138 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 16, 1893. 



A NOVEL BEAR HUNT. 



In the early history of Maine, long before it was organ- 

 ized under independent State government, two of the 

 early settlers, a Mr. Brown (father of George H. Brown, 

 of the town of Mason, Me.) and a neighbor, Samuel 

 Sawin, were out in the woods liunting after pitch pine for 

 light-wood, whicli was tlien very generally used by the 

 early settlers for lights instead of candles, and, discoA^er- 

 ing an old pine stub, they rapped on it with their axe to 

 see if it was hollow. They at once got a response from 

 the inside in the form of a scratching noise, which ap- 

 peared to be working up the tree, and looking up they 

 soon saw a bear's head protrude through the top, and in 

 three seconds the beast emerged and came down by the 

 run, the boys having just time to jump back when the 

 bear struck the ground. 



They had a small ctir dog with them and he took after 

 the bear. They had no gun, but, being spunky fellows, 

 followed with all speed, giving the bear a sharp chase, 

 and the bear, not being limbered up from his cramped 

 position in the pine stub, could not make his normal 

 speed, so that the boys hard pressed bruin. 



After about a mUe of liA^ely contest they approached a 

 ledge where hedge hogs had a den, into which the bear 

 tried to crawl, with the dog at his heels and the boys 

 close up. The hole becoming suddenly small the bear 

 had to stop, after wedging himself in solidly. One of his 

 legs stuck outside, which he couldn't draw in. Otherwise 

 he Avas out of sight. On coming up the boys held a con- 

 fab as to what was best to do. They could chop his leg 

 off, but could not reach him in any other place, and, as 

 they had no gun and it was growmg dark and they were 

 about two miles from home, it was out of the question to 

 think of going for a gun. 



It occurred to them that if they could only fasten him 

 in where he was until morning they could thus dispatch 

 him; and the carcass of a good fat hear meant something 

 to those poor settlers who lived a great distance from any 

 village and had no money to spend. 



Whatever they should do must be done quickly. One 

 proposed rolling a lot of rocks against the hole, and the 

 other ijroposed falling a big tree against the den, but they 

 agreed that if they stopped to do that they wonld not find 

 their way out of the wood, for it was gettuig dark fast. 

 At last on discovei-ing a yorang birch growing near the 

 den, which they could bend down bj^ their united strength 

 and heft they formed tlie novel idea of fastening the 

 creature's leg to the top of tlie tree, making a spring pole 

 of it. But tliey had no rope, so they took a silk handker- 

 chief that one of them had and twisted it into a stout 

 string; and tying this to the top of the tree thej^ found it 

 was not long enough to go round his leg near the foot. 

 So they made a slit in his hide up and down his ankle and 

 pulled up the mail* cord and tied the string to that, then 

 started for home, as it had become quite dark.' The dog 

 knew longitude and struck a bee-line for home, Avhich 

 helped them out. 



The next morning several of the two families went with 

 the hoys for the game and found the bear jumping about 

 very h.A'^ely, being held up by the stiff spring pole. They 

 soon dispatched him and lugged him home. It was late 

 in the fall, he was fat and had a beautiful coat of nice 

 black fur on him. J. G. R. 



A DOG THAT JUST BROKE HIMSELF. 



