486 
While shooting woodcock a bird flushed near me and 
flew a short distance so low that I did not shoot. Send- 
ing my dog in the direction, he pointed nearly 20yds. 
short, and as I walked in front of him the bird got up 
wild, and as I was bringing my gun into position another 
bird that the dog was pointing got up from under my feet 
and flew between my arm and the gun. I shot at both 
birds, but never touched a feather. I do not record this 
as accidental or curious shooting, as I have ever found 
that in similar cases the shooting is remarkably uniform 
in results. The only thing curious about it was that the 
bird should fly through the small space he did when 
there was no brush to speak of to prevent his taking any 
other course. 
Messrs. Boyden and Eaton were with me shooting 
woodcock when the dog pointed at the edge of a thicket 
of scrub oaks and birches, and Mr. Boyden volunteered to 
go in and drive out the bird. The thicket was nearly 
square and not more than 30yds. across, so Eaton took up 
a position at one corner while I stood guard at the oppo- 
site, and when all was ready Mr. Boyden drove out a bird 
to me and I killed it, and was reloading when another one 
came and settled not 4ft. from me in a scattering growth 
of hazel, and instinctively, as it were, I threw the powder 
flask in my hand at it and struck it fair and killed it. 
Why I should throw the flask at it I could never under- 
stand, but the impulse seized me and I could not resist it. 
I was once shooting in a cornfield with the late Ethan 
Allin when a bird flushed near me and flew directly to- 
ward him so that I could not shoot, and I called "Mark!" to 
him, and when he turned the bird was almost in his face, 
and as he caught sight of it he struck at it with his gun and 
knocked it fully 10ft., killing it stone dead. This was also 
a case of impulse, for he stated that he had no intention 
or desire to bat the bird, and did not realize what he was 
about until he felt the bird strike his gun and saw it 
double up and fall to the ground. 
There was a friend of Mr. AUin's with us, and he ridi- 
culed the impulse theory and accused Ethan of deliberate, 
premeditated murder, stating that, as the brain was the 
mainspring of all action, of course the muscles of the 
hands and arms could not act until the brain had tele- 
graphed them just what to do, and it was therefore plain 
that the murder of this woodcock was in his head before 
he struck the fatal blow. Of course I took the same view 
of the matter, and between us we very nearly made him 
believe himself guilty. I have since seen in the report of 
a celebrated murder trial that the prosecuting attorney 
sprung this idea on the jury; but, if I remember rightly, 
he failed to score. 
After our murder trial was over we separated to beat out 
the remainder of the field, and as I came near the edge 
my dog pointed; and as I stepped in front of him a wood- 
cock rose and fluttered along a few feet, and alighted on 
top of the fence, which was in the center of a strip of hazel 
some 10ft. in width, and of about the same height as the 
fence. 
V The place where the bird settled was at an angle of the 
fence where there was a moss-covered stump of a tree that 
was used as a support for the ends of the two top rails. As the 
stump was quite a large one, I had no doubt that the wood- 
cock took it for solid ground; at all events he alighted on 
the end of one of the rails, and walking along it about 2ft., 
squatted down and appeared to bo taking it easy. As I 
knew that my companions would come that way very soon, 
I decided to wait for them and show them something new; 
so I stepped back into the corn a few yards, and when they 
joined me we swapped adventures that had come to us 
since we parted and then proceeded to the edge, coming 
out close to the bird, which was in plain sight; and as we 
reached the proper position I stopped and raised my hand 
by way of caution; then pointing to the bird, remarked 
that I never knew before that woodcock roosted on fences. 
Now Mr. Allin very much disliked to be beaten, and I saw 
that he was cudgeling his brains to think of something 
that would surpass or at least equal this, but it was no go; 
nothing materialized, and he was forced to agree with his 
companion that this was something new in natural history 
so far as we were concerned at least. 
After looking at the bird to our satisfaction, I proposed 
to Mr. AUin's friend that he flush and shoot the bird; but 
he suggested that Ethan go and bat it with his gun bar- 
rels, as that was much the better way; but no sooner had 
he proposed this than that bird with a surprised whistle 
darted from the rail to the opposite side of the hedge and 
flew too low for us until it was out of shot, when it gradu- 
ally mounted some 50ft. in the air, steered straight for 
the setting sun, and we never saw it more. Mr. Allin 
often told of this, and I was frequently called upon to 
vouch for it, which of course I had to do, although it was 
my intention to have given all the facts in the case the 
first time I should hear him tell the story; but he told the 
tale with so much unction and appeared to enjoy it so 
much that out of regard for his feelings I kept silent, and 
until now I have never breathed a word as to the how 
and the why that woodcock came to roost on the fence. 
