Oregon City courier., September 11, 1908, Page 8, Image 8

OREGON CITY COURIERHFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1908
UNTINGTl
he
PON
BUCK
BY
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
.Copyright, 1ES3, by G. P. Putnam's Bong.
Published under arrangement with U. P.
Putnam Sons, New York and London.
""JJN the wide plains where
I t I the prong -buck dwells
I I the Luoter must soine-
as fire and frost. The
only time I ever really
suffered from thirst was
while hunting prong-buck.
It wan late In the summer. I was
with the ranch wagon on the way to
Join a round-up, and as we wore out
of meat I started for a day's hunt
After two or three hours' ride, up
wir,in4f coufles. ana through the
Btorcned desolation of patches of Bud
Lands, I reached the rolling prairie.
The heat and drought had long burned
the short grass dull brown; the bot
toms of what had been pools were
covered with hard, dry, cracked earth.
The day was cloudless, and the heat
oppressive. There were many anto
lopo, but I got only one shot, breaking
a buck's leg; and though I followed it
for a couple of hours I could not over
take It. By this time It was Into In
the afternoon, and I was far away
from the river; so I pushed for a creek,
In the bed of which I hod always
found pools of water, especially to
wards the head, as Is usual with plains
watercourses. To my chagrin, how
ever, they all proved to be dry; and
though I rode up the creek bed to
ward the head, carefully searching for
any sign of water, night closed on me
before I found any. For two or three
bourn I stumbled on, leading my horse,
In my fruitless search; then a tumble
over a cut bank in the dark warned
me that I might as well stay where I
was for the rest of the warm night
Accordingly I unsaddled the horse,
and tied him to a sage brush; after
awhile he began to feed on the dewy
grass. At first I was too thirsty to
sleep. Finally I fell Into a suniber,
and when I awoke at dawn I felt no
thirst. For an hour or two more I
coutlnued uiy search for water in the
creek bed; then abandoned it and rode
straight for the river. By the time
we reached It my thirst had come
back with redoubled force, my mouth
was parched, and the horse was In
quite as bad a plight; we rushed down
to the brluk, and It seemed as if we
could neither of us ever drink our fill
of the tepid, rather muddy water. Of
course this experience was merely un
pleasant; thirst is not a source of real
danger In tho plains country proper,
Whereas in tho hideous deserts that
extend from southern Idaho through
Utah and Nevada to Arizona, it ever
menaces with death the hunter and ex
plorer. In the plains the weather is apt to
be lu extremes; the heat is tropical,
the cold arctic, and the droughts are
relieved by furious floods. These are
generally more severe and lasting In
the spring, after tho melting of tho
suow; and fierce local freshets follow
the occasional cloudbursts. Tho largo
rivers theu become wholly inipnssa
blo, and even the smaller are formi
dable obstacles. It is not easy to get
cuttle across a swollen stream, where
tho current ruus like n turbid uilll-ruce
over the bed of shifting quicksand.
Onco five of us took a thousand bond
of trail steers across the Little Mis
souri when the river was up, and it
was no light task. Tho muddy current
whs bolllug past the banks covered
With driftwood and foul yellow froth,
and the frightened cattle shrank from
entering It. At last, by hard riding,
with much loud shouting and swing
ing of ropes, we got the lenders in, and
the whole herd followed. After them
we went in our turn, tho horses swim
ming at one moment, and the next
triggering and floundering through
the quicksand. I was riding my pet
cutting horse, Muley, which has the
provoking habit of making great
bounds where the water Is Just not
deej) enough for swimming; once be
almost unseated mo. Some of the cat
tle were caught by the currents and
rolled over and over; most of these we
Were uble, with tho help of our ropes,
to put on their feet agalu; only ono
was drowned, or rather choked In a
quicksand. Many swam down stream
and lu consequence struck a dllllcult.
landing, where the river ran under a
cut bank; these we had to haul out
with our ropes.
