Fb». '2'r, 1897.] 
f'ORfeSt AMD STREAM. 
to rest his rifle lightly against a tree stamp wheft ta^in^ a 
rest shot, sometimes making a soft pad of moss for the 
barrel. In yet another article I had confirmation of what I 
knew was a certainty. This man, Horace Kephart, had 
read ray book ! Yet, thougb he gave due credit to the 
sources of his information, he said not a word about "The 
Great West," but credited one Dodridge as being the author 
of the book from which he gave his extract Dodridge I did 
•not know, and indeed 1 did not know Mr. Kephart, but I sat 
down at once and wrote him a letter in care of the paper in 
which his article appeared. All I knew was that Mr. Kep- 
hart was a delightful writer. He might live in New Zealand, 
. -New Eogland or Mesopotamia, for all I knew But i knew 
that he would write to me, and I knew that when his letter 
came my quest would be ended 1 should again, in some 
way, see aad take in ray hands this wonderful book I had 
;read when yet a boy ! 
What Mr. Kephai t would write all readers may easily 
^ess, and I think he will not therefore object if I use his 
Very words. They gave me the only thorougti knowledge I 
lhad of my book after all; for while I knew all the Indian 
Mghts in it I did not know even its date of publication. Here 
what Mr. Ktphart said: 
"Meecanttle Libkaby, St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 1. — I have 
known you long and intimately in 'he happy hunting ground 
of FoKEBT AND Stkeam. Your quest for the first book you 
evtr read shall not go unrewarded. I know just how you 
feel about it, for it was only a few months ago that my 
mother found and brought me the first hook that I ever read 
— ^|)0or, battered and thumbed old "Robinson Ciusoe" — the 
identical copy that I used to take out iaio the little cotton- 
wood grove and read over and over, while I played Robin- 
son and was Robinson on that pi airie sea. Good Lord I it 
was nearly thi J ty years ago! and I suppose the unbroken 
prairie of my recollections has long since been cut up into 
farmp. 
"Your book was entitled 'Historical Colled ions of the 
Great West,' and was compiled by Henry Howe. It was 
first published in Cincinnati in 1851. Later editions were 
dated '53, '58, '54, '55 (at Greenville, Tenn.), and '73. I have 
the latter before me, and the quotation from Dodridge is 
on pp. 227-8. Within a few days I hope to liave the pleas- 
ure of sending you a copy of one of the early edition . 
"Whenever you visit St. Louis, please drop in here and 
7]^tft-ie show you some other books. The Mercantile, of St. 
iha^hi, is the only library thqt makes a specialty of wildcraft, 
, (A^j^red Hild, or Coeney, or any other of your Coicaffo 
libtaf^ns what that mems, and I'll bet a box of primers 
, they fm'^ tell you.)" 
So it eeemed Mr. Kephart was a librairian who knew the 
I desirablity of having ia his library the most wonderful book 
, in the world. 
When I got his letter I at once wrote him again, glad to 
find him — as I had half suspected him to be — a man curious 
in literature, as well as a sportsman by instinct I begged 
.. him to tarry not, but to send me the oldest and dirtiest copy 
, of my book which lie could find, for that I must have it, no 
i matter what tlie cost. Before my letter had readied him 
1 tbere came into my office one morning a bundle well wrapped 
, in dark-brown paper; before the expressman had thrown 
I this bundle on the table 1 said: "It is mybookl" I knew 
; it. 1 could feel i-;. It was the identical copy I had read 
, out of existence years ago It had c jme back to me from 
-, the fairies! I could feel it speak as I cut the twine and tore 
. off the wrapper. 
It was my book. I have it. It lies in my lap as I write 
\ thege lines about it. Money cannot buy this book. Tne best 
V that my best friend can do about it is to come here and read 
it under my immediate supervision. I shall hav« a large 
ipocket made in my overcoat for it Tnis book, as I wrote 
tto Mr. Kephart, shall be prized and kept forever, with the 
long old muzzleloading rifle which my father gave to me, a 
treasure kept since his own boyhood. 
