Feb. 2, 1895. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
87 
trips we had enjoyed together in years gone by, and 
finally went off to lied, pleased with the past, contented 
with the present and full of happy anticipations. 
Many years ago I was caught in a great dead'mng on 
the crest of the Coast Range in a terrible storm. Luckily 
for myself, I came out of that storm physicaly uninjured. 
But from that day to the present I have been very sensi- 
tive in the matter of wind storms. Any little zephyr irri- 
tates me and makes me uneasy. Well, Mead and I had 
just nicely got to sleep and commenced to dream of great 
bags of geese and ducks when whish! whish! went the 
wind through the great trees surrounding the cabin, and 
out on the floor went your humble servant in dres.d of fall- 
ing tree-tops. I stirred the fire, lit my pipe and proceeded 
to keep Mead awake by all the annoying methods at my 
command. 
The wind grew stronger, and sleep was entirely out of 
the cpuestion with me. so I shouldered my gun, whistled 
up old Mike, and started out for coons. I don't mind the 
storm if I can see ib. but I dislike being cooped up in a 
cabin surrounded hy tall firs. The moon was shining 
brightly, and the old dog and I proceeded to make the 
best of it But, as Frank Robinson said, when speaking 
of Mike in connection with the subject of cougar hunt- 
ing: "He wasn't that kind of a dog." Mike could find 
plenty of tracks, but no coons. After about three hours 
of unsuccessful coon-hunting I went back to the cabin, to 
bed, and to sleep. The wind had settled into a stiff but 
steady breeze, and my nerves were correspondingly 
steady. By the way. it seems to me that nature has 
made some mistake out here in Oregon. Either the veloc- 
ity of the winter gales should be abridged or the height of 
the firs and spruces somewhat abbreviated. 
Morning found us full of bright hopes and an excellent 
breakfast; but it had been raining very hard for several 
days, and the lake was rising rapidly. The ducks were 
anxious and uneasy, and the prospects were anything but 
flattering. A rise in the 'Columbia is sure to make itself 
felt in the Green Lake, for the lake's outlet is into the 
Columbia not far below. Nevertheless, we set out and 
had fair shooting until noon, Canvas were anything but 
plentiful, but mallard and teal were there in reasonable 
abundance after the wheat discreetly deposited there by 
Johnny for their special benefit. Canvas are not at all 
partial to wheat, but they will eat it when it becomes a 
case of wheat or nothing. None of our sportsmen exactly 
approve this baiting with wheat, but since the "nloody 
carp" have destroyed ' every v> stige of vegetable food in 
the lakes a little wheat now and then may be excusable. 
There are myriads of wild fowl along our coast, and the 
boys feel that almost any scheme that will bring a few of 
them to bag is justifiable, under the circumstances. But 
by the middle of the day the blinds were mostly under- 
water and shooting with any degree of comfort was en- 
tirely out of the question. We returned to the cabin 
with a fair bag, cleaned our guns and set them away. 
Leaving the guns at the cabin, we strolled around the 
lake and over the meadows during the afternoon, taking 
stock of the Mongolian pheasants and quail. We found 
the pheasants in great numbers, all seemingly in fins con- 
dition. There is very strict protection for the Mongolian 
in Washington at present, and the indications are that 
they are thriving beyond the most sanguine expecta- 
tions. Quail are not' so abundant. The Mongolian is a 
better rustler than the quail, and far more prolific. The 
king-neck or Mongolian pheasant will be, if he is not now, 
the game bird of the Pacific coast. Being hardy, prolific, 
alert, cunning and a fine table bird, he possesses about 
all the requisites. He is all right, and long may he wave. 
But I started in to tell you how Mead instructed me a 
little in the ethics of true sportsmanship. You see, I 
was somewhat disappointed in not seeming a bigger bag 
of ducks, and was not at all backward in expressing my 
opinion of the duck shooting in general of hte present 
day as compared with the shooting of "ye olden time," 
Then Mead followed with his views of the game hog com- 
pared with the sportsman that goes to the lakes and the 
woods for recreation, fresh air, exercise, and a whole lot 
of other things that I have forgotten. The argument 
was distasteful to me, and I declined further discussion-of 
the subject. Comparisons are odious, anyway. Do you 
know tliat during theyearslhave hunted and fished with 
Mead I have never heard him complain of his luck. 
Whether the results were, good, bad or indifferent, it was 
all the same to him. After being "skunked" I have 
known him to plan another trip over the same ground 
while on the way home. It is my opinion that such a dis- 
position is entirely too angelic for the hunter and angler 
of this earth. My experience warrants the assertion that 
the only comfort left to the unlucky sportsman is in the 
exercise of the inherent right of "kicking." 