Although 1 hnvo oftcu had a horse
down in quicksand or lu crossing n
swollen river, and have had to work
hard to suve him, I have never myself
lost ono under such circumstances.
Yet onco I saw (ho horse of one of my
men drown under him directly In front
of the ranch house, while ho was try
ing to cross the river. This was in
early spring, "soon after the ice had
broken.
When making long wagon trips over
the great plain, antelope often offer
the only source of meat supply, save
for occasional water fowl, sago fowl,
nnd prairie fowl the sharp-tailed
prnhio fowl, bo It understood. This
is tho characteristic grouse of the cat
tlo country; the true praliio fowl is n
bird of tho furmlng land farther east.
Towards the end of the summer of
1)2 I found It necessary to travel from
my ranch to tho Black Hills, sonio two
hundred miles south. The ranch wag
on went with me, driven by an all
round plainsman, a mau of iron nerves
and varied past, the sheriff of our
county. lie was an old friend of
mine; at oue time I had served as
deputy-sheriff for the northern end of
the county. In the wngou wo carried
our food ami camp kit, and our three
rolls of bedding, each wrapped in a
thick, nearly waterproof canvas sheet ;
we hud a tent, but we never needed it.
The load being light, the wagon was
drawn by but a span of horses, a pair
of wild runaways, tough, and good
travellers. My foreman and I rode
beside the wagon on our wiry, un
kempt, unshod cattle-ponies. They car
ried us all day at a rack, pace, single
foot or slow lope, varied by rapid gal
loping when we made long circles aft
er game; the trot, the favorite gait
with eastern park-iiders, is disliked by
all peoples who have to do much of
their life-work In tho Baddle.
The first day's ride was not attrac
tive. The heat was Intense and the
dust stifling, as we had to drive some
loose horses for the first few miles,
and afterwards to ride up and down
the sandy river bed, where the cattle
had gathered, to look over some young
steers we had put on the range the
preceding spring. When we did camp
it was by a pool of stagnant water, in
a creek bottom, and the mosquitoes
were a torment Nevertheless, as
evening fell, it was pleasant to climb
a little knoll nearby and gaze at the
rows of strangely colored buttes, grass
clad, or of bare earth and scoria, their
soft reds nnd purples showing as
through a haze, and their irregular out
lines gradually losing their sharpness
in the fading twilight.
My foreman and I usually rode far
off to one side of the wagon, looking
out for antelope. Of these we at first
saw few, but they grew more plentiful
as we Journeyed onward, approaching
a big, scantily wooded creek, where I
had found the prong-horn abundant In
previous seasons. They were very
wary and watchful whether going sin
gly or in small parties, and the lay of
the laud made it exceedingly dllllcult
to get within range. The last time I
had hunted in this neighborhood was
In the fall, at the height of the rutting
season. Prong-bucks, even more than
other game, seem fairly maddened by
erotic excitement. At the time of my
former hunt they were in ceaseless
motion; each master buck being InceS'
santly occupied In herding his harem,
and fighting would-be rivals, while sin
gle bucks chased single does as gray
hounds chase hares, or else, if no does
were In sight, from sheer excitement
ran to and fro as if crazy, racing at
full speed in one direction, then halt
ing, wheeling, and tearing back again
Just as hard as they could go.
At this time, however, the rut was
still some weeks off, and all the bucks
had to do was to feed and keep a look'
out for enemies. Try my best, I could
not get within less than four or five
hundred yards, and though I took
number of shots at these, or even
longer distances, I missed. If a man
Is out merely for a day's hunt, and has
Throwing the buck into the wagon
we continued our Journey across the
prairie, no longer following any road,
and before sunset jolted down towards
the big creek for which we had been
heading. There were many water
holes therein, und timber of considera
ble size; box alder and ash grew here
and there In clumps and fringes, be
side the serpentine curves of tho near-,
ly dry torrent bed, the growth being
thickest under the shelter of the occa
sional low bluffs. We drove down to
a heavily grassed bottom, near a deep,
narrow pool, with, at one end, that
rarest of luxuries In the plains coun
try, a bubbling spring of pure, cold
water. With plently of wood, delicious
water, ample feed for the horses, and
fresh meat we bad every comfort and
luxury incident to camp life in good
weather. The bedding was tossed out
Hre got (lie leaders in and Vie whole
q herd followed.
