli- 

 gator in pens in the marshes and swamps. It is said that 

 this can be readily done and that a gentleman from Cen- 

 tral Florida is now seeking to carry out the project with 

 the aid of some New York capitalists. 



The Pauqus Fish and Game Clue, recently organized 

 in Lakeport, N. H., has elected the following officers: 

 President, John S. Crane; Vice-President, Julius E. Wil- 

 son; Secretary and Treasurer, F. E, Gilford; Directors, 

 H. Bickford, F. A. Baker and M. L. Crane. The club 

 will have grounds for trap shooting, and aid in the en- 

 forcement of the game laws during close season. 



The Ideal M'f'o Co, have brought out a new re and 

 de- capper for rifle and pistol, and a bullet seater. 



A strange accident has occurred between Potomas, Mexico, 

 aud Deming, New Mexico, to a Mormon family. B, R, 

 Young was driving along behind another wagon when a 

 loaded gun in the front wagon accidentally fell and was dis- 

 charged, the ball piercing Mr. Young's shoulder, then his 

 son's hip, and then passing through the baby, it struck Mrs. 

 Mary Roberts, daughter of Mr. Young. The bullet seriously 

 wounded the father and son, killed the baby instantly, and 

 slightly wounded Mrs. Roberts, 