Shadow. 
Sunday Gunning. 
Provtdence, R. I., Dec. 11. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
In the New England States there seems to be a growing un- 
popularity of the "Sunday hunter." In the State of Massa- 
chusetts many arrests have been made this season, and vigi- 
lant constables are on the alert to arrest violators of the law, 
and the offenders find the amusement rather expensive, as 
shown the experience which a "Sunday hunter" from this 
city had in South Rehoboth, Mass., a few Sundays ago. He 
killed a bluejay, was caught by the game constables and paid 
|41 for shooting on Sunday and for having the game in his 
possession. 
In Connecticut, I understand, there is strict enforcement of 
the law against Sunday hunting, every land-holder being 
empowered to arrest the offender without warrant. In this 
State there is a statute making the discharge of firearms on 
Sunday illegal, except it be done on land of owner. There 
have been a few arrests in this State under this statute, but 
it has been generally a dead letter. 
There is a growing feeling among sportsmen that Sunday 
shooting should be abolished, and that the laws against it 
should be more generally observed. This might cause some 
hardship to those who think that they cannot afford the time 
to go shooting on other days of the week. But with the in- 
creasing scarcity of game it would seem wise to give it at 
least one day of rest in the week. With us all, in the pres- 
ent condition of the game supply, it requires some sacrifice 
from all who go in pursuit of it, F. Habbis. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
A VISIT TO TOWN. 
Editor Forest and Sti'eam: 
You fellows that are chained to business closely in the 
cities complain, and we fellows that are chained to busi- 
ness too close here in the mountains are very glad to get 
out into civilization as often as once a year, and more often 
when we can scrape up an excuse. 
In the eight years that I have been working for the 
Government here on the reservation I have taken my 
month's vacation in the winter. This year I thought I 
would change the time and would go to Spokane in Octo- 
ber, during the fair; then I would likely see some old 
friends from Idaho and from the Walla Walla country. 
To me the opening of the fair was a grand sight. The 
parade, with its many magnificent floats, and the bands of 
music, was as entertaining to me as is a circus to the coun- 
try boy. 
All that afternoon I enjoyed the fair and admired the 
display of the products of our country, and of course 
thought they could not be excelled in any country on this 
or any other continent. 
The mineral exhibit was not very large, but was fine. 
It would be useless for me to try to give a description; it 
would have to be seen to be appreciated. Then there was 
the crowd of street venders, all dispensing bargains to the 
country folks, and no matter what it was they had to sell 
there was a crowd around them all day. All were buying, 
and the old adage, that "a fool and his money is soon 
parted," could be changed to "A country Jake and his 
money are soon parted." I was so interested in what I saw, 
night came before I was aware of it, and I was not glad 
either. I went and got my supper, and then was impatient 
for 8 o'clock to come so I could go to the theater, which I 
enjoyed very much. Although it lasted till half past 11, it 
seemed to be short. I went to my hotel, and I then real- 
ized that I was a little tired. But the night's rest left 
me in good order for the next day's running around. 
After breakfast I was taking in the sights along River- 
side avenue and reading everything in sight, when my 
attention was attracted to a large canvas sign hanging to 
a street car, stating that there was a grand shooting match 
going on at the park. 
Now if there is any one thing more than another that 
will cause me to get a good big move on, it is to know 
that I can go to a shooting match. The car had got too 
much the start of me before I really understood the mean- 
ing of the sign, so I leisurely walked down a few blocks 
to the gun store and made some inquiries about the 
shooting match, and was told that it was a team shoot be- 
tween Washington, Montana and Idaho; and the cracker- 
jacks from all three States were there; that the car would 
stop opposite the store in a few minutes. I noticed sev- 
eral men standing. around, with guns in cases, who I pre- 
sumed were going to the park. Soon the men with guns 
started for the street and I followed. The car stopped 
just long enough to let us on and then started away in a 
hurry; in fact, everyone in Spokane seemed to be in a 
hurry. In a few minutes we were crossing the Howard 
street bridge across the Spokane River just below the 
falls, which gives a good view of the falls. 
It was hard for me to realize that I was now being car- 
ried on a car several hundred feet perpendicular over 
whert^ I had sat and fished thirty-five years before. All 
was changed. Man has put in some dams to raise the 
water, as if nature had not done enough; then he has put 
mill and electric works out over the banks, as if there 
was not room on the banks for his buildings. 
