March S, 1898.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



181 



CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 



[Frojn a Staff Corray^ondeni.] 



Feb. Z5.—0n last Thursday President Organ, of the 

 State Sportsmen's Association, State Warden Bortree and 

 the writer went to Spring;jS[eld in response to a kind invi- 

 tation to appear before the House Committee on Fish and 

 Game. Arriving at the halls of the Capitol, we found 

 matters not in all best possible shape, no bill at all having 

 yet been introduced. Some technical defect in the fram- 

 ing of the sportsmen's bill had prevented its earher intro- 

 duction, and thus valuable time was lost. A friendly 

 member took our con-ected bill and sent it down to the 

 desk that morning, but of course this was too late for it 

 to gain reference and a hearing before the committee 

 that afternoon, as the session had been called for 3 o'clock. 

 Therefore we went before the committee without any 

 bill to advance. This, however, made little difference, 

 for we had no special plea to offer or notliing to ask for 

 sportsmen as a class. All we did was to say that our bill 

 would be in print and before the committee at their meet- 

 ing of next Tuesday; that we 'did not claim that it was 

 the best bill in the world, and did claim that it was an 

 unselfish one; that while it might seem strict, there might 

 be other bills still sti-icter, and more highly advantageous 

 to the game; if so, we wanted the committee to rexjom- 

 mend that other bill and not om-s. All we asked for was 

 that the law might make it as diiiicult as possible to kill a 

 bird or a fish. The sportsmen wanted no increased 

 privileges for themselves, but only increased privilege for 

 the game, and they deplored the old and erroneous class 

 distinction of city sportsmen and country sportsmen. All 

 sportsmen were alike. Moreover, it was not a question of 

 sport but of right. The game and fish, commercially 

 speaking also should be protected, for they belonged to 

 the people. Some of the people would not think. We 

 asked this committee to do a little thinking for them, and 

 not allow ttiem to waste their patrimony. That they 

 were wasting it, the testimony of market-hunters and 

 market-fishers was introduced to show. 



Wha,t seemed to me a valuable portion of our little tes- 

 timony before the committee was the figures offered by 

 Warden Bortree as to the amoimt of game received in 

 Chicago. One firm had in one day received 1,000 dozen 

 quail. Another firm had m one day received 500 dozen. 

 These were their own figures. The total of quail received 

 in this one city of Chicago alone must, dui-ing this one 

 winter, have been in the millions. Did the gentlemen 

 realize the magnitude of this traffic, or did they realize 

 what awful di-ains it meant on the game supply of the 

 country? That ganie was disappearing rapidly the gen- 

 tlemen had had the best of evidence to show. Would it 

 not be wise for the committee to take such action as would 

 put the State of Ilhnois in the lead in a measure really 

 beneficent? 



Simple as is this argument I can not for the life of me 

 see how it can fail to convince any man who can think. 

 I cannot see how this old cry can be urged against the 

 "cit?^ sportsmen." I cannot vmderstand how any man's 

 olitical friendship and selfish political interests can blind 

 is eyes or dull his ears to the strength of this simple 

 argument. I can see absolutely btit one line of duty in 

 this matter for any member of the Legislature. This is a 

 question which rises above politics and above selfishness. 



The Hoiise Committee on Fish and Game consists of 

 twenty-one members, the majority of whom are farmers, 

 but all of whom I take to be men of intelligence and fair- 

 ness. Their names are as follows: W. S. Smith, Chair- 

 man; E. Mover, L. Rohrer, J. E. Miller, M. J. Gill, J. W. 

 Drury, Peter Cahill, L. St. A. Whitley. .J. W. Bonney, S. 

 E. Carhn, R. S. Carter, E. .J. Hayes. D. A. Campbell, R. 

 J. Beck, J. S. Martin, N. A. Guthrie. C. A. Ramsey, B. A. 

 Gower, E. H. Griggs, W. A. King, J. 0, McKenzie, B. 

