HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1937.
PAGE THREE
Recalls Coyote
Running.
To the Editor:
On receiving your caper today, I
read your and Mike's story of dogs
and coyotes, and will say it brought
back those days that seem as yes
terday; but on examination it does
not stand the test. No doubt Mike
gave you his first experience, a trip
on lower Sand Hollow with Willard
Herren, Wilson Brock, Mike, Math
ews, and others, myself, with the fox
hounds. This was our first exper
ience, and you should have seen our
feathers fall after each succeeding
race losing to the coyote in the dis
tance. Later in the day, being on
the ridge back of the M. S. Corrigall
place on Butter creek, Mike and I
being mounted on the swiftest horses
decided to lead the dogs if possible.
Well, we were strung out there on as
pretty a race as ever took place,
coyote, Mike and I, dogs close behind,
when my horse broke through a
badger hole and struck on his neck,
and I so far in the lead it actually
turned, the coyote and crippled our
best dog in trying to get out of the
way. (This might not be just right;
ask Mike.)
Well, be that as it may, I learned
in later years that the Beagle", o fox
hounds, had no place in making a
public display but would clear the
range to a certain extent. By having
four or five different packs of say
seven dogs each on different ranches,
and the camptenders in their differ
ent rounds letting them follow, soon
they would pitch their voices to a
high key that is, if the track were
fresh and soon you would see in
the distance on those Penland ranch
ridges, the chase was on. They
would probably run the coyote all
day, and night, too (though Mike
does not so speak), and it was sel
dom that the coyote would leave the
range, but would circle and back
track; then coming in hearing of a
pack on another range, that chase
would soon be over. Then again, the
hounds often ran the coyote into
some back yard, woodshed, and there
would be killed by someone living
there.
Different with the grey hounds.
You did or you didn't. I have seen
on chases where we would have as
many as fifty people take part, and
always with poor success. One such
race took place at our Sanford ranch
we had fifty for dinner which
took place at the Headquarters ranch.
George Conser was in this bunch,
We had just completed a string of
woven wire fence embracing several
sections, and knew some coyotes
were enclosed. Thinking this the
chance, we let it be known the day
of the race. But on arriving at the
scene of slaughter he immediately
raised a straight tail. He simply ran
to that fence, jumped on a rock crib,
THAT COYOTE STORY
Pardon friends, but today I read Mike's story, its happenings and thrills,
And I thought of the chases we've had together in the Heppner hills.
I read and re-read that story, thought of those days gone on before,
And cried in my passionate longing, stood in my stirrups once more.
Rode and re -rode those races over, swapped the fox hounds for the gray,
And the records of Morrow county will show we cashed twenty-one in a
day.
I've whipped the streams of Old Morrow, drained holes on the John Day,
And this is no fish story I'm telling, the big ones didn't get away.
Now Mike has always rode a winner, been in at the killing without fail.
He's right about that square jaw, but wrong about the horse-whip tail;
For when you see his tail extended (straight out) like a rat-tail file,
And he scarcely glances over his shoulder, it's hardly worth your while.
But when you see his tail drooping, like a horse-whip, at the end,
Just spur a little faster, boys, we'll get him just round the bend;
Or perchance his tail extended, but the snow is falling, ringing wet,
Heed not the rat-tail or square jaw, you'll get him, you can bet.
Now, I'm not mistaken; I've chased them from Butter creek to Rhea;
And never knew one with the horse -whip tail that ever got away.
Oft' I've heard the hounds' loud baying; no sweeter music e'er was played,
When they pitched their voices, as the tracks were fresher, fresher made.
Mike says, of all predatory animals, the Coyote has them on the run.
True, he has out-kiotied us kiotiers from the time the world begun.
D. Cox, who kept a string of traps, and in trapping took much pride,
Told me he saw a coyote turn his trap, eat the bait from other side.
Lincoln once said he who never chased a fox on some frosty morn
Had missed the pleasures of this life, better for him never been born.
How true these words for when Penland threw the bugle horn away
And Joe Wilkins left, the West and spirit of the West went that day.
over the fence, and, was gone. Our
dogs didn't understand that fence.
