308 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
THE BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPLO- 
SIVE AND EXPRESS BULLETS. 
March 10, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
The very practical communication* of Mr. Van Dyke 
and Mr. Rigby, in late numbers of your journal, have a 
direct bearing upon a subject that has doubtless engaged the 
attention of every one who, to any extent, has hunted large 
game. I allude to the large number of animals hit by the 
rifle bullet that escape, either to die a lingering death or fall a 
prey to the flrst wolf or mountain lion that crosses their truck. 
Mr. Van Dyke estimates this proportion at one-third of the 
total number hit. I believe his estimate is loo small, and 
think it should be nearer one-half, basing the opinion upon 
my own experience, and upon information from old hunters. 
This is not astonishing, when the following circumstances 
are considered : First. With antelope and white and black 
tail deer (tbs most numerous class of large game found in 
this country), good standing shots at short range (say within 
one hundred yards) are not numerous, and which, at best, 
require a quiet aim and steady nerve- The most numerous 
shots aro “on the jump," and at distances varying from 150 
to 300 yards. These remarks apply to hunting on tho 
prairies and mountains of the West, where the bulk of the 
large game is found, and not to timbered districts. 
Second. The vital parts of the deer, etc., are a space about 
twelve by fourteen inches over the region of tho heart, and 
including a part of the shoulder, the brain and the spinal 
column. What is mcaDt by vital parts is, that a bullet pene- 
trating or striking such parts will cause them to fall and die 
within ten or fifteen minutes. With the buffalo, elk and 
bear, the vital space is, of course, larger. An animal struck 
in the limbs, paunch, or any other point than as above de- 
scribed, will either escape, or, if secured at all, it will be at 
the expense of much labor in following up. 
Thirdly. All these animals have an extraordinary vitality. 
I have frequently shot deer and antelope through tho paunch 
or entrails that gnve not the least indication of it, but 
trotted off as proudly as if untouched, and Ihe fact would 
never have been ascertained had they not been brought 
down by a second or third shot. 1 am satisfied that an 
antelope or deer, especially a yeailing fawn, have as much 
or more vitality than the buffalo; eik or bear, and, in hunt- 
ing parlance, will “pack off more lead" than either of the 
last-named. These animals, often shot through the heart, 
will run one hundred to two hundred yards before falling. 
I recall an instance where I shot, with a 95-450 grain cart- 
ridge, at 125 yards, a doe standing facing me, the ball en- 
tering near the striking point, ranging back through the 
vitals, breaking every rib on one side, and lodging against 
the skin of tho ham, the ball being flattened out into a shape 
that would have satisfied the most enthusiastic “ Express 
ball" man, yet she ran 250 yards before dropping, and was, 
of course, perfectly dead when found. Another similar in- 
stance : a large white tall buck, shot with same ball at 
seventy yards, the ball ranging through vitals in same man- 
ner,- and coming out of rear. He ran about same distance 
before falling, and was perfectly dead when found. I re- 
call another instance of a buck antelope fired at, at 250 yards 
distance, gave no sign of being hit, and I continued on my 
route. After traveling a half mile, in sweeping the prairie 
with my field glass, he was discovered a half mile off floun- 
dering up and down, and lighting off the inevitable with all 
his strength. As it was in an Iudian country, had plenty 
of fat buffalo meat, and the study of the effect of projectiles 
not being at the time uppermost in my mind, the character 
of the wound was never ascertained. Such examples are 
within the experience of every hunter, and are merely men- 
tiened to illustrate the subject under discussion. Many 
game arc hit and mortally wounded without the hunter’s 
knowledge, and escape to die within a few hours. It then 
becomes a matter of common humanity — if there is such a 
thing as humanity in connection with the killing of game — 
to devise means to lessen the useless suffering that appears 
inseparable from hunting such game, as well as save a large 
amount of valuable food. 
Mr. Rigby und our British triends think the Express 
bullet properly sent is the best device for instantly killing. 
