Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-03
THE LAST ELK.

now jim JACOBS, TnE SENECA HUNTER,
KILLED THE LAST BLK IN PENNSYLVANIA.
From the Bradford Ira.
1t is now many years since that
largest species of the deer family, the
elk, roamed about among the noun
tains and wilds of Mexican county.
Settler who are familiar with the
events and traditions Of the Tuna
Valley as far back in the past as q
half century ago have still some rec.
objection of the elk in this section.
Within the past twenty years farmers
along the east and west branches of
the Tuna while plowing or grubbing
have turned up the large antlers OF
the elk. Like deer the elk had paths
aud runs which they followed and
which were well known to the hunters.
The sections of Northwestern Penn.
sylvania most celebrated for numbers
of elk were along the Sinnemahoning
aud the vicinity Of where Ridgeway
now stands. 1t was in that neighbor.
hood, while the great forests were vet
in their prestine glory, that the Seneca
and Cornplanter Indians chased the
monster animals and slew them prin-
cipally for their hides and horns.
There was an elk path from near
Ridgeway through the kinzua coun
try, which emerged in the east branch
of the Tuna Valley, near Lewis Run.
Il fh,n continued 81
city and up the West Branch to the
point where the Washington Street
Park is located, where there was an
"elk lick" renowned among the Seneca
hunters. Many of the luckless ami.
mails have met their death at that
point from the Indians, who concealed
themselves and lay in wait at certain
seasons of the year for the game.
Elk were usually about the size of n
horse and their antlers frequently
measured six feet from tip TO tip.
The flesh of the animal was coarse
and not very compact. Indians cared
little for the meat, as there was but
very small parts Of the carcass which
they regarded as worth preserving.
The more tender and palatable flesh
of the deer and bear. which was easily
found, suited the redman's taste much
better. The horns of the elk, how.
ever, were regarded as a desirable
trophy and piece of furniture in the
rude abode of the sons of the forest.
A popularity of the elk skin, which
was the leading incentive to the eager
hunter, was that after being cured it
remained soft and the red.brown hair
quite firm. The elk did not possess
the intelligence or heetness nf the
deer. 1t was said to be quite stupid,
and although moving very rapidly
along the familiar path when closely
pressed, does not attempt, as the deer
frequently does, TO elude its pursaers
by suddenly turning from its course
and seeking stream to destroy the
trail or the heavy underbrush for con-
cealment. The elk's medium of de.
tense was not its large horns, but fore
feet. Ii was not aggressive, but fought
uSspetatelf Wntu COEueTVu. INDIANS
usually chased the animals with dogs,
and when fatigued or tightly driven
the elk would station itself upon a
rock or elevated point, and keep off
the dogs with its weapons of warfare.
Ii elevated itself with wonderful agili.
ty and threw force into blow from
its forefeet that was dangerous TO the
health and life of venturesome dog.
In this manner the dogs and elk stood,
neither yielding point to the other,
until the hunter reached the scene
when the elk's life was soon cut short.
About fifteen years ago, Jim Jacobs,
the old Seneca bear hunter, struck the
trail of an elk along the Sinnemahon.
ing. He called several other Indians
to his assistance and with dogs the
Senecas followed the trail for several
days and chased the elk, probably the
last of his race, through a binding
snow storm, down into the northern