S. H. GREENE. 
A Monstrous Serpent. ^ 
Prometheus records the exhibition, at a recent meeting 
of learned society at Cassel, of the skin of a serpent (of 
very extraordinary dimensions) from Sumatra. The 
length of this skin reached 8 1-10 meters without the tip 
of the tail, which was at least 20 centimetres long. (Thus 
the snake measured nearly 27 feet.) This serpent, of the 
genus Python, was taken in a poultry-house just after 
it had swallowed nine chickens. These chickens, recov- 
ered intact, or nearly so, in the stomach of the reptile, 
were the pets of the native Malays who assisted in the 
capture of the serpent. — Revue Scientifique. 
Winter Birds. 
Binghamton, N. Y., Jan. 22.— Editor Forest and 
Stream. — A perfectly reliable person came to me yester- 
day and stated that on January 17 they saw the meadow 
lark To-day while passing along the road but a little way 
from the town I was surprised to see a wild pigeon start 
up near me. I was told that it had been seen there nearly 
every day. It may not be out of the order of things for 
these birds to be here at this season of the year, but they 
are the first I have ever seen at this time of eitlier variety. 
H. W. BROWN. 
Antlers of Cow Caribou. 
Burlington, N. J. — I hunted in Newfoundland twenty- 
three days last fall, and killed eight caribou, five stags 
and three does, and saw over 1,000 caribou. I took par- 
ticular notice as to antlers on the cows. Those that car- 
ried antlers were, the exception, not the rule. The taxi- 
dermist quoted by "Prowler" may base his claim that all 
cows have horns' on the fact that no hornless ones have 
been sent to be mounted. 
Holding the Rifle. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Having lately had the pleasure of a short examination of three 
late copies of j our interesting paper I noticed an inquiry in re- 
gard to the position which different rifl"men adopt when they 
have the opportunity to take a leisurely shot, at game; and as I 
have found position, and the manner of holding the rifle, a very 
interesting point in rifle shooting. I will, with your permission, 
give the method which has enabled me to enjoy a satisfaction in 
rifle shooting that I never knew untit 1 adopted it. 
Place the left heel about five or six inches to the left of the 
hollow of the right foot, with the toes of the two feot pointing at 
nraiiy right angles to each other. Assume an erect position 
with the shoulders thrown well back, the weight of the body 
thrown slightly forward so as tn rest squarely on the flat of bottt 
feet, and a little more weight on the left foot than on the right ; 
place the butt of the rifle squarely in the hollow of the right 
shoulder, the right elbow well elevated and the stuck of the rifle 
resting as little as possible against the breast and muscle of the 
right arm; graso the grip of the stock firmly in the riybt hand, 
pressing the butt of the stock firmly into the hollow of the shoul- 
der in such a manner as to support the weight of the rifle and 
balance it with the right hand at the grip, the left hand grasping 
the forestock well lorward. 
Avoid making a rest of the left hand, but let it assist slightly 
in pretsiDg the butt of the stock back against the shoulder. 
Now see that the barrel ot your rifle is hpld perfectly level, the 
trigger linger just feeling the trigger and free to make a slight 
pressure at the right moment witnout distnroing a muscle of 
any other part of the body. 
If the al>ove position is well taken, the weight of the body and 
rifle are well balanced squarely on bolh feet in an easy and 
nalural position, with the whole length of the rifle barrel partak- 
ing ot any slight swaying of the body, without the inuzzie bob- 
bin^ abeut while the breech is stationary or vice versa, as in 
taking a muzzle rest without having a body rest at the same 
time. 
Now, with a rifle that is sighted at point, blank for a distance 
further than you can see where the bullet strikes fire five shots 
before g >ing to see where the bullets have struck, holding as 
nearly the same as possible each time; ii the bails are grouped 
in any particular direction from the ceuter of the target, try five 
more shots in the same manner, but aiming first at the center of 
the group, changing your aim from thence to the center of the 
target and gently pressing the trigger at the moment the sights 
are coming in line with it. 
After a little practice in this way it is doubtful if you will care 
to seek for a rest; in fact, it would not be surprising if you found 
you could shoot better off-hand than at rest. 
The object of changing the aim from the first group before 
pressing the trigger Is to compensate lor the habit which most 
people have of making some slight and usually tmiiorm move- 
ment at the moment of pressi g the trig. er in spite of all ef- 
forts to avoid it ; though if you are shooting to the right or left 
it may be in consequence of not holding the barrel level, in 
which case turning the barrel over a little from the direction of 
the group will correct it. 
Always have your rifle sighted low enough to shoot as the 
sights are coming in line with the target from below. A rather 
short barrel and stock will usually be found best adapted to this 
style of holding, and I consider a pistol grip an abomination on 
any gun. Geo. H. Graoe. 
