New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-11
THE PENNSYLVANIA ELK.
HIS HAUNTs AND HABITS.
"REMINISCENCES or THE OLD HUNTERS BETWEEN
TIE srsQuEMANNA AND ALLEGHENY.

this county "a tie summit OF the watershed OF tue
susq lehanua valley the east and Allegheny on the
west On this summit II an extensive marsh known ~
Flag Swamp and in wet weather it, waters are drained
by branches OF both the su-quehanna and Allegheny
rivers and may be from orc valley 20 the
other The region is still dense wilderness. and great
resort for hunters Owing the Of the locality
was fiyorite haunt for elk. while that now almost
extinct animal s plenty in the forests Of this and
NewYOrk state; and after they bad been driven away
aunihated from ali other localities they still
fingered In the wilderness along BENEFITS Branch Tor
years The last one or the known to exist in the
state was started in that region in the fall Of lsi5, aud
killed otter Ions chase.
The beaver, which was common along all the water
ways OF New-York and Pennsylvania had disappeared
from all Of them except The thicke entnged outlets OF
Flag swamp sixty years ago; and along these they built
their dams for twenty-five years later. The relentless
trap OF the backvoodsman steadily depleted this last
existing COLONY, and It's sole survivor was eaptured IN
1916
1t because OF the presence Of elk within It's bound
aries at late day that this county was called Elk
County when t formed in 15l3, out Of portions Of
Clcarfed. Mexican and Jefferson counties. An old
resident Of the county OF one Of the original
settlers in the region and whose memory extends back for
seventy years, gives the writer some interesting
"reminiscences Of the days when elk were stlqte plenty
liz this part Of e state The spot where the village OF
Rlgway the tyseat stands was then an ubrok-
en- wilderness and one OF the most famous haunts Of elk
they mad their path and run-ways IN the forest,
after the manner OF the deer family; and the early
settlers soon adept as the Indian hunters ID
pursuing them.
One OF the most requcnted OF these elk paths tarted
FROM dense forest at spot where the court
house now stands in Rlgway aad extended northeast
war into Mexican County. This path led to famous
salt Hex, spot occupied by Washington Park, IN the
centre of the city Of Bradford. the metropolis OF the
Pennsylvania oil regions. Several other paths led 10 the
Hex, and the hunters white and Indian lay in constant
abscade around it, in the OF the year when the
elk rcsortcd in herds and slaughtered Of the
unsuspecting animals The hunters also lay in wait and
secured their victims the latter journey ed TO ana no
At other OF the year the animals Wer hunted
with dogs, Indians having breed OF dogs that were
especially trained Tor the purpose.
Elk were neither as intelligent nor as crafty a. the
deer which was abundant also In the forests then. and
still affords fine sport the hunter throughout this part
the state. The elk much larger than the deer
frequently attaining height OF over ok feet and a
weight proportion. but at the same time retaining
,eer-Ilke gracefulness With such apparently ul-
wieiy body, and spreading anters that often measured
six feet from butt 10 tip speed with which they made
their way and the adrOtness With which they avoided
contact with trees and other obstacles While at Iu speed
through denscs parts Of the forest were wonderful
They did not fly from danger In tremendous leaps, Ike
the deer but had recourse To peculiar trot gait which
seldom broke into a gaOp Their trot did not seem TO
fatigue them ia the least, and the chase frequently
kept up many miles before the game was brought to
bay. The elk extremely shy, and hunters without
the aid OF dogs obliged to many stratagems to
OBTAIN shoe at one A deer when pressed By the
hound has instinct that leads t to water to destroy
It's trail. entering stream It Will always make It's
way with the current and against it, the water
I'm tine latter would carry the scent OF the deer
back hounds. The elk when started never sought
10 eLuIe It's pur5uer but kept constantly course,
long pursued. Or until 10 WAS forced 10 stop
Wien the dogs drew close 10 the hyn Elk II invariably
sought summit OF or elevated point where It
would stand and defend itself asans the dogs with Ia
orrfeet This was tne stage III the ch tiat seated me
doom or the elk Tue uoss "Ouu ndras7 IT, ouI cdctiiy
keeping q safe distance from the quick and powerful
blows Of it, sharp forefeet until the hunters arrived when
wsll-tIrected shots ended the combat
The Indians hunted the elk Tor its hide and horns. The
Inferior, aud only certain portions OF II were
retained ny TIC req men LOT IOou. me uoflis Oney
valued highly; and the wigwam or nut that was
OF pride 10 well TO the tribe 10 which lie
belonged. These Indian hunters were members OF the
them still lives u hunt over the ground that Il ett
2ac one GA Seneca. Who ives when he is
rot in the woods on the reservation OF tna tribe at
alive who have hunted and killed elk in Pennsylvania
are 10th 10 admit IT, the evidence seems to leave no doubt
OF the that this Indian hunter killed the last elk that
et Ia this state There are none now east OI the
Missouri River.