all the time he wishes, he will not
Bcai'e tho gumo and waste cartridges
by shooting at such long ranges, pre
ferring to spend half a day or more In
patient waiting ami careful (stalking;
but if he Is traveling, and Is therefore
crumped for lime, ho must take his
chances, even at tho cost of burning
n good deal of powder.
1 was flunlly helped to success by a
characteristic freak of the game I was
following. No other animals are as
keen-sighted, or are normally as wary
ns prong-horns; but no others are so
whimsical and odd lu their behavior
at times, or so subpect to fits of the
most stupid curiosity nnd panic. Lnto
In the afternoon, on topping a rise I
saw two good bucks racing off about
threo hundred yards to ono side; I
prang to the ground, and tired thrte
(hots at them in vulia, as they ran like
quarter-horses until they disappeared
over a slight swell, lu n minute, how
ever, back they came, suddenly ap
pearing over the crest of the same
swell, immediately in front of me.
mid, as I afterwards found by pacing,
sumo three hundred nud thirty yards j
away. They stood side by side facing
me, and remained motionless, unheed
ing the crack of the Winchester; I
aimed at the right-hand one, but a
front shot of the kind, at such n dis
tance, Is rather dllllcult, nnd It was
not until I tired for the fourth time
that ho sank back out of sight. I
could not tell whether 1 had killed him,
and took two shots at his mate, as tho
latter went off, but without effect
Jiunntug forward, I found the tlrst
one dead, the bullet having gone
through him lengthwise; the other did
not seem satisfied even yet, and kept
hanging round In the distance for
some minutes, looking at us.
I had thus bagged one prong-buck,
ns the net outcome of tho expenditure
of fourteen cartridges. This was cer
tainly not good Bliooting; but neither
was It ns bad as It would seem to the
man Inexperienced In antelope huntluc.
When fresh meat la urgently ueedeo,
and when time is too short, the hunter
who is after antelope In an open flat
fish country must risk many long
shots. In no other kind of hunting is
there so much long-distance shooting.
They stood tide by side facing me, and
remained motlonlcus.
on a smooth spot beside the wagon;
the horses were watered and tethered
to picket pins where the feed was
best; water was fetched from the
spring; a deep hole was dug for the
fire, and the grass roundabout care
fully burned off; and lu a few mo
ments the bread was baking in the
Dutch oven, the potatoes were boiling,
antelope steaks were sizzling in the
frying-pan, and tho kettle was ready
for the tea. After supper, eaten with
the relish known well to every hard
working nnd successful hunter, we sat
for half an hour or so round the fire,
and then turned in under the blankets
and listened to the walling of the
coyotes until we fell sound asleep.
We determined to stay In this camp
all day, so as to try and kill another
prong-buck, as we would soon bo past
the good hunting grounds. I did not
have to go far for my game next morn
ing, for soon after breakfast, while
Sitting on my canvas bag cleaning my
rifle, the sheriff suddenly called to mo
thata bunch of antelope wore coming
towards us. Sure enough there they
were, four in number, rather over half
a mile off, on the first bench of the
prairie, two or three hundred yards
back of the creek, leisurely feeding In
our direction. In a minute or two
they were out of Bight, and I instantly
ran along tho creek towards thenr foi
a quarter of a mile, and theu crawled
up a short shallow coulle, closo to the
head of which they seemed likely to
pass. When nearly at the end I cau
tiously raised iny hatless head, peered
through some Btraggling weeds, nnd
at once saw the horns of tho buck.