 McPherson, Clerk. 



These gentlemen had already recommended for passage 

 a bni changing the prairie chicken date back to Sept. 1. 

 We did our best against this, but will probably lose this 

 point. Pi-om aU we could guess the sportsmen will lose 

 the chicken date in the game law and will probably lose 

 so much of the old fish law that spearing will be allowed 

 and perhaps seining privileges extended. During our 

 presence the committee passed the spearing clause by a 

 vote of 7 to 6. This seems to us to be a most xmwise pro- 

 ceeding, and we can only hope that the measure will not 

 pass the House. Even should it do so it is doubtful if it 

 gets through the Senate. 



As to the question of the abolishment of the State Fish 

 Commission, I am now satisfied that there is nothing in 

 the alarm about that. Gov. Altgeld cannot abolish the 

 Commission, All he can do is to approve a biU proposing 

 that. No such bill has been introduced except that by 

 the freak, Mr. Barnes, of Lacon. This bill we did not 

 meet in the committee room, and from the character of 

 the discussion we heard there, and from the earnestness 

 and inteUigence of the men of the committee, we feel it 

 perfectly safe to infer that if it ever does get into the com- 

 mittee room it will never leave it alive. 



Inebriated Corbies. 



Mr. Bortree told me a singular thing. Down in Mc- 

 Henry cotmty they are having a pest of crows, these birds 

 covering the country in thousands. WUl Glass of Hebron, 

 put out half a bushel of corn soaked in whisky and picked 

 up that afternoon 105 drunken crows. It seemed the gen- 

 eral behef among the captives that they had had a of 



a time. Mr. Glass thinks he has a great trap-shooting 

 scheme in this. Crows are not swift enough to make 

 much of a test of skill at the trap, and their toughness 

 makes it only the more cruel to shoot them. 



Calumet Heig-hts. 

 Calumet Heights Club holds its annual meeting at the 

 Grand Pacific next Wednesday evening, March 1. The 

 officers request a general attendance. 



Not Sanitary. 



I grow in the belief that "Chicago and the West" is a 

 good advei-tising medium, though it is such against my 

 \\t11. a while ago I mentioned a pack bag. and since 

 then I have had several inquiries for the name of the 

 maker of it. Two of these inqmries came from Provi- 

 dence, R. I., one from Charleston, N. C, and to-day I 

 have one from Holt, MissouLa coxmty, Mont. I have 

 written to the maker of the pack bag and told him that 

 he will either have to give me a half interest in his busi- 

 ness or else put an advertisement in Forest amd Stream, 

 whichever he may prefer. If any man has as good 



sporting article, there is one very direct and easy 

 way to sell it, but patrons like to see their own patrons 

 patronized. This is why I feel like saying here, without 

 instigation, tliat Mr. A. S. Comstock, who does advertise 

 in Forest and Stream, also has patented a very simple 

 and easily adjusted bag. Newspapers are the kindest- 

 hearted concerns in the world, and newspaper men are 

 the best people what there are, but neither advertisers nor 

 newspapers are in business for purely sanitary motives. 

 This is not a liint to inquirers like those above mentioned, 

 for the more letters of that kind I get the better I like it. 

 and I answer tliem all gladly. They constitute a valuable 

 sandbag, and with such weapons the amiable newspaper 

 man can go out on the warpath and either get hau- or get 

 plenty good reasons. 



Away Down Soutin in Dixie. 



Messrs. C. W. Lee and J. Herbert Ware have returned 

 from their pleasant ti-ip to Lake Worth, Florida, both well 

 tanned and ten years younger. "Feather" Ware insists 

 that he can now cast a shadow by himself, and states that 

 he gaiaed 4ilbs. on the trip— at least, he is sure about the 

 ilb, Mr. Lee says Lake Worth is the only place in the 

 world, and has given a solemn promise to write about it. 