Mr. Van Dyke has detailed in a very entertaining und prac- 
ticable manner his experiments with explosive bullets upon 
deer, and appears to have arrived at the same conclusion to 
which my own experiment had brought me, that the ex- 
plosive principle possessed no other merit except expanding 
the end of the bullcts’at moment of contact — the Bame re- 
sult as is accomplished by tho “Express" bullet without the 
explosive. I have given the question of “explosive" and 
“Express” projectiles a great deal of thought, and am con- 
vinced that these devices are very partial remedies for the 
evil under discussion, and that the only effectual remedy is 
by the use of a good hunting dog, a dog trained to follow 
“to heel," to “go for” any wounded animal you may 
order; will follow him until brought to hay, and remain with 
him until you come up. With such a dog you are always 
sure of your game, even when slightly disabled. Such is the 
vitality of the autclope, deer, elk, buffalo and bear, that un- 
less shot through the vitals, as before described, no projectile 
much short of a six-pounder will kill them at once. I feel 
sure that such calibres as .50 or .57 possess no appreciable ad- 
vantage in killing effects over the .44 or .45 calibre. Neither 
will kill at once, unless the projectile is through the vitals. 
In reasons given hereafter 1 feel sure the “Express" rifle will 
do no more. 
Making due allowance for some of the exaggerated state- 
ments of the destructive effects of the projectile, the rifle 
must have much merit for kiHmg game, if for no other 
reason for the double shots and low trajectory claimed for 
it. Its low trajectory is, however, combined with the dis- 
advantage of a very light projectile. To compensate for the 
lightness of the bullet, its point is made hollow, so that at the 
moment of contact it flattens out, and its high velocity sud- 
denly arrested by its increased surface communicates a 
much greater shock to the animal struck. It is questionable 
with me, however, whether what is gained in velocity is not 
lost to a great extent in momentum from lightness of pro- 
jectile, and consequently in shock. Cannot equally as great 
velocity be given the Express bullet from the American 
breech-loader, with the same charge of powder and ball ? 
I get a very flat trajectory up to 200 yards with a charge of 
100 grains powder and 297 grains lend from a Sharps .44, 
with twist of «ne turn in 20iu. The balls were naked, 
and the target not as good as had they been patched balls. 
The Sharps system of rifling appears very similar to the 
Henry used in the Express rifle, having six narrow, shallow 
lands iustead of seven as in the Henry system. The lands in 
the latter are also slightly pointed. 
My principal objection to the Express principle is that the 
light ball which gives the flat trajectory up to a certain dis- 
tance, say 250 yards, must drop rapidly afterward, and de- 
prive it of a respectably long raDge. This would be no 
serious objection in a thickly timbered country like India, 
where respectably long shots must be the exception, but it 
would be in a prairie and mountain district where close shots 
are the exception, and where, with careful aud skillful 
shooting, a good deal of game can be killed up to 400 or 000 
yards. 
I feel sure that Mr. Rigby's 200 and 300-grain projectije 
would be unsuitable for hunting in tho Rocky Mountain 
region, because, if for no other reason when hunting for deer 
and antelope you aro liable at any time to come across bear 
and straggling buffalo. You need an arm that will master 
any animal liable to be met. On account of the above con- 
siderations, my preference is for an arm, .44 or .45 calibre, 
throwing a projectile of at least 450 grains weight (1 { inch 
long), with plenty of strong powder behind it (say 90 to 100 
grains), fitted up wjtli convenient and accurate peep and 
globe sights that can bo used, at a moment’s notice, in place 
of the open sights necessary only for short range. Such a 
rifle wa9 used by me duriDg two seasons’ bunting in Mon- 
tana. In examining the character of the wound, I found 
that the length of the ball (one aud a quarter inches), as a 
rule, caused it to tip over iu passing through the animal, 
and to come out sideways, tearing a larger hole, and causing 
a greater shock. When a bone was struck, it was consider- 
ably smashed up, and must have had the “shock" effect as 
claimed for the Express ball. I have no hesitation in claim- 
ing that such a projectile is as effective in killing the large 
game of this country as the Express bullet ; certainly more 
so than the 800 grain bullet Mr. Rigby speaks of , on account 
of its increased range. Black tail deer, and autelope, when 
over 300 yards, will frequently allow you to get in four or 
five shots without moving much. By watchiug where the 
balls strike you can frequently get in a bull’s-eye. When 
put through the vitals it never failed to bring down tho 
largest animals. Frequently when struck through the 
paunch the shock was such as to drop them. Sometimes 
they will fail to get up, but as a rule they would make off. 
The Express rifle would accomplish nothing more. Mr. 
Rigby admits that, when in his letter he provides “ if shot 
anywhere forward, and not too high." 