The "jest broke himself" bird dog api^ears to be about 

 as numerous as the exuberant individual who didn't strike 

 Billy Pattei'son. In every community you find this inof- 

 fensive creature, and a query flashed at the owner of tlie 

 canine as to his training in variahlj^ elicits the information 

 that he can down any other dog in town oJi birds "and 

 he's a dog as what just broke hisself, too." I ran up 

 against, and had a very solemn experience with one of 

 these "jest broke hisself' dogs a short while ago, and since 

 then I have carried a carefully loaded sample of small 

 arms in my inside pocket, trusting that some time before 

 I grow dim of Adsion and shaky of nerA^e, I may chance 

 across the exhilarating character Avho advised me to go 

 afield with Ole Bill and his "pinter" dog Gib. I had taken 

 a run up to one of the interior cities of Michigan, think- 

 ing to brace up a bit after a hard summer's AA^ork, and as 

 quail shooting was said to be at its best about the time I 

 arrived there, I Avas naturally anxious to liaA^e a turn after 

 the birds. My solicitous brother-in-law^ AAdio, unfortu- 

 nately, was not a shooting man, soon turned me OA'er to 

 William, who promised, on our first meeting, to show me 

 "some shooting as was shooting, sure." And Gip — yes, 

 Gip Avas mentioned, and thrice mentioned, as "the smart- 

 est pinter on quail in several counties." A short chat with 

 William on that occasion convinced me that heAvasliAing 

 in the past, and his present existence Avas measured 

 simply by his ability to eat three square meals a day and 

 to smoke, at very many ofld intervals during that period 

 of time, a strong brierwood pipe witli an outdoor flavor. 



Many large and radiant misgivings weighted my mind 

 when, a few mornings after our first conference, I ac- 

 companied "Ole Bill" and Gip out to the dun-coated 

 meadows in the teeth of a stiff Avest wind. My suspicions 

 as to Gip's worth as a quail d^g were activelj^ excited be- 

 fore Ave reached the first field. His calm, reposeful coun- 

 tenance, his lumbering, lazy gait and his enervating air 

 of suspended animation, all denoted a quality that was to 

 be seen at its best only Avhen undisturbed quiet, a palat- 

 able bone or two, nicely garnisJied with meat done to a 

 turn, and a degree of exertion not worth mentioning 

 Avere the gOA'^erning conditions. But my suspicions were, 

 in a measure, allayed by the small ta,lk of William, who 

 was persistently bubbling over AA'ith Gip's bird sense, 

 stancliness and othei- commendable virtues. 



Eeaching the grounds where it Avas reasonable to infer 

 that the birds Avere to be looked for, an unexijpcted call 

 from a mottled piper directly ahead of us instantly trans- 

 formed Gip, Avho up to this time eoifidn't be made to 

 range far enough ahead to keep from under our feet, into 

 a pretty alert chunk cf a dog, and at the second Avhistle 

 rising from a patch of ragweed fully a hundred yards in 

 advance, a streak of brown dogskin lunged out in the 

 direction of the wary Avhistler, folloAved by such an out- 

 burst of rare and resolute English from William, as is 

 possible only Asdien a man Avith a A^aried experience is 

 deepl}^ and prof oundly agitated . But Gip liad loosened 

 the air brakes, as it AA'ere, and he didn't stop running un- 

 til he had flushed from the ragweed patch a big bevy of 

 quail, and had chased it quite a good eighth of a rnfie in 

 the direction of Grand RiA^er, 



It is perhaps needless to add that Avhen they met, "Ole 



Bill" and the "p'inter" that "jest broke hisself" engaged 

 in a protracted and charmingly engrossing melee, from 

 which Gip finally emei'ged with an unmistakable limp. 



Our next effort was to get Avithin gunshot of the fright- 

 ened birds. William and Gip, who, by the Avay, once 

 more lapsed into a semi-comatose state, swung round close 

 to and Avorked up along the river, Avhile I Avorked on a 

 line parallel to but some 75yds. from them. Gip's work 

 Avas limited to abbreviated casts extending straight ahead 

 far enough just to escape the far-reaching toe of his oAAm- 

 er's boot. Suddenly the dog shot ahead into a tangled 

 mass of high Aveeds, the hoarse, earnest entreaties of 

 William deterring him not, and an instant later birds dark- 

 ened the air in every direction. I managed with my sec- 

 ond barrel to imll down a single quail, and while retrieving 

 it I heard sounds over the bluffs by the river that told me 

 there were Avarring factions in the household of William 

 and Gip. Regaining a point where an unobstructed view 

 Avas obtainable, a Avhirling vision of dog-man-and-gam Avas 

 unfolded, and for the time at least my Avild, savage desire 

 for vengeance was satisfied. The line of battle was again 

 straightened out and Ave proceeded to beat out meadoAv 

 and marsh tlucket and timber, only to see quail always 

 getting up'out of range, AAdthJthe "p'inter" in hot pursint. 