Jacoos and a number Of other members of his tribe
hunting in the sinnamahOnIng region late in
November. Is45. There had been "a number OF elk
killed along Bennetts Branch as iate as l9t4 ana then
It believed that the wapiti race LAD been entirely
anuihilatcd along the sinnamahonlng Early in sep
TENDER $40, however seJh Nelson famous hunter VINO
had killed twenty-five elk III the region since loZ, and
=
through the woods near rag swamp WHen ne Aedlu the
peculiar whistle that bull elk makes only at that time
OF the year. and then durine only three or four days IL
Is the call for mate, and known among the Indians
the lOve-song Nelson returned aha took his hounds
back to the woods for the purpose OF striking the Trail Of
the elk: but IN the meantime heavy raIn-stOrm up
aud trail could be taken The news that there
sui another elA left IN The sinndnanonins woods
rapidly spread among the hunters and tile woods were
secured by many eacl anxious to lay the last OF his race
mean Sy63 Tbev struck tie traII Of the much
rIf 4'. tgtI LA lf.
pursuit days. but the Indian hunters were a. ureless
elk. TWO days OF the TOUR following inc trail through
binding snOw-st0rrn, the game was brought 10 bay IN
the forest oil Clarion County near the hewaers Of the
Clarion River. When the hunters came up they found
tle elk surrounded by aud htlng TIE dogs Jacobs was
Efforts to that end But in vain Jacobs shot through
the art, the last elk died deIyng Its enemies To
tic end TIE animal was carried with great prize to TIE
reservation, where event celebrated with great
rejoicing The antlers and head adorned Jacobs dwelling
for tne 0ut II Afterwards went To PeaIes Museum III
Among tue hunters who sought the forests Of this part
Pennsylvania aud hunted them during the past haf
century aud more was an eccentric Character by the
name OF silas Reeves. or = Uncle elle,D as ne was
Familiarity known frOm the Delaware 70 the Allegheny
lie great hunter ana his last exploit IN the woods
Christmas day 1872 when ne killed Two large
bears IN hand-to-hand nght IN one OF the DeLl"he
River counties. The following spring he Was killed IN
the Potter County woods by falling tree. IL Was bis
boast that be became hunter wIen ne was ten years
OLD Monroe County, by steathy taking MS taiaers
tn y, cal froIn their pen lie followed the brute until
DARK ne mp with IT, lie killed II at the hrst
and went sleep and slept Ill morning. He then
started back home dragging the bear after him. This
was 50 fagung task that he was about TO leave his
prize in the woods, when he met his father and "a |
neighbor wno had been securing the woods AL night III
search OF him. The father had been nearly Wild with
ler Xiety for hours. but when he saw the 10y
safe uncOnceTned cOOly struggling along with the
dead bear, he promptly seized him and gave him a /
WallOppug that he never IOfsOt Reeves was an |
original bOitOnst; and his cabins In the woods were
more than utilized iOr hiding runaway slaves until
they could be safely conducted To the ada border IN
SO he gave the use OF his cabins on the Susque
hanna for TINS purpose. fugitive slave was placed III
H. aud cared b. Reeves one day when the hunter
was absent in the woods the negro disappeared taking
with him u gun and other property belonging 10 the /
hunter From that day no became bitter enemy OF the