Idaho. 
A Relief From Court Wrangles. 
I enclose eheck to pay for subscription for ttie ensuing year. It came 
to melast y^ar as a ubriBtuias present from a niece of mine, and it has 
really all'orde I me a gi e.it deal ot pleasure, the most relaxation I hare 
harl." Tlie change from briefs and opinions and court wrangles to the 
literature in Kouesx .xd StkEam is very Testful. I read with amuse- 
ment the criticisms S'one one made of the picture on the front, and I 
have never picked the paper up since with ait thinking of them, and I 
think the artist who originated that picture should have a medal. 
For the Eye of "Tenderfoot." 
I can only hope that the gentleman 'who wrote the capital ac- 
coivnt of elk-stalking over the signature of "Tenderfoot," failed to 
read my prattle about rifles, calibers, etc., printed last week. But 
for fear he did, I hasten to say that I did not say that he was "no 
great shakes with the pen." What I wrote was a play on the pseu- 
donym, viz., that he was no great shakes of a tenderfoot in wield- 
ing the pen, a statement for which I am sure I can get plenty of 
backing. I hope, none of the gentle and gentlemanly fraternity, 
who write for and read these columns, will think me capable of 
such rudeness as the tvpes laid to my charge. The very land I live 
in, of soft speech and suave manners, preclude such a thing. 
And. while I am doing the great American mule act, what makes 
the editor and everybody else write bronco with an h in it? Span- 
ish spelling is the essence of simplicity. The combination ch has 
the English not the hard Greek sound. Put it down a plain c, my 
Lord. AZTEC. 
San Louis, Potosi, Mex. 
Usually Ahead, but this Week a Day Late. 
There is very evidently something ailing the typography of 
the Forest and Stream this week. It is all owing to an acci- 
dent which on press night cast a generous portion of the type 
into the street in what is known to printers as "pi"; and only a 
printer can know what it means to repair such a catastrophy 
and to get the paper out, even a day late. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Say It Will Be No Fake. 
Chicago, III., Jan. 25.— During the World's Fair, it may 
be remembered, there was some talk over the much-adver- 
tised cowboy race from Ohadron, Neb., to the city of Chi- 
cago. As I reported m these columns at the time, I saw 
the horses of the first riders to arrive, and I commented 
with considerable skepticism oyer the fresh condition they 
seemed to enjoy, stating at the time that a 00-mile ride 
ordinarily took much more out of a horse than these 
horses seemed to have lost. The condition of the horses 
was enough to found suspicion in any kind of a horse- 
man's mind that the race was a big fake from start to 
finish, though at that time open evidence to that effect 
was not at hand. 
And now we are told that there is to be another cowboy 
race, this time from St. Paul to Chicago, the start to be 
made February 7. The starters are to be Bud Ford, Jim 
Seeger, Bogie Henderson, Bill Anderson and Henry Ben- 
son, all hailing from divers parts of the West. These will 
race for a purse of §5700, and each man is said to intend 
tailing five horses at the start. Perhaps the most in- 
teresting feature of this race is the naive comment its 
projectors make on the Chadron affair. They say: "The 
forthcoming race will be on the square, if ever one was 
run. It is one of the requisites that every man register 
at points twenty-five miles apart, in order to show that he 
rode the entire way and to prevent any soldiering en 
route. As soon as any of the. racers shows an inclination 
to put upa,gaixte,' it is the intention to put him out of the 
race. The cowboy racers in the Chadron affair would 
take a team for thirty or forty miles at a time, and some 
of them abandoned their ponies, taking the railroad train 
for fifty or more miles. It is to prevent a repetition of 
this sort of 'racing' that all of these safeguards are being 
atken, and it will be almost impossible for any of those 
participating to anything but straight work." 
Our friend Dick Merrill, whom our party left behind at 
Rockport, Texas, on our return from this season's trip to 
that country, writes as follows concerning his later doings 
there.: 
'We have made several trips on 'Novice' since you left, 
and have had fair shooting on redheads. There are large 
numbers of birds here, but they do not seem to work as 
well as they did last year. You will find them banked up 
along the shores of the bays, and they will stay there all 
day," beginning their flight along the coast late in the 
afternoon. 
"John and Jim Bludworth and myself went over on St. 
Joseph Island for deer, and on the third day of our hunt- 
ing Jim succeeded in killing a fine five-point buck. They 
followed this buck and a doe, after having shot at them, 
running across aflat, for fully a mile and came upon them 
unawares behind a hill. The deer started running on 
seeing them, and they opened up on the buck, and were 
gratified in seeing him tumble Found a 38-calibre bullet 
in the carcass, the size that Jim shot. Jim and Gaston 
Moquinand myself started out to day in 'Novice' to try the 
redheads again, and I will go over on the island and try 
and kill my buck, as I w^as not successful on the last trip. 