 The dog that "jest broke hisself" Avas out to shoAv Avhat he 

 could do, and the opportunity Avas not neglected. 



Om- return home was nof enlivened Avith conversation 

 of an animated sort. Even "Ole Bill's" turkey reminis- 

 cences and the "shooten days that used to be" gxew as 

 ragged as the coat tails of a prize tramp. When we at 

 last reached home Wilham managed to murmur, as though 

 the name of Gip still lingered in his affections, "Well, the 

 old dog didn't do so bad after all, seeing it Avas his first 

 day out this season." I am sorry to say my reply Avas not 

 so flattering as it might have been. 



An injury received that day laid me up until after the 

 close of the' Michigan quail season; so that, Avith a score of 

 one quail during a stay of tAvo months in a pretty good 

 quail country, I think I am justified in carrying a small 

 g-un and able-bodied determination to get even Avith a 

 relative who, with suppressed glee and malice afore- 

 thought, coldly put me for seven liours in the care of an 

 idolatrous Avorshipper of a reeking brierwood pipe and a 

 "jest-broke-hisself" dog. M. C. H. 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST, 



[lYom a Staff Con-espond&nt.] 



Chicago, 111., Feb. 11.— Game Warden Bortree grace- 

 fully landed on the form of Mr. Baldwin, a Fifth avenue 

 restaurant man, shortly after the close of the selling 

 season (Feb. 5) and captm-ed 107 illegal quail. Mr. Bald- 

 win noAV knoAvs eA^en more about the expense of qixail on 

 toast than do any of his customers. A North Side res- 

 taurateur has also suffered in like fashion. 



Mr. C. D. Ganimon, one of the well-known Chicago 

 sportsmen, lately fell on the icy walk and broke his leg. 

 The wicked stand on sMppery places, but Oharfie couldn't. 



On Feb. 6 the floods broke open the fish pond of Mr. 

 Sid Cox, County Commissioner of BartholomeAV county, 

 Ind., AA-^ho lives at Columbus, Ind. The pond Avas ruined 

 and 6,000 carp, some of the largest in the State, were 

 swept into White River. 



At Albuquerque, N'. M-, on Feb. 6, where T. J. LeAvis 

 and T. J. Mai-tm Avere out target shooting, the i ifle of the 

 former was accidentally discharged and ]\lr. Martin was 

 instantly killed. 



At Lincoln, ISTeb., on Feb. 6 Lem and Orlando Lemon, 

 13 and 16 years old, Avere playing with a revolver thought 

 to be empty. Orlando in sport snapped it at his brother. 

 The weapon was loaded and the boy received a Avound 

 from Avhich he died that night. 



Unique Game Law Ideas. 



A bill has been introduced into the Wisconsin Legisla- 

 ture thLs session proposing to "make shooting and fishing 

 absolutely free on all lands in the State of Wisconsin." 

 It is probably just a trifle too unconstitutional to pass, no 

 matter hoAv general may be the legislative hatred for the 

 club preserve. The laAv of trespass is as firm in principle 

 as any on earth. The wise legislator might as well pro- 

 pose to throw open the homes of Wisconsin, so that he 

 Avho chose might do_^as he liked therein. 



A Good Out-Door Club. 



Calumet Heights Club, Avhich subscribes itself as "the 

 best outing club of the country," is out Avith a circular 

 announcing improA^ements at the grounds of thtt pleasant 

 organization and expressing a AA^ish for a few additional 

 members. One could do far worse than spend a summer 

 day occasionally at this club house on the lake Avith its 

 opportunities at trap-shooting and other forms of sport. 

 The membership fee is only $20 and the annual dues 

 are $15, 



A Governor's Ideas. 



It is reported that Gov. Altgeld, the newly elected Goa--- 

 ernor of Illinois, will abolish the Illinois State Fish Com- 

 mission as a board worthless and expensive to the State. 