But to return to the dog and how I became convinced 
that ho was the “only effectual remedy.’’ I spent last winter, 
to the 7th February, hunting in the foot-hills of the High- 
wood Mountains, Montana, on the waters of Belt Creek. 
Up to Christmas had met with fair success hunting white 
and black tail deer, and, though without a dog, had secured 
often, after much fatigue and labor, all the wounded ones 
known to be hit, for I was then pretty “ sharp set ” after 
this kind of sport. 
About that time, in two days’ huntiug, I lost three does 
and a large black tail buck, all seriously wounded. An old 
doe, wounded through the groin, and hind leg broken high up, 
was followed at least four hours over hill and through brush, 
with snow ten inches deep, and though fired at repeatedly, 
generally 150 lo 200 yards, and on the move, she failed to re- 
pond. As twilight set in my last cartridge was fired, and 
had the satisfaction of seeing her disappear over the next 
hill, hobbling along just fast enough to keep out of reach. My 
disappointment was none the less when it was realized that I 
was aloot, four miles from camp, and bitter cold, the ther- 
mometer, on reaching camp, after a weary tramp, register- 
ing eleven degrees below zero. As some compensation for 
the day's fatigue, however, a young buck bad been killed 
early in the day. A snow-storm prevailing that night obliter- 
ated all traces of the old doe, and it was never ascertained 
bow many balls, if any, had touched her. Oscar Olinger, 
at whose ranche I was stopping, hadalarge, black, lubberly- 
looking bob-tailed shepherd dog, resembling a Newfound- 
land, accustomed to lie around the fire, and a playmate for 
the children. On hearing of ,my bad luck, he advised me 
to take along “ Old Maj ” on the next hunt. A few days 
afterward the black-tail buck before alluded to was wounded, 
and old “Maj " was persuaded to go in the search of him. 
He was soon jumped in the canyon of a coulee, and after a 
lively chase up atid down the canyon was brought to bay and 
dispatched. The dog’s action pleased me so much that he 
became my constant companion for the balance of the 
winter’s hunt. Possessed of a thorough knowledge of the 
habits of game, and eye keen enough to see a deer's head 
almost a mile over the prairie, a good, quick shot, Oscar 
Olinger had no superior in Montana as a successful hunter, 
apd in several years' hunting had thoroughly trained the dog 
for wounded game. He would follow at my mare’s heels 
until game was discovered, and when I dismounted to ap- 
proach he would remain with the mare. At the crack of the 
rifle he would come up, und if his services were not needed 
he would remain quietly by. If told to go for any wounded 
animal, he would follow unerringly, and bis welcome bark 
would soon be heard when it was brought to bay. He would 
then remain with it until you came up, worring it and nip- 
piug it, if it attempted to get off. If game got down before 
you came up, he did not mutilate it. He was not active, yet 
by “ main strength and awkwardness” did not once fail to 
overtake and bring to bay every woilnded animal he was sent 
after. A slightly disabling wound, such as the breaking of 
the ankle bone (in one case the shattering of buck’s hoof), 
was all that was necessary for “Old Maj.” Nothing escaped 
his eye on the prairie, and no animal, man, or beast could 
approach me without his premouitory growl. With such a 
hunting companion, of course all trouble about wounded 
animals ceased. During the six weeks “Maj” was with me 
a good many deer were Killed (more than half of my fall and 
winter hunt), and, as before remarked, not once did he fail to 
secure anything known to be hit. I recall only two instances of 
his “breaking shot." Not including three buffalo, the result 
of the winter’s hunt was forty-three white and black tail 
and nntclope known to be hit, all of which were secured ex- 
cept the three does before alluded to. 
If Mr. Van Dyke wil* only secure the services of such a 
dog as “ Maj ” he will be troubled no more about wounded 
game, the subject of destructive projectiles will not occupy 
bis thoughts, and “melodious Thomas cats” will roam ever 
afterward undisturbed around bis premises. The use of such 
a dog is the only sure way to secure the large percentage of 
wounded game and the saving of much valuable food, and 
no hunter of large game can afford to do without one. 
“ Maj " has been described so much in detail as an indica- 
tion of what a hunting dog should be. There are a hundred 
of such dogs in use by hunters, though Mai has few equals. 