He was a big fellow, about a hundred
and twenty yards off; the others, a doe
and two kids, were in front. As I lift
ed myself on my elbows ho halted and
turned his raised bend towards me;
the sunlight shone blight on bis sup
ple, vigorous body with Its markings
of sharply contrasted brown and
white. I pulled trigger, and away
he went; but I could see that bis race
was nearly run, and ho fell after going
a few hundred yards.
I
We Don't Sell AH the
Good Shoes
You have bought good values elsewhere,
without doubt.
We claim, and we bank our reputation on
the statement, that we are selling a little bet
ter shoes for a little less money than any other
dealer in town.
For instance have you ever had a chance
at anything like men's Selz Royal Blue $4.00
Shoes at $3.38.
L. ADAMS
OREGON CITY'S BUSY STORE
Woodmen Bids., Oregon City
Local and Personal News!
Mrs. Anna Kruger, of tills city, left
Monday, for the east, where they go
to make a year's visit with friends.
Theodore Huerth, of Parkplace, was
in this city Saturday transacting
bnsinoss
Socure your wiutor coal now at
Pioneer Transfer Oo. , agency Koslvn
(Joal Oo. tf
FOR SALE One fresh milch cow.
Fred Matthies, one-half mile east
Clackamas Heights.
Mr. and Mrs. 0. Q. Huntley aud
Mildred returned last Friday from
(Jan nou Bench, where they have
spending tho last three weoks.
Rev. T. F. Bowen attended a meet
ing of the Missionary Board of the
Diocese of Oregon, held at Bishop
Croft, Portland, on Tuesday evening.
Oregon City received another one of
her wandering families home on Thur
sday of last week when Mr. and Mrs.
Bnker returned from a short vacation
at Long Beach.
Mr. John Adams has installed ten
new tables in his department store
which will be used In the rear of the
store for the accommodation of the
Jadies' suits. The tables being fitted
with large draws for such purpose,
and are a most complote arrangement. ,
M. F. De Larzes, who has been con
ducting a dairy on the east side for
several years is disposing of his cows
and other dairy stock and will quit
the business.
Miss Jean White has returned to
this city after a stay of some time at
Mt. Adams, having been the guest of
her uncle, State Senator E. M. Rands,
of Vancouver, Wash.
T. J. Ellis, traveler for Spalding
Co., of Iowa, spent Saturday and Sun
day with his family. He has jnst re
turned from a trip north of Porthiud
where he reports busiuess conditions
as good.
A huntng parly composed of F. F.
White, Emory Dye, of this city, and
Mr. Runyon, of Cherryvllle, have gone
to Malheur Lake, Eastern Oregon, for
a six weeks' hunting trip. They ex
pect to be gone six weeks, having
gone by team.
Hunry IHolmau, of Beaver Creek,
who had his leg broken, some little
time ago whilo logging, was in town
last Saturday. Ilia log had uot been
healing ns it onght and it was found
necessary to bring him whore he coo Id
reoeive better attention. With the
proper amount of care no further
trouble is anticipated. Doctors
Sommer and Monnt are looking after
the injured man.
NO
MORE
HALF
50LEING
' CHICAGO L0
IMPERISHABLE SOLE
TRADE MARK
The effect of malaria lasts a long time.
You catch cold easily or become run
down because of the after effects of malaria.
Strengthen yourself with Scoftr
Emulsion.
It builds new blood and tones up your nervous
System.
ALL DRUGGISTS BOo. AND $1.00.
0
No more half-solelng If you wear
Imperishable Sole Work Shoes.
Imperishable Sole Shoes will out
wear any two or more ordinary
oles. This sole leather Is tanned
by a new process that makes it the
greatest wearing leather ever
made. Every man should see them.
Every pair of Imperishable Sole
Shoes has the above trade-mark
stamped on the soles. Be sure and
getthe genuine.
JOHN ADAMS
dMasonic Temple
ORECON CITY, - - OREGON
School
shoes
Nap -a-tan
Shoes for
Boys
Oregon City
Shoe Store
(J The now all absorb
ing question with the
parent: The children are
preparing for school and
their feet must be pro
tected from the wet.
