The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-03-27
rmE rEnocIrr or SALMON.

and perpetrates the following
"The recent frigbtful accident which
happened TO stage in Southern Oregon
cannot fail to call tho attention Of the
State authorities TO the necessity Of
protecting settlers against the attacks
of salmon. The stage in question YVES
crossing Applegate Greek when IL was
suddenly attacked by u drove of SAL
mon. The stage was instantly over
turned, and tbs hungry fish swarmed
over II, while tho stage driver, with
great presence Of mind, cut the traces
Of bis horses, and throwing himself
across the of wheel horse--a powerful
animal, formerly the property of Dr.
Goodrich Of Olympia-mansged to
escape. The dispatch which conveys 10
US this painful story says nothing Of the
fate Of the stage passengers, but, un-
fortunately, there Is every reason to be-
lieve that they fsll victim, 10 tho SAL
mon.
The Oregon salmon has long been
regarded by experienced western hun
tors as the most dangerous animal 10.
Testing the continent. IL is much
arger than the salmon Of the Atlantic
Coast, and unlike the latter, which 10
timid and inofTensive fish, IL Is fearless,
aggressive and cruel. There is scarcely
. river Ia Oregon which Is free from
salmon, and many Of the streams are
rendered practically impasssble by the
numbers and ferocity Of the salmon in.
habiting them.
To hunt tho Oregon SAlmon requirer
iron nerves aud great skill in he nsr
Of the rifle. The usual practice of the
hunter is to hide himself on the bank
Of a stream aud TO send in his dog 10
rouse the salmon fron their lair. When
tho 6sh come within gunrhot tho hunter
fires, and unless he kills or disables the
gAms at tbs FIRST shot his chances for
life arc small. The infariated fish VIII
In nos. tascs, turn upon the hunter
whose shot has been un' festive. Que
blow Of the sAlmon's ;ail alrnolt inva-
riably proves fatal, and If be can ice
set his teeth in the flesh Of the hunter
he cannot be shaken of. The only
chance Of escape is for the hunter tc
drive bis knife into the fish's heart, but
such blow 10 be effective must he d.
liverod Immediately behiud the pectora
I'm, and It reqAirss the utmost coolp"s'
for Q man 70 face the rush Of maddrr
ed salmon and wait until he can stab
him in the most vulnerable part. Scores
Of hunters who have successfully fought
the grizzly bear have fallen victims Ia
the Oregon salmon, and scores Of others
crippled and maimcd, survive TO tell
the story os their blood curdling expe
ri0nce while in tho very Jaws Of mou
ster fsh.
Were the salmon 10 conhne them.
selves wholly TO the water they roul'
be comparatively harmless, for no mai
would be in danger unless he venture,
into a salmon pool. But unlike mos
Of our American fishes, the O:egoi
salmon is in tho babi. Of leaving th,
water and wandering through the for
est in search of prey. Men, womeI
and children have often been chase'
for long distances by salmon on th
lonely Oregon roads, and an enormou
number Of sheep and cattle have beer
killed and devoured. Two years ag
the forest 10 the neighborhood OF Eas
Melville, in Southern Oregon, was in
tested ty pair Of saimon Of unusua
size and ferocity. Hardly night pass
ed that some settler did not lose val
liable domestic animal and no less thai
Eve human lives were sacrificed almo.
within sight OF the Methodist meeunl
house. The people of the town neve
went out of their houses unarmed, AM
they lost so much sleep in consequence
Of the nightly and incessant roaring Q
the fab that life was really burden I
them. The town authorities offered
reward of $1,000 for tho head of eithe
of the two salmon, but no local hunts
was bold enough to make an attemp
to gain it.
These formidable fish were flnan
killed by party Of hunters-nine !
number-from Tacoma, who, assiste
by q pack Of well-trained fish houndi
tracked the salmon to their lair In
small pool Of stagnant water and she
them with GattliDg gun. Twenty
two bullets were found in the bod
Of the male and seventy-four Ia ths
OF the female. The former fell des
at the first fire, but the latter, althoug
severely wounded, rushed OH til
hunters and succeeded In killing or
and disabling eight dogs before 81
was finally conqured.
In winter, the Oregon salmon rel
dered more fearless than ever by wal
of food, roam over the country in pac'
and droves of from tweuty. five to