, 1885-10-10
AN OLD HE."
A Wyoming Hunter Brings in a 500
Pound Elk.
Sketch of the Way the AntIered
King was Caught.

Special Correspondence of TnE LEADER.
LANDER, Wyoming, October MIR.
Jack Gaylord brought in the other
day the carcas of an elk that weighed 500
pounds. This is the second large elk Mr..
Gaylord has killed lately, though the last
was much the larger of the two. About
two weeks ago Jack was hunting in the
Wind River mountains, amid the foot
hills of which his ranch is located, for
Jack is a successful farmer as well as a
mighty hunter. On the occasion referred
to. Jack had penetrated much farther
into the mountains than usual, and found
himself in a hidden basin at the head of
the Popoagie creek, which he had never
before explored. Here he killed his first
large elk, and saw signs that convinced his
experienced eye that there was an ''old
he" in the same vicinity. The odd he
ran in the hunters mind. and a few days
ago he started for the haunt of the big
elk. Reaching there, he was not long in
finding his game, and in the early morn
ing, he and his dogs were in hot pursuit.
As the elk sprang from the thickets in
which he had made his bed. the hunter
thought he was the longest animal he had
ever seen in themountains. A hasty rifle
ball followed the antlered king
through the brush as he bounded away
but only a flesh wound was the result.
Five miles distant lowered the crest of
Table mountain. This is one of the main
peaks of the range, and is surmounted by
a table-like conformation composed of
huge rocks, from which it derives its
name. The sides of this mountain are
covered with thickets, and by brakes, and
has always been a famous resort for the
larger kinds Of mountain game. Towards
this refuge the ''old he" was evidently
holding his way, but evidently he had
determined to exercise all of his elk cum
ming to throw his pursuers off the scent.
Accordingly many a turn and double was
followed across deep avines, over rocky
pinnaeles, and under the close and sturdy
boughs of the stunted juniper. At last
the chase drew near the quarrys last
refuge, and elk hunter and hounds found
themselves at the foot of the Table peak.
BY this time the noble game was growing
rather tired, and by the manner in which
he ran plainly showed that he would much
rather fight than fly. But he took the
mountain side and buried himself in a
dense copse of pine and cedar. The
hunter now d%ismounted from his wiry
pony, as the mountain brakes could
not be trayersed by even his
active steps. Far up the side
could be heard the music of the hounds as
they open chase behind the game, As
the hunter toiled upward he suddenly
saw tho elk cross an oDen space and plunge
into q broad belt of aspen hat stretched
far around the peak, Hurrying on the
hunter reached a point about midway in
the ascent. Here he could hear the bay
of his hounds as they doubled after the
elk in the midst Of the last belt of timber
before the top of the peak was gained,
From the sounds Jack was convinced that
the game would finally be brought to bay
at the foot of the table itself, Here
was an open space and in it the elk had
evidently determined to meet his enemies
fairly and squarly Jack toiled eagerly
and anxiously on. He wished to be in at
the death, and he was afraid that his gal
liant dogs would find the odds too great
without his help. As he gained a bushy
knoll from which the battle ground was
visible, he espied the elk standing beneath
the huge shadows Of the table with
lowered head. The next ONE one
of the staunch hounds rushed from cover
and sprang full at the quarry's throat.
There was a swift pass Of the broad ant
lers and a dogs death cry. lmpaled on
the keen tines the gallant hound
vas lifted in the air and then
thrown many feet down the incline. The
other dog came on only to share the same
fate. As the hunter hurried forward, he
was seen by the enraged monster, and
instantly charged. A hasty shot had no
effect The swiftly driven antlers were
turned from the flesh by the stout hunting
shirt Of buckskin, but the points became
~entangled and the hunter was ierked from
his feet and swung dizzily backwards and
forwards through the air. As he came
spinning to the ground he managed to
catch on to a stout bush with his right
hand, while with his left he drew his re-
volver from his belt and shot his foe dead
in his tracks. The antlers of his prize
measured five feet six inches from tip to
fip