I have frequently known the common cur dogs of the South 
to be excellent on the slow trail in wooded districts. Any 
intelligent setter, with sufficient courage and inclination to 
run after stock, could be trained for this purpose. In a deer 
hunt in Minnesota iu 1875 my black setter was very useful, 
the only difficulty being the deer were so smart and wary in 
the poplar thicktes that there were few opportunities af- 
forded for practicing him on bringing them to “ bay." Fol- 
lowing to heel, he always indicated by bis actions when 
near them. In this way a setter can be made very useful, 
for deer are too wary to alow him to approach near enough 
for a “ stand." When you know they are near additional 
caution will generally secure you a shot. The instincts of 
the sheDherd dog being for running after aud controlling 
stock would seem to indicate that breed the most suitable 
for this work. Such a dog must be under perfect control, 
for if allowed to run around good shots would be rare. 
Beak Paw. 
uitiotml fflastimiis. 
Intercollegiate Athletics. — At the annual meeting of 
college representatives at Mott Haven, last Saturday, the fol- 
lowiug colleges were represented : Columbia, Princeton, Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, Union, Lehigh, Dartmouth, Harvard, 
Rutgers and the College of the City of New York. The 
weather was all that could have been asked, the merry crowds 
of students and their lady friends in the best of humor, and 
the contests of the day passed off most pleasantly. Columbia 
was naturally strongest in members, and bore off the greatest 
number of prizes— eleven. Next came Princeton with nine, 
and then the University of Pennsylvania, whose home field 
days are always excellent, took home five medals as her 
share. The contests were as follows : 
Standing broad leap— F Larkin, Princeton, ’79, 9ft llVin : N N 
Leo, Univ. Pa., 9ft l>£in. 
Ono-mile walk— Chas Eldridge, Columbia, '79, won in 7m 38^a ■ 
W M Watson, College City N Y, 'SO. 
Putting the lC-pound shot— G E Potter, Lehigh, ’SO ; W J 
McNulty, Union, '80 ; J D Wilson, Dartmouth ; F Larkin, Prince- 
ton. Larkin, 32ft llin; Wilson, 32ft 7%in. 
Running high loap — J P Conover, Columbia, ’80, 6ft 6i^in • G 
W Heinz, Univ Pa, 6ft 2in. ’ 
Half-mile run— A J Barton, Columbia, ’79 ; W Cramer, Rutgers- 
J N Simmons, Harvard, '80 ; O G Brown, Union, '80 ; C N Cogs- 
well. Dartmouth, '80. Burton, 2in 8)^8 , Simmons, 2m 9%a. 
Polo vaulting— O Fabragou, College City N Y, 9Tt ; B F Harrab 
Univ Pa, 8ft lOin ; F Larkin, Princeton, and G E Potter, Lehigh' 
8ft lin ; J W Pryor, Lehigh, and J Withington, Princeton, 7ft 7in'. 
Huudred-yards dash— First heat, W J McNulty, Union 1 ] 8( 8 ’- 
T Flint Jr, Dartmouth, and L A Stewart, College City N Y',’ a dead 
heat for second place. Second heat, Lee, Univ Pa, 10 4-5s ; Wal- 
ler, Columbia, second ; W It Randolph, Lehigh, third. Final’ beat 
Lee, lOj^s ; Waller, a good socondf 
Running broad leap— Conover, Columbia, 19ft 2Win ; Wltliing- 
ton, Princeton, 18ft|10in ; McChesney, Rutgers, 17ft 7i n . 
Quarter-mile Run— Burton, Columbia, 54 1-5 b ; Simmons 
Harvard, 64 2-5a ; Stewart, Princeton, third. 
Standing high leap— Larkin, Princeton, 4ft 89f in ; Prvor 
Columbia, 4ft l%in. * 7 ' 
Two hundred and twenty yards dash— Leo and Waller, Univ Pa- 
McNulty, Union. Lee came in ahead, time not placed on record’ 
McNulty claimed foul on Waller ; Waller claimed foul on Lee! 
Race ordered to be ruu over again ; Lee and Waller refuse ■ walk 
over for McNulty in 26s. Only unpleasantness of the dav. 
Two-mile walk— Eldridge, Columbia, 16m 33s : Watson College 
City N Y, 16m 43s. b 
Hurdle race, 120 yards, 10 hurdles— Pryor, Columbia, 21 3-5a - 
B Hughes, Univ Pa, ’80, second. 