I think the most of the passengers were from the city, as 
they did not seem to notice anything only that the cars ran 
too slow. I was not used to this kind of locomotion, and 
they went fully as fast as I desired to travel, and I would 
have liked it better if the conductor had stopped and let 
me read all the signs as we went along. 
We were not long in reaching the terminus at the park. 
Here we could hear the guns popping away, and I found 
myself hurrying to get to the shooting grounds. To me it 
was just a little ahead of anything I had ever seen. It was 
the first time I had seen a bluerock — that was what they 
called them. There were five traps and about a dozen 
men. They kept things lively. The shooter would take 
his position at the trap and put his gun to his shoulder, 
then say "Pull!" and the target would go so swift it was 
quitiB a little while before I could see all the targets. But 
I soon understood the arrangement, and it was not long 
before I imagined I could hit some that the shooters would 
miss. They looked to me to be dead easy. I had taken a 
seat in the lobby, and could see and hear very well. Soon 
they called out the squad of shooters that were to shoot 
the next string, and among them was Pete Hollahan. 
That name sent an electric shock through my frame. 
Sixteen years before I had a partner by that name, and 
had completely lost track of him. I wondered if it could 
be possible that it was the same. I concluded to sidle 
around toward the shooters to get a look at Pete. Yes, it 
was my friend; but how changed he was. When I knew 
him he cared no more about a gun than I did about the 
catechism, and I do not think he could have hit a barn at 
40yd8. unless he had gone in and shut the door. 
I waited till that event was shot out, then got tolerably 
close to him as he went into the gun house to get a fresh 
supply of shells. He got a look at me; he stopped as if he 
were in a dream, but soon came up with his hand stretched 
out and said, "Lew, is that you?" I told him it was what 
was left. He called to his wife, who was on the balcony 
of the club house, and he told me to look up; then he 
asked her if she knew who it was. She replied, "No." 
Said he, "It is Lew." "What, is it Lew Wilmot?" 
"Yes," said he. She said, "Oome up here." I went up, 
and after shaking hands with her I was introduced to her 
friends. When I started up there was quite a fat man 
followed, and he came up and held out his hand, and he 
wanted to know if I knew him. I told him if I ever had 
I had forgotten. He said, "Do you remember the fellow 
you ran down once, following a wounded elk? You had 
on long-legged gum boots." I said, "Is this Billy William- 
son?" "Yes," said he. He had changed very much from 
what he was twenty-one years before. He had come to 
my place in the Clearwater Mountains and wanted to kill 
an elk. I went with him and several other boys, and 
Billy had shot and wounded an elk. I followed it a short 
time, and I told him the only way we would get his elk 
would be to let it go till it got sick, then he might get a 
shot at it when we jumped it up. But he was too anxious, 
and thought we would kill it before it went far. 
To please him I followed till it jumped up, and I then 
[Dec. 18, 1897, 
knew it would be useless to follow it any further that day; 
so we turned back, and on our way we killed a deer, which 
we hung up. The next morning before it was fairly light 
we were on our way back to where we had left the elk the 
evening before. Billy had taken Dallas O'Hara's bull dog 
along, thinking the dog would be able to stoj) the elk if he 
could come up to it. On our way I saw quite a big buck 
deer looking at me, and I took a shot at its head and killed 
it dead. That pleased Billy very much. 
We hung the deer up, and kept on to where we had left 
the elk the evening before. Then we followed for at least 
two hours before we came to where it had lain down. 
Then we soon jumped it, and BiUy turned the dog loose 
and away he went, I after them and Billy after me. 
I saw the dog catch the elk, but he could not hold it 
long enough for me to get a shot. I followed as fast as I 
could. Soon the dog got disgusted with the treatment he 
was getting and quit; then I hurried on and soon got a 
shot, and killed the wounded elk. I dressed it, expecting 
every minute that Billy would put in an appearance, but 
no Billy came. 
I started on the back track, and had not gone far when 
I heard Billy shoot, then another, and soon another. I 
thought he had come across a band of bull elk, and was 
having lots of fun. I went to where he was, and found him 
standing by a fire, and he had been shooting to find me. 
He had tried to take a cut off when we jumped the elk 
and got lost, and was waiting for me to answer. He was 
much pleased to think I had killed his wounded' elk. We 
started tor camp. I was somewhat tired, as I had been 
traveling with long-legged gum boots on, and the snow 
being Sin. deep, they get heavy in an all-day's tramp. 
