The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-06
KEELING or MARVIN DIMoCK =
X, a.. Elk In Judge Caton's Park, near OF
irNa. IA N.,plrnber. ISO0.

Ottawa Academy oil sciences by Col. L. LiLl
-D5cEtY. will recall wildly to our citizens tn,
recollection ofa tradegy WHICH spread a deel
Gloom over our city at the time Of its occur
renee. rafr
In compliance with your request, made in be-
half cf the Ottawa Academy of Natural Sciences
[ will try to put in writing, illustrative of the
habits and character of the elk the incidents OF
the death of Mr. Marvin Dimock, caused by in
iyrics inflicted by on elk in Judge Cations north
park, in September 1865. To render the state
Inent Ineligible to those not familiar with the
ground, it is proper to say that Judge Cations
residence and my Cwn are about two hundred
aud ffty feel anart, and situated on the brow OF
the bluff, about mile north of the Court House
lii Ottawa, arr that Judge Cations parks lie Just
north ut our residences. The lower or south
park contains about forty acres, and the upper
or north park about thirty acres. Both were en-
closed by strong picket fence, eight feet high
and the PARTITION fence between them is of the
samo structure. InS north park was surround
ed on every size ~ .her enclosures. \ public
highway from the city passes up ravlne short
Distance east If the Judges house then turning
west separates the grounds about his house and
.nine from the lower park, and thence runs
Borthward along the wGss side Of the lower park
70 within one hundred feet OF the upper park,
where the road turns west aud leaves the park
grounds. The parks are woodland, chiefly sec
end growth OF trees from four to twelve inches
over, with here and there an old oak of the orig
iual forest. Tie undeTbrush in both had at that
time generally disappeared, but in the upper
park there still remained thickets, furnishing
places of concealmcnt for the elk ard deer. At
that season some Of the ok had begun to show a
disposition t. be vicious, and, az had been the
cHstom OF the Judge IA that matter, the herd had
been banished to the Hpper park, the only en-
trance to which was through an outside gate
.loir our houseSl IN. tie lower park, and thence
through another gate in the partition fence be-
tween the parks. Both gates were kept locked,
and the key kept at judge Cations house.
Marvin Dimock, stout old gentleman, say
sixty years Of ago, and two hundred pounds in
weight, had rooms and boarded at the house Of
Me-. Edward Drew, in Ottawa; and his brother,
Rufus Dimock, of the State of Connecticut. a
fra'i, thin looking man, apparently not less than
nifty yeacs old, was there on a visit
Soon after breakfast. on Sunday morning. Sep
TENDER 10TH 1867 the two Dimochs and Mr..
Drew SET out foc Il forenoon ramble into the
country. Passing by our residences and the low
or park on The public road, they entered the
i'eids lying west OF the upper park and wandered
on until obey found themselves in the field north
% The upper park and there halted awhile in the
shade for rest.
Marvin Uimoak at lcngth proposed to cross
the fence and come down through the parks, that
his Connecticut brother might see the elk and
deer, TO tlia Drew objected, suggesting the i'm
propCleJy Of going in without permission After
short p'riey, they improyised q ladder and
scaled The high fence. The party fingered
while on the grass plat on the bank Of the little
creek, which passed eastward across that part of
sac ground, and amused them selves by feeding
crackers to some deer and fawns which came to
them. ~ ell, wcra IN sight Drew then pro-
posed to relros3 the fence where they had en-
tered and return by the route they had travelled
goinS ost. Marvin D.mock insisted on return
ing through tho parks spying lie wanted to have
his brother see 'thosc fellows which make these
big tracks, pointing 20 The ell, tracks about the
stream. Drew suggested the danger Of doing so,
when Marvin Dimo3k said to Drew: III You are
afraid, yon can 60 b2cl, tho way wo came, aud
we will go through the parks and meet YOU at
the south gate Touched little By this ban
ter, Ore" (wAO - a strong. active man. in the
prime OF life replied that he did not fear to 20
anywhere where the Dimocls could safely 90
80 the party started south, mounting tho little
b)uti from the creek, and passed on through the
woodland. 1t about one hundred Yards they
discovered tho herd Ct elk, near by in u patch OF
thioN brUsl1 ood, on their leis and little to
elk for a few minutes. The elk seemed qniet,
with no indication Of hostility, beyond the maxi
ing OF ugly faces by the old chieftan of the herd.
who stood out in front of the other elk, with
head adorned with high and widespread antlers.
Their curiosity beng satisfied, our adventurers
set eVt for home, coming southwark. They had
Travelled but short way when tho herd of elk
were observed to be following with their chief in
front Drew, who was at the rear, stopped and
turned round. At this the elk halted Again
the men moved on, AT faster walk, --Rufus
bimock, the Connecticut brother, in advance
Marvin Dimoek next, and Drew still at the rear
The elk followed, gaining on the men rapidly
Drew again turned round upon the leader of the
herd, and again the elk haited,-this time not
aAore than thirty feet from Drew File told his
10 look out for "a circus and adj
vlsed them to resort to trees for safety. Marvin
Dimock, who carried small walking staff, got
behind tree about fourteen inches over Rufus
Dmock climbed into the limbs Of small tree,
some six inches in diameter: while Drew stood
beside another small tree, with one hand firmly
grasping limb as high as he c.uld well reach
Lis elhship stood there for while, making ugly
faces at Drew. At length his hair was seen to
rise and stand Oh end. Soon the elk suddenly
plunged forward with his antlers at Drew. He
was an instant too late, for Drew had mounted
out of his reach into the little tree After horn
ing i'rews tree while the elk turned his atten-
.tlon 70 Marvin Dimock, who was standing on
che ground behind the larger tree Advancing
deliberately upon this tree the elk butted against
1t, his antlers standing out on either side Keep
ing his head to the tree he began soon to swing
round towards Marvin Dimock, thus bringing
the points o. the horns on his right nearer tho
man. Dimock keeping time with the elks move
ments, (which were not rapidly moved round
the tree, keeping it between him and the elk
At times the elk reversed his movements and
swung round to his left always, however, keep
ing his head toward the trnc Mnruin ni,nncl