You will notice in my verse I
speak of cashing twenty-one at one
time. This was while on the Butter
creek ranch. I had a real pack of
seven grey hounds, or hounds mixed
a little with bull, which does not
hurt much, only for speed. Gene
Jones was with me that time and
several different mornings morn
ings were mornings in those days,
say 4 o'clock Gene would hear a
wail close in. Out to the barn he
would go. On with the bridle, no
saddle, and in a few minutes would
return with the scalp. It was he
who brought the twenty-one scalps
at the one time, but I was there at
the killing quite often.
I had one dog we called Reno,
which was a fourth bull. I've seen
him kill a coyote alone inside of
one-half mile and have him dead
before I could get there, and I was
none too slow, either. He never
sparred for hold, but would wade
right in and get the throat hold and
never loosen, bull-dog fashion.
This dog was a brother to the fa
mous Dick Howard dog, which Dick
said killed over a hundred coyotes
one winter. You can believe it or
not, but Les Matlock could give you
the full dope, as Dick looked after
the Matlock horses at the "Wells
Springs.
When on the old Nels Jones ranch
on Butter creek, which I owned at
the time, Mr. Scott, my wife's own
father, came out to see us. Mr.
Scott was a southerner, and had fol
lowed the hounds after the coons in
earlier life. I notice he kept looking
at those dogs as though interested,
and remarked, "Would you like to
see them move some?" He thought
he would, so I mounted him on one
of my best horses. We soon jumped
one, and away we went, the old
man's whiskers flaring in the wind.
We soon got that fellow, and the
old gentleman was right there.
While standing there we saw the
dogs start again, and another chase
was on. They caught this one, too,
just above the Dillard French place
on Butter creek.
Well, I could not tell all those
stories, or you would have to en
large the Gazette; so we'll let the
dogs and coyotes rest a while.
C. A. MINOR,
(Editor's Note: We are pleased to
give our readers the following poem and
communication from C. A. Minor, Mor
row county pioneer, now of Mt. Vernon
Grant county, and Drobablv the "doe
king" of Morrow county when coyote
running, a near-rorgotten sport, was in
its neyaay. in a note or transmittal
Mr. Minor said he owned more than 100
dogs at one time, with as many as 30
Daying nounas, tne rest shepherds.
birds, and curs. The second best kill
ers he ever followed, he says, were the
Russian wolf hounds. "They were
nanasome aogs. maae lots of catches,
and have known them to kill three deer
inside half a mile." A penciled notation
reads:' "We always made a catch if we
nappenea to jump in a wet snow storm.
Queer, but true, think they use the tail
as a rudder.")
Mr. king attended the song rehear
sal held at Lexington Friday after
noon.
Dolly Farrens visited Friday in
Lexington with her aunt, Mrs. Clyde
Swift
Esten Stevens returned from Her-
miston where he has been taking
treatments. While there he visited
at the home of Harvey P. De Moss.
Word has been received here of
the serious illness of Emil Johnson.
He has pneumonia. Mr. Johnson
was a long-time resident of this
vicinity, having just recently moved
to Heppner. Friends here hope for
his speedy recovery.
Bunny Stevens is visiting his mo
ther here this week.
Yvonne Hastings sprained her an
kle while playing at school Monday.
Nels Knighten and his sister, Mrs.
H. H. Imil returned to their home at
Forest Grove Sunday after visiting
for a few days at the home of their
uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
Knighten.
Kenneth Batty moved his sheep to
Dry Fork last week.
Jack DeVore, Mildred McDaniel
and Creth Craber were shopping in
Heppner Thursday.
Mrs. Carl Leathers and Jean, and
Mrs. Lewis Batty and daughter at
tended the show in Heppner Satur
day.
Claud Hastings went to work for
Harry French at his mountain ranch
Monday.
Pat Bleakman, Charlotte Adams,
Richard Robison and Clarence Rod-
gers went to Glutton Falls Sunday.
They state they found many signs of
spring including many buttercups.
Mrs. Dilhe Leathers spent this
week visiting her son and daughter-
in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Leathers.
She was accompanied by her two
small grandsons.
The dance that was to be held at
the I. O. O. F. hall Saturday the
20th has been called off.
Sam McDaniel, Jr., is visiting home
folks this week.
Mrs. Lotus Robison spent the week
end at the home of her daughter,
Mrs. Sam McDaniel.