 On this head the following extract from a letter written 

 me by Mr. Geo. Kamper, a prominent and A^ery active 

 and successful fish Avarden resident at DauA'iUe, 111. , AviU 

 be found of interest. Mr. Kamper says: 



"'J'he Governor has an idea that there are a number of 

 usefes boards in this State, and that the Fish Commission 

 is one of them. 1 liaA'e it from the A^ery best authority 

 that GoA', Altgeld is seriously considering the adA^isability 

 of abolishing the Commission. You will readily admit 

 that such an act Avould be a serious calamity to the fish 

 interests of Illinois, and I appeal to you for a contribu- 

 tion of a little of j'^.our time in an effort to conA^ince the 

 GoA'ernor that lUinois needs a Fish Commission and that 

 the Commissioners'should be fishermen and^not mere poh- 

 ticians looking for a j)lace. 



"A little newspaper discussion will probably convince 

 him of these facts. Inclosed find a clipping f r0m one of 

 our local papers to start the baU rolling. Can you, or 

 will you, assist a little'? "^^ery respectfully, 



Geo. Kajviper." 



The clipping in question is from the Danville Daily 

 Pi'ess, and it points out in a plain and logical way the 

 damages and dangers Avhich Avould ensue Avere the people 

 of the State deprived of the services of one of the State's 

 most useful officers. Of course Forest and Stre^vm and 

 all its readers can only condemn a moA'-ement looking 

 toward either an abolishment or a curtailment of the Ilh- 

 nois Commission. The Commission should be built up. 

 It should have an appropriation large enough to enable it 



to do practical Avork. Meantime, Gov. Altgeld is absent 

 in Florida for his health, and perhaps these rumors may 

 be unjust to him. Upon his return I shall take pleasure 

 in an endeaA'or to obtain from him an expression of his 

 intentions on this head, or rather those intentions in the 

 matter of his recommendations, and I hope that the reply 

 Avill be a denial of any thought injurious to the Illinois 

 State Fish Commission. E. Hoitgh. 



175 Monroe Stkeet, Chicago. 



SOME NOTABLE SHOTS. 



m. 



MoHAWTC, N. Y.— Editor Forest omcI Stream: A recent 

 issue of the New York World contained this note: "The, 

 most memorahle shot that is recorded in the annals of 

 sport is that made by Sir Francis Chantrey, the sculptor, on 

 Nov. 20, 1839, at Holkham, inNorfolk, England. On that 

 occasion the famous artist while visiting his friend. Mr. 

 Coke, of Holkham, brought doAvn tAvo woodcock at one • 

 shot. The Avhole shooting world was paralyzed for a time 

 by this feat, and it has been more or less of a Avonder ever 

 since. The woodcock, it is hardly necessary to say, is a 

 very difiicult bnd to shoot even singly. Its flight is rapid: 

 and twisting, and it ahvays keeps to trees and bushes, 

 making its detection a difficult matter. So when it Avas an- 

 noimced that Chantrey had kiUed two at a shot he was 

 immediately made a hero and congratulations began to 

 pom- in on him in gi-eat multitudes. The sculptor him- 

 self , much elated by his good fortime, decided to erect a 

 monument to the fallen game, of which he should be the 

 designer. Inscriptions Avere invited from the men of let-' 

 ters of the day, but in spite of the fact that some very 

 celebrated Avriters were among the contributors none of 

 their efforts were considered AA^orthy of adoption. Later 

 in fife Sir Francis acknowledged that the shot was a 

 scratch and that he saw but one bird Avhen he aimed. The 

 carved effigy of the Avoodcock which he made was a vei'yj 

 poor Avork of art." ' 



There was nothing special for "paralysis" of "the shoot-, 

 ing Avorld" in that. One day in last November my imcle. 

 Seneca DueU, and myself went out for a few hours' hunt, 

 and he shot two partridges at one shot. Both had left the 

 ground and Avere some distance apart. He got them in 

 line and shot them both dead, winch is a much more dif- 

 ficult shot than the woodcock shot. G. H. T. i 



The Passamaquoddy Indian Treaty. ; 



There is an interesting bill introduced into the Massa?- 

 chusetts Legislature and'telling its own story: 



Resolve relating to the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indians 

 of the State of Maine. 