Mr, John F. Cowan, of Butte, Montana, gives the fol- 
lowing graphic account of the late dynamite disaster 
there. Among the few items of what can be called good 
fortune at such a time is the fact that the members of 
the Butte Gun Club were not added to the roll of victims, 
as came so nearly being the case. Mr. Robbins, who lost 
his life. I did not know personally, but no doubt many 
readers of Forest and Stream did. Mr. Cowan says: 
"Your telegram received this morning, asking about 
the explosion here. The only sportsman hurt was Mr. E. 
W. Robbins, who was instantly killed by'the second ex- 
plosion, while in the act of carrying away some of the 
dead firemen. He w T as living near the scene of the fire, 
and as soon as the first explosion occurred he rushed to 
the rescue of the injured. He w^as a man of about fifty 
years of age, and an honored member of the G. A. R. He 
had of late years been acting as guide to parties making 
trips through the National Park and to the hunting 
grounds in the various posts of the Rocky Mountains. 
He w-as engaged for an extensive trip after big game for 
the coming summer by Theodore Roosevelt and other par- 
ties. He was considered one of the best posted men in the 
West as to the habits and haunts of the large game. Two 
years ago a wealthy gentleman from Switzerland came 
to this country for the purpose of photographing elk in 
their wild state. He engaged Mr. Robbins as guide, who 
took him in south of the National Park. They met with 
the greatest success, often getting within 25 or 30 yards 
of the game. Mr. Robbins was a thorough sportsman in 
every particular; and while making his living by con- 
ducting hunting parties no charge of wanton slaughter 
was ever laid at his door. 
"All attempts to give anything like an accurate idea 
of this fearful explosion fall far short of the reality* One 
who has not seen such explosions can form no conception 
of the fearful force exerted by the exploding of tons of 
giant powder. The reason why so few people who were 
near the fire escaped unhurt was that the buildings 
burned were used as warehouses for two large hardware 
stores. In one of these was a room 12x16 feet, in which 
the powder was stored. To protect the powder against 
stray shots from outside parties the warehousemen had 
built un around this room a solid wall made of small iron 
plates, which were four inches square and one-half inch 
thick. When the powder exploded these plates were 
hurled with fearful force in every direction, some of them 
going through brick w T alls at least a quarter of a mile 
away. The powder was stored in these warehouses 
against the plain provisions of both State law and city 
ordinance. No complaint had been made for years about 
the storage of such explosiues, and the inhabitants had 
become so accustomed to the handling of giant powder 
that a two-horse load of it hauled through the streets oc- 
casioned no comment. But its strength and danger was 
demonstrated in a most cruel manner on the night of the 
15th. Fifty-four deaths have occurred already, and there 
will be at least a dozen more. The only thing that saved 
the town from total destruction was the fact that a large 
par of the powder was frozen and did not explode. Thof-e 
firemen nearest the building were literally blowm into 
pieces, parts of human bodies being found scattered all 
over the section where the explosion took place. There 
were two heavy and distinct explosions which took place 
about ten minutes apart, and had the second one been 
three minutes later, half of the Butte Gun Club would 
have been among the victims, as they started in a body 
from the club-rooms for the fire immediately after the 
first explosion, and were within about 250 yards away 
when the second one took place. The scene as it was 
beggars description, and it is one no one wants to witness 
a second time. 
"We have a new game law before the Legislature, and 
expect to repeal that prize 'fool fish law' you wrote about 
some time ago." 
When, something over a year ago, I suggested that pat- 
ties of shooters should send in quantities of cottontails or 
jack-rabbits to the Relief Society of Chicago for food t<. 
be given to the poor, there w r ere some who smiled at tin 
idea. Out in Lamar, Col., in the holiday season of fchii 
winter, a minister of the gospel started the same idea, an( 
th» people thereabout made a hunt and killed 5,142 jacl^ 
rabbits in one day, all of which are said to have bees' 
shipped to Denver and .given to the poor — over 85,00"; 
pounds of meat This was probably a hunt more for bloo' 
adA^ertifing than for charity, and it w r as carried too far" 
But wdiat I want to know r is, did that Denver ministei rea" 
Forest and Stream? 
Mr. McMillan, who lately inquired for data regardin 
skunk farming, may be interested in the following lette: 1 
"Delaware. Ohio., Jan. 19, 1895: I saw your note r 9 
Forest and Stream of January 19, 'Wants Pointers r/ 
Skunks. ' In 1891 the Rural New Yorker, published if 
New York City, contained quite a lengthy letter from ■> 
Michigan man, who is engaged in skunk farming. M 1 " 