I wanted to know why he was not shooting; he said it 
was a team shoot and when they got through he would 
shoot. 
He took me down to inspect his guns.' He had two: 
one was $180 and was a beauty, the other $100 and was 
also a fine gun. He said I could use either if I wanted to 
shoot. I told him it was the first time I had ever seen 
bluerocks shot at, but I would like to try. I watched 
them shoot till noon, then they quit a short time for din- 
ner, then commenced and kept it up till night put a stop 
to it. 
The next morning I was down to the gun store at 8 A. 
M. ready to go down and see them shoot. They had a 
practice shoot at ten targets before the regular match 
began; in this I tried my hand, and I found that it was a 
good deal easier to break them in my mind than it was 
when I was behind the gun. I had two. get in the way, 
and I was satisfied that it would take considerable prac- 
tice before I could break many, yet I stayed nearly all 
day. 
The next day was to be live-bird day, and I was very 
anxious to see that, as that would be something new to 
me. The next morning early I was on hand, and when I 
got to the park they were arranging the traps and making 
up the squad. 
That completed, they began. The first bird got about 
2ft. from the ground when the shooter fired his first bar- 
rel, and when the bird fell he fired at it again, for safety 
they called it. 
I watched them shoot about forty birds, then I went 
back to town.oerfectly satisfied. I did not care to see any 
more live-birct shooting. Some of the shooters used maga- 
zine guns, and those I noticed particularly; not one of them 
but would wobble off from his bird when he would pump 
a cartridge in his gun, and the first shot they would shoot 
too quick. I would like to live near to where they have a 
gun club, but I would not want to shoot at any live birds. 
Out of the many thousands that visited the fau- and the 
hundreds that visited the shoot I do not think there was a 
man, woman or child that enjoyed their vacation any bet- 
ter than I did. Lew Wilmot. 
Okanogan, Wash,, Nov. 25. 
A STRAY BEAR. 
Windsor, N. C, Dec. Q.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
There has not been a bear within twenty-five miles of this 
place in twenty-five years, I am quite sure, until last Thurs- 
day night or rather Friday morning about 4 o'clock, when 
one of the residents in the northern part of our town heard 
something pulling the pickets off his garden fence. Imagine 
his surprise when going out later to find a bear's track. 
After breakfast I walked up town and was told that a 
bear had passed through town. Of course the idea was ab- 
surd to me and I did not hesitate lo say so. My informant, 
thinking his knowledge of bear tracks was doubted, went 
off and soon returned with some of the bear's hair left on 
the fence through which it had passed. This was evidence 
too convincing to be doubted and I went to investigate for 
myself. 
"I found the tracks as plain as could be desired, where the 
bear had pulled the pickets off the fence, gone across the 
garden and repeated the performance, gone across the street 
and pulled the pickets oft' the next lot, repeating this at 
every fence until he had reached the base-ball ground, 
where he had entered a piece of timber. He did not seem 
to care to get over any fence, but made an opening in every 
one through which he passed. 
The nest thing in order was to capture this bear if pos- 
sible. I immediately sent out in the country for H. to bring 
in his dogs. My messenger failed to find H. at home, and 
had to wait some time for his return, which made it 11 
o'clock before he reached town. By this time the bear had 
just seven hours' start on us, and it had commenced to rain 
quite hard. We reasoned, though, that he had not gone 
very far before he would take a nap. I took H. in my road 
wagon, and we headed northwest, the direction taken by 
the bear. Before we had gone a mile we met a party who 
said he had seen the bear cross the road six miles out. So 
away we went as fast as the horses could take us, Ln order 
if possible to get the dogs on the fresh trail. 
"When we reached there we found that every man, boy and 
dog of every description in the neighborhood had turned out; 
the men with all kinds of guns, and some with axes, clubs 
or any old thing. An old man, who was too old to get in the 
chase, told us the bear had entered the woods just above 
where we were, and was still heading northwest. 
This woods is twelve miles long and fom- wide, and very 
thick in places, but there are old log roads all through, and 
we concluded to drive through if possible. 
Everything went well for the first mile. Then we began 
to encounter fallen trees, which we had to drive over, mak- 
ing progress very slow. "We had gone about half a mile 
more and were nearing the bear hunt when the dogs jumped 
large buck. The dogs ran off a half mile or so and then 