(f Don't wait till their,
toes are out!
(J Fit them out in proper
form and you'll never be
sorry. They will be
much better able to at
tend to school duties
and 'twill keep them
well and happy. "
(J Look over our stock of Children's Foot- "
wear. We can please you. Prices for
excellent quality Lowest In the city.
Miss Cora Wold, a very prominent
yonng lady of Eugene, who is now
teaching in the East Side school at
Portland, was the goestof Miss Eliza
beth Kelly Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. G. R. H. Miller, of this city,
was attending the labor day exercises
at Portland the first of this week and
on Tuesday loft for Mount Augel to
enjoy the hop picking season there.
D. C. Latonrotte and bdu- Kenneth
returned Friday night from a trip
to Monnt Adams, where they were
enjoying the fresl. mountain air and
picking berries and having a general
good time rusticating.
Mr. K. R. MoAplin has returned
to Ins home in Gladstone from a six
weeks' trip through the east where
he has been in the interest of the R.
T. Smith & Sou Shoe Company, of
Chiongo, whose hue of shoes Mr.
MoAlpin la handling for the Paiiflo
ooast territory. He reports business
vory good for the initial trip, espec
ially through Idaho aud Washington.
While he was in the east Mrs. Mc
Alpin and little child Jwas on a visit
with friends in Gresham and nearby
towns, and has also returned home.
W. L. Little has been improving
his property on Seventh street and
has raised the building occupied by
Mr. Friedrich's as a hardware store
and has put new timbers throughout
underneath and new sills.
ml
- a
SEEDS
BUCKBEE'S SEEDS SUCCEED I
SPECIAL OFFER:
Made to bolld New BualntM. A trial
mute you our Deriuaueox customer.
Prlre eolation fMsttiffiiS
11 the finest : Trni. 7 iplemiid : 0im. 8 best varle-
ttM W ftprlni'lowcrlrtf Hulbt m ranettp in all
Write to-day; Mention this Paper.
SEND 10 CENTS
to eovtr pMtec uid ptcklnit and wctlw thl valuable
eoiucuoD or oeeaa ponipaia, topttnsr wan my Dig
intimcuvot neauiiiui ecea ana nam nooui
tUi Ml fcDOQt U ilMl vuittiu 01 heMi, mnti, ate.
in xni
M
U W Rurthn 14"f BUCKBEE STREET
! Hi DUCKDG8, KOCKTOBD, ILL.
Pinches
Stiff sole rubs
at every stepj
Blisters
rhl
here & XT 5! A
v Jt -M m rwi . r
vi f m fj ineKea
M r itw J
Cross sole
bends with the foot
Draw! Burn! Ache!
If you could look inside of your shoe with your foot in
it, you would see why the sole of your foot bends, the
sole of your shoe bends scarcely at all
inis constant inction is what causes hard, callous
places, makesyourfeetdraw,burn,ache I
The Red Cross, with its flexible
sole, -prevents all this because it bends
with the foot.
Vi7 Not a movement is hampered,
not a muscle restricted.
It gives a sense of ease and free
dom, a restful feeling so different
from stiff-sole shoes that you will
have to wear it to appreciate it.
lryit. Find out how differ
ently it feels.
Know for
:!: i : B Ilk.
1- '"v.
. ,v - r r vs.
l "It bends
t bends
'with the foot"
yourself its comfort, its relief I
Made in all styles Pump, Semi-Pump, Ox.
ford and High Shoe. All leathers Tan, Patent
Colt, Gun Metal, Glazed Kid
rumps and Oxfords, $3.50.
High Shoes, $4.00.
Oxfords de luxe, $4.00.
High Shoes de luxe, $5.00.
VSy
?: : ami
TlWlMWt
attractive
' model that is
alwavR oorreot. R''i
Cross Patent Colt OllorJ,
JOHN ADAMS
MASONIG TEMPLE
Oregon Gity, - Oregon