Il.was delicate of Mr Kephart that he gave me a gift of 
, this book. I do not know where he got it, but in some way 
he conamunicated with the fairies and had them give it back 
^^^■^ me. It was the same copy, I am sure, which i had when 
T ^ a bjy. The backs are ready to fall oS, and are 
uiece.-^ with pasted leather The mahogany and brown of 
the cov ^ same, and the deep stamping on the leather 
is identicc"^^' yellow Indian with his bow is still faintly 
visible in tL materiahzed book, about as he was at perhaps 
the fiftieth rci. of the passing of the book, rhore than a 
Quarter of a ceL'*'"^^ ^^o- The picture of the aged pioneer 
sitting under a y/^^'^w lithograph v|ne and fig tr^e is the 
same The ambitu""^ lithograph of the Indian and the 
city is there unfaded. by page I turn througd, and 
from every one speaks . '^'"f familiar sentence. Personally I 
presume my memory is ^^^"5 t^^"^ average but^I 
find I remember this book ^l^^ost m toto. So much for the 
vividness of youthful impi '««sion8. bo inuch too, for the 
glory and dignity of the tbe '^'■^ bandied m this book, one 
indeed worthy enough to en^"^^'^ ^ pte^est or to 
direct his efforts. As for Mr .^^f'^^^'J s'-^Pj^ cannot 
thank him, and am not going to ^^y- ^^^^^ 
given me a greater pleasure. • * i • • 
It seems to at my Oook was sometb ^.^^1?^ '° 
time, and it met the large sales that it , ^ieserved My copy, 
which is the fourth edition, has at the t. ""P. "Jf title p,ge 
the suggestive words, "Fortieth Thousanu r •'■"^ ''^'''^ 
page reads as follow : 
(Fcr ieih Thousand.) 
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 
of the 
GREAT WEST. 
OontaiDins 
Narratives of the .MosMtnportant aad lateres ing Even s i.i Wesi. ein 
His ory-Remarkablelodividual Adventures— Sketches o<.° Froa- 
tiei- Life— Descriptions of Natui-al Curiosi ies— To wnic'o 
are Appended His orical and Deacripcive dketcnes 
of Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, Minne- 
sota, Utah and California. 
BY HENRY HOWE, 
Auther of "Historical Collec.ions of Vir^ia," "Historical Co'Uec- 
lions of Ohio." • 
Illustrated vfLh Numerous Engravings; 
VOLS. I. AND ir. 
Oincinuati: Published by Henry Howe at; E. Morgan & Co.'s.„No. II 
Main s reel. 1854. 
I have rambled so far in my story, which h perhaps not so 
interesting to others as to myself, lilac I shall not have any 
lime to describe in eietaU the ctiaracter of ttiis book, which 
is indeed an interesting and a standard publication. Bai we 
may judge of the w;hirling march of civilization in the 
"great West" since the day when this booli was printed if 
we look at one or two things mentione d in its pages. Thus 
I find that the author slates gravely tb at in 1850 the "entire 
white population of the State of filiimesota" was about 
8,000. It says, "St. Pauls (sic), the capital, is 327 miles 
above Galena, 111;, and eight miles below the falls of St. 
Atilhony. It is principally on, a beautiful leyel plateau, 
about 8ft. above the Mississippi River, and has 1,200 inhab- 
itants." (Minneapolis, it seems, was not then heard of.) 
We learn also that the Great American Desert has an exist- 
ence. We hear that there has really been a project formed 
of building a railroad across the continent! Of this our 
author says: "A project more gigantic than any that has 
yet been achieved in the world s history is now agitating the 
world's mind." He adds: "Upon the further question of the 
route to be pursued by the new road, the judgment of the 
counttyis far from being settled." And so the quaint, queer, 
delightful, fascinating old book goes babbling on about 
things which, God bless us! have been decided, passed by 
and forgotten, so fully are they taken into the daily knowl- 
edge of the millions. "The trappers of the Rocky Moun- 
tains," says the book, "are a genus by themselves The 
majority of them are French- Canadians or St. Louis 
Creoles!" And so on and so. But one dare not begin to 
thus make quotations fr»m this book of the "Great West." 
It would run full and overflow the entire Forest 
AND Stpeam with matter of which fhe readers of tne 
paper would demand more, and then more. Here is 
a mass of the most valualjle material for those who 
really wish to learn of that early West, which was really a 
West, With this one book a man could set himself up as an 
authority upon these topics, and this he might do with im- 
punity if only he could claim age enough. As to anybody 
else's knowing anything aljout the book, that would be 
highly unlikely, for here I have been trying for twenty -five 
years to find some one who had heard of it, and so far have 
found but one. Of the 40,000 persons who had bought this 
work at the time my copy was printed, or rather of the many 
more than that, for each book is read of many men, and of 
the thousands who after that date read it, it would seem that 
all have died or have forgotten all about it. Only Mr. Kep- 
hart and myself are left; for I am not sure that Mr. Roose- 
velt ever saw this work, having perhaps had access to some 
earlier writers who were of service to Mr. Howe in making 
his book. I have never found any other trace of the work 
except as above noted. If there are among the Forest 
AND Stream readers others who hh.ve seen this ski book of 
the Great West it may please them to be thus reminded of it, 
and to know that a copy of it actually exists and is acceg- 
sible. Mr. Kephart will show it at the Mercantile Library, 
of St. Louis, and I will show it here to any who may like to 
see it. It is one of the treasures of this place, and I am more 
than ever reminded of the Forest and Stream luck when I 
look at it. The fairies have brought the book and laid it 
dovfn at precisely the right spot, here under the wing of 
Forest and Stream, the mother of all things pertaining to 
the outdoor air and to manly days, whether of to-day or of 
the past. 