Mr. Calvin S. Smith, of this city, starts this week for a 

 trip which will extend as far as San Diego, Cal. He will 

 spend some time shooting in^Louisiana and Texas. 



E. Hough, ' 



175 Monroe Street, Chicago. 



THE SWAMP HOLE BUCK. 



When the accommodation train stopped at the lonely 

 little station known as Slocmn one evening in the winter 

 of 1872, it landed two individuals of conti-asting appear- 

 ance, for one was an old timer of something like 50 years, 

 the other about 25, and the manner in which they were 

 greeted by another individual of lank proportions and 

 slouch hat, who stood at the head of a team of frightened 

 colts hitched to a large lumber box sled filled with^birffalo 

 robes, horse blankets and straw, made known to the 

 curious passengers who peered out of the windows, that 

 they were not strangers, and as the train lalaoriously 

 moved away the hearty voice of Si Slocum, who, until 

 now, was kept busy holding his uneasy horses, welcomed 

 them with an honest and vigorous hand-sha,ke as he said, 

 "I been a waitin' on ye nigh on to an hour 'n' I'm glad ye 

 got here at last." 



It was a quiet winter evening, a foot of newly-fallen 

 packing snow lay upon the ground and the branches of 

 the trees and undergrowth of bushes were heavily laden 

 with a beautiful covering of its whiteness, for no disturb- 

 ing wind had yet come to drift it away. The tracks of 

 Si's sled runners and horses' hoofs were seen blending 

 away in a turn of the road, which gently declined through 

 a dense Avoods of decidaous trees and evergreens, re- 

 minding Bo and his friend Coulton of the hospitable home 

 of their host at the other end and a good supper to be 

 pro-sdded by his better half when they arrived. But Si 

 permitted no time for further observation, and when he 

 made an opening in the labyrinth of robes and blankets 

 on the back seat his order to "jump in 'n' we'll be gittin' 

 or Sade'll have supper ready before we git there" was 

 quickly obeyed; and taking the front seat himself he 

 chirped to his horses, and amid the jinghng of old fashion 

 sleigh beUs the station platform was soon left far out of 

 sight. A half hour's drive through the beautiful wintry 

 landscape brought the trio in view of a large barn at the 

 foot of the hill they were'now descending, and a moment 

 later the low-roofed and comfortable house where they 

 were to stop. The deep voice of the watch dog heralded 

 the approach of the sled, and as it drew up into the well- 

 filled wood yard before the gate the door was opened by 

 a curly-headed httle girl who saw them, while she ques- 

 tioned, "Did they come, papa?" modestly shrinking back 

 as Bo jumped out and caught her to claim the kiss she 

 had promised him when he came. Coulton, whose "taste 

 for suchfoolin'" had, according to his tell, long since 

 departed, threatened to tell Bo's wife, but the threat was 

 only ignored by another smack as the little one broke 

 away and ran into the house. 



Without any fear that the performance would be re- 

 peated, although there was temptation enough, the good- 

 looking -wife of Si had soon shaken hands with the visit- 

 ors and bade them a pleasant welcome, while Si turned 

 the horses over to the big boy who stood ready to take 

 them to the bam. 



Mi-s. Slocum's invitation to "Come right in and make 

 yourselves to home and I'U have supper ready in a few 

 minutes," was graceful^ accepted, and before long over- 

 coats were off, the htmting paraphernalia snugly stowed 

 away in one corner and the trio comfortably settled before 

 the big fireplace and a pair of massive "andirons" which 

 held a pile of blazing logs that gave light and cheer to the 

 sitting room, and while Coulton and Si talked over past 

 and future events. Bo and his cmiy-headed little friend 

 strove to outdo each other in asking questions, until Mrs. 

 Slocum called them to the lamp-lighted kitchen and a 

 supper of hot buckwheat cakes, home-made sausage and 

 other good things which only thrifty farmers can pro- 

 vide. 