Whereas, The Indians of the Passamaciuoddy tribe re- 

 siding in the State of Maine, heretofore, by treaty andi 

 otherwise with the colonies and the Commonwealth of 

 Massachusetts, were secured in their ancient rights of 

 hunting and fishing at all seasons of the year, that being 

 their principal means of support; and, 



Whereas, In the act of separation it was provided that 

 the State of Maine should assume and perform all the ob- 

 hgations of Massachusetts toAvard said Indians, and for a 

 valuable consideration paid bj'' Massachusetts the State of 

 Maine agreed to obtain froni said Indians a release of all 

 claims they might have, by ti-eaty or otherwise, againgt 

 the CommonAvealth; but it appears thatthe State of 5laine 

 has not obtained such release; and, , 



W}ie7-eas, The Legislature in the State of Maine in the 

 year eighteen Inmdred and sixty-nine enacted a laAv pro- 

 hibiting Inmting and fishing in certain seasons, and by, 

 decisions of the courts of Maine this law Avas made to ap* 

 ply to said Indians, thereby deiniving them of their said 

 ancient rights and principal means of support during cer-* 

 tain months of the year; and, 



IMiereas, Said tiibe, relying upon the obligations oi\ 

 Massachusetts aforesaid, has petitioned the Common- 

 Avealth for assistance and relief; therefore, in order thai 

 the rights of said tribe m this regard may be properly andi 

 finalh" determined, be it 



Resolved, That the Attorney-Generalbeandheis hereby 

 authorized and insti-ucted to remove by writ of error, and 

 try before the Supreme Com-t of the United States, at thfe 

 expense of the Commonwealth, the case of the State ai 

 Maine against Peter Newell, a member of said tribe, now 

 pending in the courts of Maine. 



The Cold Winter in Ohio. 



The Jefferson, O., Gun Club was organized Feb. 7 with 

 Hon. A. C. White President, D. S. Downing, Vice-Presi' 

 dent; G. L. Henson, Sec. and Treas. There were fifteen 

 members to begin Avith. Petitions are being circulated in 

 the State asking that the Legislature pass a bill ])roldbiting 

 the killing of quail in this State for a term of five years-1 

 The severe weather since before Christmas has been verj 

 hard on the quaff. W. D. H., Jr. 



J. B. H., writing from New Paris, O., and de.scribing a 

 "cotton-tail" lumt in the western part of the State, says. 

 The afternoon was spent tracking and killing rabbits, iii 

 all nine nice ones, and one big coon, which, as Ave wer^ 

 over five mfies from home, made a big load. On otu' Avaj 

 home AAX' ran across a covey of quail, .seven in mmiber 

 all frozen to death, and if the severe Aveather continues 

 long the noble little bird will have a liard time getting 

 through the Avinter. Game in this region is confined tc 

 quail, rabbits, a very few woodcock, squirrels and rac- 

 coons, but the farmers are so bitterly opposed to hrmting, 

 as a rule, that the highways Avill be about all the placi 

 left in another year for the lover of sport to hunt on. 



Miss Quist's True Aim. 



Florissa>-t, Col. , Feb. 7. — Out in this scenic moimtaiE 

 region there are many crack shots, both male and female 

 but Miss Selma Qmst,' a charming and handsome belle oi 

 Florissant, just now wears the pahn. She is handsome oi 

 face, slight of build, and of age just sweet sixteen. 



During the past AA^eek she Avas Adsiting a friend of hers. 

 Mrs. W. C. Vermillion — the last ranch down the Platte 

 River before that romantic stream enters the Nellie Canon 

 and Blind Canon, in the Lost Park region. 



Saturday Mrs. Vermillion noticed a large wildcat jirowl 

 ing along the hill among the rocks above the house, and 

 called Miss Selma to see it. While Miss Quist was Avatch: 

 ing the bobcat, he climbed a leaning bush and perched 

 himself to watch for a stray chicken. Miss Quist Aveni 

 into the house, pjicked out a .50-110 Sharps rifle, came out, 

 and said, "Just Avatch nie knock him." She is so slight 