Illinois Sportsmen Meet. 
Chtcaoo, 111., Feb. 19.— Puisuant to call issued by the 
president of the Illinois Sta'c Sportsmen's Association, some 
thirty members of clubs of this or closely adjacent cities met 
last evening at the Sherman House. Pres. C. E Felt^n 
was in the chair and Mr. F. R. Bisseil, secretary of the State 
Association, was at the desk. The evening was given over 
to a general discussion of game law matters, this being the 
season when new measures come up for action in the Legis- 
lature, It is thought that the sportsmen have a very good 
Ciiance to secure some legislation this year as they have in 
the Legislature a very good friend in the shape of Mr H, D. 
Nicholls, a well-known Chicago sportsman who is willing 
to take hold and work for any good measure proposed by 
the craft. Other members are friendly to the sportsmen, and 
all in all it may be within the realms of possibility that some- 
thing may result. 
At the meeting word was had from Wisconsin that the 
shooters of that State looked to Illinois to do something in 
the way of abolishing spring shooting. This matter was 
discussed at length, and all present agreed that the shooting 
of any birds in the spring should be stopped. Yet it is well 
known to all who understand the Illinois game law situation 
that every member from the lower or river counties of this 
State goes to the Le«!islature already pledged to kill any meas- 
ure looking to the abolishment of spring shooting. It will 
always be next to impossible to get a bill of this sort through, 
as the lower part of the State will kill it, though the upper 
part would be glad to see it go through 
Warden Blow was present last night, and was approved by 
the members present. He will be up for the place of game 
warden again. 
A committee of seven was appointed to draff resolutions 
for submission to Cjngress in support of the act already be- 
fore that body to amend the Interstate Commerce Act iu so 
far as to regulate shipment ot game from States not having 
uniform laws. This committee will report later at call of iis 
chai man, Mr. F. S. Baird, who framed the bill sent to Con- 
gress. 
A committee of five was appointed, consistins of Messrs. 
R. B Organ, Wm. Doe, of Elgin; Warden Blow, H. U. 
Waters and F S. Baird, these retiring to draft resolu- 
tions in accordance with the sense of the call i-sued for 
the meeting, the main clause of which was in relation 
to non-resident license laws passed by other State;?. 
The committee reported a set of rcjolutions, which 
were adopted, the fame given below. It would seem 
that Mr. Baird mu-t have offered a minority report, as he is 
counsel for the National Association, whose predilection for 
Bon-resident licences is well known. The sportsmen of 
lilifioig must of course shoot as non-residents if at all nowa- 
daj§, so the position of the resolutions is a necessary one. 
But as to the "right hand of fellowship" to sportsmen of 
other States, one may be pardoned for helieviug the latter 
will not care much for the hand, because there is nothing in 
it, so to speak. Our game is all gone, so we can afford to 
jmake laws to protect it, and to invite others to help kill it. 
^e don't want it. We can give the glad hand to anybody 
■5vbo does want it, more especially if there is a show for a 
«wap with some other Slate not quite so far along in the 
•road, of civilization and wildernesslessness. The resolutions 
were .as follows: 
Wherms, In certain States acta have been passed which 
make license fees greater for non-resident sportsmen than 
required from citizens for permission to shoet in the open 
season; and 
Whereas, Legislation in other States is being attempted to 
similar ends; and 
Whereas, Sportsmen who secure licenses to shoot game are 
prohibited from snipping or taking the game they kill out of 
'4,he State in which killed; and 
Whereas, Many sportsmen in this State own property in 
the States where such unfiiendly acts exist, or where such 
legislation is attempted, or are members of clubs ownicg or 
leasing property ; and 
Whereas, Such legislation has not secured much reventie; 
but has resulted as almost prohibitive to our sportsmen; and 
Whereas, The sale of game in our markets woiiid be free 
and uninterrupted but for the action of the members of the 
Illinois State Sportsmea's Association, which has for years 
devoted its best energies and its purse to prevent gale ot 
game during the close season; how, therefore, be it 
Besolved, That it is the sense of this meeting of sportsm'en 
of the State of Illinois, held under a call from the officers of 
the Illinois State Sportsmen's Association, that any legisla- 
tion in any State which makes requirements from sportsmen, 
citizens of other States inore restiictive than those required 
from its own citizens is unfriendly, unsportsmanlike, un- 
American and wrong; and we respectively ask the sports- 
men of such Slates as have such unfriendly laws to cause 
their repeal, and such as are endeavoring to pass such lavvs 
to cause their defeat. 