Supper over, the circle was again completed before 

 the siting-room fire, pipes lit anrf the plans for the mor- 

 row talked over, Coulton and Si having all to say, for Bo 

 was a novice in this kind of sport and wisely preferred to 

 listen rather than take any part in the arrangeDi°"t of the 

 programme. 



Introducing the subject the usual queries abv/ut guns, 

 etc. , brought out the information that Coulton's weapon 

 was his favorite 40 to the pound muzzleloading rifle, a 

 beautifully finished piece with baiTels side by side, made 

 to his order and without which he never made longer ex- 

 cursions than he was accustomed to make with Bo within 

 a day's tramp of home. With it he had once killed a 

 buck and a doe at a double shot, and without regard to 

 his own most excellent skill he gave all the credit to his 

 gun. The old man's weapon was highly commended by 

 Si, who looked with something of disdain upon Bo's 

 double breechloading shotgim with which he had brought 

 a supply of cartridges loaded with various charges from 

 buckshot down to No. 8. However, his only comment 

 was that he "didn't like scatter guns. They was good 

 enough for pa'tridges, 'n' when a man couldn't shoot 

 nothin' else, but a deer was too big a mark for anything 

 but a rifle." 



"I d'no whether we'll git 'em to-morrow or next day,' 



he said, confidentially, "but down in the swamp "^hole 

 there's been three deer hangin' round all winter, 'n' one 

 on 'em 's an allfired big buck. JakeHersel, the blacksmith 

 down 't the forks, got a shot at him 'tother day, but Jake 

 never could shoot worth a darn 'n' he got away, but if 

 he's there yet we'll git him sure." 



So it was decided that the three hunters would go down 

 to the blacksmith's in the morning, get Jake and spend 

 the day in that section. If the deer were not found they 

 would go across the ridge the next day and try the laurel 

 swamp, but it was "mor'n likely' that they would be found 

 in the "swamp hole." With this plan settled upon, after 

 another pipe the A-isitors were conducted to an early bed 

 of fat feather ticks and warm comforts, to be roused long 

 before daylight and before Bo had thought himself fairly 

 asleep. 



Breakfast of more deliciously crusted buckwheat cakes 

 and country smoked ham was soon dispatched by lamp- 

 light, and Si taking down his well-kept rifle, powder horn 

 and bullet pouch from the jmir of antlers over the mantle, 

 while Coulton and Bo uncased their own guns, they were 

 ready as soon as they were banded the lunch which Mrs, 

 Slocurn prepared. Si turning to say as he opened the door, 

 ' 'Ye might have some supper ready 'bout dark, for I guess 

 we'll want some 'bout that time." 



It was a well-measured mile of weary trudging through 

 the foot of snow that covered the road before the hunters 

 reached the little shop and cosy habitation of the black- 

 smith, but the reflection of a full moon and the breaking 

 of day gave them plenty of light and the distance was 

 soon covered. 



A muffled thump on the floor answered Si's pounding 

 on the door, and in a moment more the bushy head and 

 red-shii-ted shoulders of the blacksmith were thiiist out of 

 an upper window inquiring the cause of his disttu-bance, 

 and when he learned who his visitors were and the reason 

 for such untimely calling, he quickly came down to admit 

 them. AVhile Si raked out the stiU glowing embers from 

 under the backlog and threw on some pitchy knots which 

 gave light and warmth to the room, Jake finished dress- 

 ing and prepared himself some breakfast, during which 

 time Si made him acquainted with the programme. 



"I reckon they're over in the swamp hole," he agreed, 

 "leastwise they was before the snow come, 'n' I hain't 

 heard of anybody huntin' 'round there sence." Then it 

 was arranged that they would go up the old log road until 

 they reached a clearing where Coulton, who was familiar 

 with the ground, and Bo woidd cross the upper end of 

 the swamp, and go down on the other side and station 

 themselves on runways. Si and Jake going down on the 

 opposite side to do the driving. 