Throwing hammer— Larkin, Princeton, 76ft 9in; Blackwell 
same college, 75ft lOin ; Ridabock and J H Montgomery Colum- 
bia ; J D Wilson, Dartmouth. 
Hundred yards Dash— F J Duffield, Princeton ’76, 11 l-5s - L H 
Geyelin, Univ Pa, ’77. 
One-mile walk— G D ParmRy, Princeton, ’76. 9m 31Us - E T 
Weed, College City N Y, ’77. ’ 
Dartmouth Sports.— The successful competitors in the 
athletic games at Dartmouth College, May 15 and 16, were as 
follows : 
uinwiun, Q . v^ogsweii, oi jxortu uaston, Mass., 2m. 16s - 
hundred yards dash backwards, W. Warner, Jr., of Tecumseb,’ 
Ala., 16s. ; one mile walk, J. E. Horn, of Dover, N. H., 8m. 16V B • 
one mile run. A. G. Lombard, of Franklin, N. H.. 5m. 34s. ; pole 
vaulting, O. S. 81oane, of Washington, D. C., 7ft. 6in.; running 
long jump, J. B. Gerould, Keene, N. H.. loft.; standing long 
jump F. W. Sbattuck, Felchville, Vt., lift, Win.; quarter mile 
race, C. If. Cogswell, North Easton, Mass., 58WS. ; running high 
jump, Thomas Flint, Jr., San Juan, Cal.. 6ft. ; sack race, 100 
F. W Shattuck. Felchville, Vt., 32^'s.; three-legged race, 
100 yards Danforth and Sloan, 14s. ; throwing base-ball, J. B. 
Gerould, Keene, N. H., 353ft. 9in.; potato race, five-sixths of a 
mile, W. E. Badger, Concord, N. H., 31)-£s.; two hundred and 
twenty yards dash, Thomas Flint, Jr., San Juan, Cal., 249is • hop 
skip and jump, W. M. Mason, Concord, 35ft. 41n . ; three mile 
walk between C. S. Dutton, of Norwich, Vt., and J. H. King of 
Malone, N. Y., was a tie ; time, 29m. 6s.; horizontal bar, Oscar 
Mickel, Albany, N. Y.; three mile run. A. G. Lombard, Franklin, 
N. H., time. 19m. 8s.; hurdle race, 120 yards, eleven hurdles, W. 
?, ad K, er > Concord, 2l*^s. ; one hundred yard dash, final heat, G. 
H. Danforth, Dover, N. H., 10^s.; consolation raco, one quarter 
or a mile, open to all contestants who had won no prize, C. W. 
SpriDg, Lebanon, lm. l%s. Tho sports concluded with a Rugby 
match game of football between two picked elevens, H. S. Dewey 
of New York city, captain of reds, and G. E. Thompson of 
Dover, N. If., captain of blues. Neither side made a point in 
the given time ; declared a draw. 
St. Lawrenob University.— T he annual field day sports 
resulted as follows : 
jump, A. A. Rico, 4ft. lin.; one hundred yards dash, J. V. VVith- 
erbeo, 12s.; throwing base-ball, 272ft.; standing three jumps, G. 
K. Malby, 33ft. 6>£in.; throwing hammer, D. Lamphoar, 60ft,- 
one mile waili, G. Barnes, 10m. ; one hundred yards backwards, 
. WRherboe 17 b. ; standmg jump, J. L. Heaton, 12ft. Sin. ; 
hair mile nm, H. L. Robinson, 2m. 31s.; potato race, H. L. Rob- 
inson, 3m. 6s. (25 potatoes one yard apart) ; three-legged race, 
100 yards dash, 16s.; rope pull between departments of tho uni- 
versity was won by the Thoological Department. 
Polo. The sports attending the opening games at the 
grounds, Fordham, last Saturday, were introduced by a foot- 
ball match between elevens of Columbia and Fordham fresh- 
men, the teams being made up as follows : Golumbia— J. D. 
Crane, capt.; R.Combs,T. Patten, T. J. Brereton.F.W. Reid, P. 
^ £ orster > **- G - Angel], M. Undermeyer,G. Rawson, 
H Muller. Fordham— J. Davidson, captain; Percy Morgan, 
J. B. Devoe, J. Ammelung, L. Camman, H. Herrich, Cli. 
Gibbons. L. Gibbons, P. J. Hoyt, J. Camp, W. Coffin. In 
the half hour allowed, Fordham secured two South-downs.- A 