Besolved, That the sportsmen of this State, through their 
State Association, have done all in their power thus far to 
further the interests of game protection by legislation and 
enforcement of the laws, by preventing the sale out of sea- 
son of game killed in other States; and we declare to still 
continue that good work; but we are continually menaced 
by the assertion, if not the fact, that those who destroy the 
game of any Stale are not non-resident sportsmen, but gen- 
erally local residents or those who are temporarily residing in 
game districts, and that such persons are not prosecuted by 
local authorities as they shoidd be. 
Besolved, That this meeting is not advised as to the merits 
of all the bills now before the legislature of this State, as 
several bills which have been introduced have not as yet t een 
printed; but we express our unqualified favor of such bills as 
will reduce rathisr thau extend the open season, make penal- 
ties for violation of tb'e laws greater rather than less, better 
secure their enforcement by increasing the number of game 
wardens, and in other ways ; and also that we extend the 
right hand of fellowship to sportsmen of States wherein laws 
do not discriminate against their fellow sportsmen in thi? 
and other States. We favor also uniform laws as to open 
seasons, one State with another, where the same is compat- 
ible with longitudinal lines or climatic conditions. We also 
ask the women of Illinois to frown upon all fashions which 
include the wearing of plumage which cannot be secured 
except by the destruction of birds. 
Whereas, The outrageous and brutal methods pursued for 
years by the aulhorities of this city in impounding dogs 
merits the condemnation of each and every good citizen, and 
should not longer be permitted; and 
Whereas, The Illinois Humane Society have prepared a 
bill, to be introduced in the Legislature; of the State, with a 
view to correcting and preventing such brutality; now, 
therefore, be it 
Besolved, Tuat we give to the passage of that bill our best 
effort, or to such other bill as will better secure that result, 
if one be offered. E. Hough. 
1206 BoYCE Bdiloing, Chicago. 
WISCONSIN INDIANS AND GAME. 
Spooner, Wis. — Editor Forest aiid Stream: I notice in 
your va uable paper frum time to time comments on the 
game laws m different sections of the country, except the 
State of Wisconsin, which is sadly in need of sbme law and 
its enforcement to protect game in this great game country 
from the market-hunters and Indians. I have patiently 
waited for some one to write of the slaughter of game, and 
of the protection game gets, but being disappointed I write 
you a few facts, trusting your paper will reach some of our 
legislators and show to them the immediate necessity of 
relief. 
Who kills the game of Wisconsin? Not the white people, 
not the hunter that comes here from the different States to 
spend a vacation, targeting his rifle and trying for a deer; 
not the farmer, no. Tne Indian slaughters the game, espe- 
cially the deer. The Indians kill the game because they are 
not interfered with. They kill it because agents of the 
various express companies have men who go to them and 
buy all the "saddles" they can get, offering them a few 
cents per pound for their venison, whether in or out of 
season, and paying them in money and wet goods. I know 
of there being 8,0001bs of venison bought by express agents 
on the Omaha line as late as the middle of January. This 
venison was killed by the Indians. It may seem strange to 
some why this goes on when there are game wardens, but 
the truth is the game warden is a side partner in this unlaw- 
ful business. I don't mean to say all game wardens do this, 
but there are some who get the position for honor, while 
others get the position and try and do their duty. 
What is the use of laws unless enforced? Stop the sale of 
game altogether. Give the game warden a salary. He 
may be a poor man with a family, and he can't afford to take 
the chances of leaving his position and hire a livery team to 
go in the country hunting for some one to make expenses 
and a living off of. He may arrest and convict, but if the 
party can't pay and is sent to jail, where does the game war- 
den get his money? No money collected, nothing for his 
trouble. This, I say, is one of the reasons why the law is so 
rigidly enforced in the loafing places about town and around 
the fireside. Give the game warden a living salary, together 
with a per cent, of fines he can impose and collect, and stop 
the sale of game, and see how quickly our deer will multi- 
ply. The Indians say, "White man 'f raid to interfere with 
us; if he do we shoot 'em up." 
T?here was a party of four Indians in northern Wisconsin 
this fall that killed and sold to market buyers over 240 deer. 
Now this is only in oue locality, there being other sections 
where there have been as many killed as Uere, and all of 
which fell before the Indian's deadly aim. They kill tnem 
by the thousands. One Indian was known to kill fourteen 
in one day. 
As to pheasants and grouse, they are rapidly going. The 
agent of the express company who bought the venison also 
bought and shipped 25,000 pheasants and grouse this 
season. 
How long can any country stand this? Not very long. 
I travel over the Omaha road often, and am well ac- 
quainted, and what I have just stated is fact. 
In a recent issue of your paper I noticed an article signed 
Maine, which stated that there were no moose in Wisconsin. 
No doubt Maine is a sportsman and would like the inlorma- 
lien : that there are plenty of moose in northern Wisconsin. 
Observer. 