By this time Jake had finished his breakfast and it was 

 daylight. He took his gun from a corner behind the cup- 

 board, and, taking the log road they were soon at the 

 clearing, wliere Coult6n and Bo left to cross over to the 

 other side of the swamp. 



Coulton led by the most direct route until he came to a 

 small creek emptying into the swamp, which he said was 

 the place where he kiUed a doe the year before, and after 

 placing Bo at a stand on a rise of ground under a smaU 

 oak tree, beside which lay a convenient log to sit upon 

 with a faii-ly open view in front, he assured him that he 

 knew of no better place, and with instructions to remain 

 quiet and be ready to shoot at all times, he went to take 

 his own stand fm-ther down in the woods. 



Left alone, Bo experienced sensations peculiar to no 

 other sport he had ever indulged in. Once only before 

 had he been placed in a similar situation, and then after 

 two whole days of waiting he had not even occasion to 

 raise his gun to his shoulder, and the monotony of re- 

 maining in solitude with nothing to do nearly disgusted 

 him with deer hunting. With Coulton at home he found 

 satisfaction in tramping o'er field or fen, for Coulton was 

 always with him for company, and there was some shoot- 

 ing about that, but so much had been said about this 

 annual trip of Coulton's that he was prevailed upon to 

 try his luck again, in the hope of better results. His ac- 

 quaintance with Si had been made the year previous 

 when on a short visit for grouse shooting, aiid the hospi- 

 tality with which he was entertained was also an induce- 

 ment to repeat it, and these thoughts, coupled with a 

 thousand others, revolved through his mind while he 

 waited as patiently as possible and smoked his pipe for 

 want of better company. The time passed tediously away 

 and yet no sound or sign gave indication that there was 

 any living thing within a thousand miles of the spot, and 

 the quietude became almost unbearable. If even a hare 

 or grouse would come his way, anything to break the 

 monotonous stillness, he thought it would be a relief, but 

 not even a twittering snowbird was seen or heard. He 

 found by his watch that it was nearly noon; he thought it 

 should be nearer night. He felt like shouting for Coulton 

 or going to him, but remembered the injunction to re- 

 main quiet and fiUed his pipe again for consolation. The 

 striking of the match on the gun hammer was almost 

 startling, so sudden and loud it seemed; then he seated 

 himself on the log, desperately resolved to be as patient 

 as possible until night, if necessary, knowing that his 

 companions would come then if not" before, but if he was 

 ever caught deer hunting (?) again it would be a long, long 

 time in the future. Thus the moments sped for perhaps 

 another hour, when, sudden and startling, two reports 

 from Coulton's rifle rang out not 300yds. away. What a 

 revulsion of feehng then took place! With a thrill of ex-- 

 pectancy he arose to his feet, his heart throbbing against 

 his side as though it would burst from its confinement. 

 No shout of victory followed the shots, and with a malig- 

 nant hope that the old man's opportunity had been lost he 

 stood Avith gun almost to his shoulder, praying that for- 

 ttme would favor him this one time if never again. He 

 thought he would give a month of his hfe to "wipe the 

 old man's eye," and when, a moment later, he heard the 

 muffled pounding of hoofs coining nearer and neai-er, he 

 determined that this shoud be the one grand, gloriotia 

 triumph of his h'^e. Oh, what a tumult of excitement 

 was raging in his breast in that one brief moment. 

 What a throb of joyous fear almost unnerved him, joy 

 that the opportunity had come and fear that it would 

 be lost. Then as the beautiful antlered buck broke 

 through the thicket of bushes into view and staggered to 

 one knee, then to both, arose again, and fell heavily on 

 its side, striking the air with its dainty feet and threshing 

 the ground with its antlers, a ciy of disappointment came 

 with the revelation tha t the old man's opportunity was not 

 lost but well taken care of. For a moment he stood un- 

 decided, then ran to the dying monarch and stood pity- 

 ingly viewing its last mighty struggle to regain its feet, 



