Page 22 
March, 1954 
head of the Smithsonian at Washington, D. C. He has used 
La Jagua in the past as a base of operations while on field 
trips collecting bird specimens for that Institution); Dr. 
Herbert Clark (head of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, 
Panama City); W. H. Crook and family; Major Eunice 
Duncan, WAC; Mrs. Martha Nietzke, who teaches school 
in the Canal Zone and is from the State of Texas; Mr. Jan 
Vietor of Panama City; Jimmy Thompson and family; and 
others too numerous to mention. 
The food was excellent, the tap beer and the soda 
pop were icy ^:old, while the coffee was strong and hot. 
Everyone was chatting a mile a minute and having fun— 
which is why folks have annual picnics. 
The Club has kept a log of happenings since the middle 
of 1928. Guests are always asked to sign and comment in 
the logbook, while members keep records therein of game 
killed and other items of interest. I had seen, read, and 
signed the logbook while on hunting trips with John Hush¬ 
ing at La Jagua during the years past. The entries tell of 
successful and unsuccessful hunts and of the trials and 
tribulations of duck hunters in the Tropics, and both humor 
and tragedy have been set down as a result. 
The first entry on June 21 and 22, 1928, reports simply 
that 110 ducks were killed by the 9 men on the hunt. On 
Tuly 11, 1928, the log reports that an 80-lb. deer (Phil 
Dade, take note) was killed, plus 20 ducks. An entry on 
February 14, 1929, humorously reports "1 wild pigeon and 
2 wooden decoys shot on this trip.” 
On March 17, 1929, one Dallas L. Sharp, a guest, wrote 
in the log: "Saw two 2-toed sloths, two night monkeys, 
three stingless-bee nests, and more wild things with wings 
and blossoms than I have seen in a year elsewhere before. 
I would rather have a week here than 6 months in Europe.” 
A harassed family man noted in the diary on a trip 
extending through November 6 to 8, 1929: "Water deep. 
Killed 8 ducks and 3 quarts of 'Gorgona.’ also 1 parrot. 
The three best days for a long time—did not have any 
kids crying all day. Road best in a long time, did not get 
stuck and made the trip (6 miles) in 2 hours from Savanas 
to house.” 
Other, less humorous, entries report that Karl Curtis 
had that day shot and killed a 7-foot alligator as it charged 
him, or tell of the day that Lt. Vail, a guest, was wading 
the swamps and stepped on a submerged alligator. The 
alligator seemed to resent this and promptly and vigorously 
bit the lieutenant —through boot and all— between bone 
and Achilles tendon on one foot. As a result, the lieutenant 
spent some weeks in Gorgas Hospital. Entries also men¬ 
tion the sighting or slaying of various snakes, black bush 
cats, and of trouble encountered with the big semi-wild bulls 
that rove through the unfenced marshes. 
All in all the several logbooks contain a wealth of 
information about migratory birdlife as well as camp life, 
and make very interesting reading. 
Yes, the Club members are a grcup of sturdy, good- 
hearted, and jolly fellows. If the other guests at the 1954 
Annual Picnic enjoyed the outing half as much as my 
good wife and I, I well know that the officers and members 
of the La Jagua Hunt Club slept that night the happy, 
dreamless slumber of those who have brought real pleasure 
to their fellowmen. 
Dr. Clark tries a hamburger, Col. Pierce (with hat) tries a beer, while 
Karl Curtis talks between sips. 
The story hour—Dr. H. Clark (wearing cap) and Dr. Wetmore (wearing 
khaki shirt with back to camera) tell of hunting adventures in Central and 
South America. Bob Wood smokes a cigarette and listens. 
Come and get it! 