Mrs. Roy Robison and children
spent the week end at their moun
tain home.
Mr. Galliger went to Walla Walla
Friday. He was accompanied home
by his daughter and children, Mrs,
Bill Lee, who will visit a few weeks.
Misses Annie and Molly McEntire
spent the week end at their home
here. Mrs. Figley and Mrs. McEn
tire went back to Heppner Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reed were
transacting business in Heppner
Wednesday.
weeks or the entire six weeks. The
second is a travel study tour of the
Orient in which students may earn
a certain number of credits by mak
ing the tour under the direction of
Dean Ava B. Milam of O. S. C, and
Mrs. Stanley Chin of Portland.
Ten visiting instructors and a
strong staff made up of resident fac
ulty members will give work in
child development and family rela
tionships, household administration,
foods and nutrition, home economics
education, clothing, textiles and re
lated arts, and institution economics,
according to an announcement folder
just issued.
Comprehensive summer session
work will also be given in most of
the other schools of the college, as
usual.
Walter Dobyns, in town Saturday
from the Liberty section, was un
decided what they would do about
breaking up the crust on the wheat
already sown. They expected to do
considerable spring seeding.
HARDMAN
By LUCILLE FARRENS
The sixth grade pupils are pub
lishing a newspaper containing all
the school news. Editors are Jean
Leathers, Vera McDaniel and Nona
Inskeep.
Leslie Bleakman and Tom Billing
who recently returned from Eugene
have gone to work for Hynd broth
ers near Cecil.
Clarence Rodger s and Virgil
Crawford broke their car down while
on their way from Lone Rock to
Rhea creek dance Saturday evening.
Victor Johnson, Forrest and Char
lotte Adams took them back to Lone
Rock Sunday.
Richard Robison and Pat Bleak
man attended the show in Heppner
Saturday evening. They were ac
companied by Mr. and Mrs. Ray
mond McDonald. They stopped on
their way back for a few hours at
the Rhea creek dance.
Loes Stevens was visiting in Lex
ington Friday.
Mrs. Clary, Mrs. Tompkins and
OSC Summer Session
To Feature Home Ec
L-orvams. Extensive courses in
home economics. Darticularlv for
teachers, have again been provided
for the 1937 summer session at Ore
gon State college from June 21 to
July 30. Hundreds of students from
many parts of the United States have
been attending the state college sum
mer session, many for the home ec
onomics work provided.
This year two new features have
been added to the home economics
program. One is an institute of ed
ucation for family life, which may
be attended either the first three
THE
STAR Reporter
Pri.-Sat. Our Gang Comedy
Hopalong1 Cassidy and "Off to
the Races," the zippiest of the
Jones Family series thus far,
with Slim Summerville added
for some good laughs.
Snn.-Mon. The smartest musical
ever filmed Irving Berlin's
grandest songs "On the Ave
nue," with a cast of stars so
bright you don't care what
they do if they'll only keep
on doing it!
Tuesday speaks for itself.
Wednesday Only: In addition to
the regular feature, Mr. and
Mrs. Ted Boy, prominent con
cert artists, will present a half
hour musical program. We
seldom have an opportunity to
present such fine talent.
Thursday Same feature as Wed
nesday with additional short
subjects.
Star Theater
Heppner, Oregon
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Daffodil CAKES
30c and 50c
OUR EASTER SPECIALTY
other delicious cakes
Banana Nut, 30c and 50c
Spice, 25c and 40c
add zest to your Easter
ROLLS - PASTRIES
Yours for a JOYOUS EASTER
HEPPNER BAKERY
Chevrolet Production In Full Swing
'
J
i - tip -Ss& . J jrA
Resumption of manufacturing activities at the two Chevrolet plants in
Oakland is a pleasant prospect to Gerald Loraine who punches his time
preparatory to building 1937 models for the western states. Below
airview of the Chevrolet Plant No. 1 and the Fisher Body plant on Foot
hill Boulevard. Chevrolet Plant No. 2, devoted to the manufacture of
trucks and commercial cars, is the former Durant plant on E. 14th St
It was purchased last Spring to meet augmented demand from Chevro
let's western dealers.
Ferguson Motor Co
Heppner, Oregon
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