Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-13
COPIES ANTELOPE.
Towner's Marksmanship-A Hunt
Described.

0SSS440S~s
Conductor Copeland in Crookstop Journal.
Since nv return from my hunt in
northwestern Dakota l have been as
sailed on every hand with, "Hello, Cope,
understand you killed asheep!" "Mut-
ton is expensive out west!" etc., etc.
Well, there is never a story set atloat
without some truths rs "a starter. A
sheep was butchered which had its leg
broken by IL bullet. W. were trying our
rifles to see if they would shoot accur-
ately, and II flock Of sheep we're unfor-
tuuate enough to he grazing at the ter
minal Of the bullets route and one poor
sheep lost not only its leg but Its life.
The notorious Col. Towner. we'll known
from st. Paul to the Missouri as Il man
who never embelishes his stories with
anything false, which virtue has given
him the position of emigration agent for
II great railway, was the only man who
could not hit an oak tree two feet in
diameter with a $3.50 Winchester rifle.
1t was unfortunate for the poor sheep
that the colonel's eye was watery and
nerves unsteady. 1t was also unfortu-
nate for me that the colonel went down
over the line before l did. forgive
the colonel, however, but if l ever shoot
at II mark with him again l will face him
toward one of the old sand hills and be
mighty sure that there is not a living
thing within 4 radius OF ten miles. Well,
had Il hunt and enjoyed it very much.
One gets dreadfully tired Of the routine
connected with business of any kind,
and mos especially with that of a pas
sengcr conductor. A trip such as I en-
joyed gives II n wonderful appetite
and relieves the brain. although it is
sometimes wearisome to the body. l
arrived at Towner, a new town on the
st. P, NJ. & M. railway, close to what is
known as the first crossing of the Mouse
river. There is no need of my describ.
ing the country about this place further
than to say that it is the centre Of quite
an extensive cattle raising country. and
adjacent to ali extensive range of sand
hills, large meadows and numerous little
lakes. While upon the train l became
acquainted with q gentleman from Bos-
ton, NJ. Minot, who, it TRANSFERRED, was
on his way to Towner to participate in
this same hunt. MIR. Minot, by the way,
Is Il brother of the second vlce-presldent
of this road, a gentleman in every re
spect, Il thorough sportsman and a cap
ital shot. His desire was to shoot grouse
and rs the sand hills about here abound
with them we started for Al point known
as Mckay's ranch. distance from Tow
ner about so miles. The party vas
composed Of five, Mr.. Minot, Col. Uline,
right of way agent of the company, Col.
Towncr, VIM. Pitts and myself. ltmay
not be out of place to mention that Col.
Towner gained his title from being a COL
onel of a regiment fighting for the lost
cause, while Col. Uiine gained his fight
ing against it. VIM. Pitts is a thorough
frontiersman, western to the backbone.
A Yankee, a southern colonel, q north
ern colonel and Il backwoodsman, while
| am a factor in the transportation de-
partment whose happy task it is to bring
into friendly intercourse these widely
separated interests in the shortest space
Of time. Such Il combination loaded
down with arms and ammunition ought
to kill something. On arriving at Nc
Kay's ranch we pitched our tent, not by
the side Of still waters and in green pas.
lures exactly, but besides ahny stack in
the timber among the sand hills near a
small lake. We found no shooting ON
the prairie as we came along and as it
was nearly nightfall we postponed the
grouse business until morning, but there
being a very good duck pass on this lake
Uline and Pitts proposed to furnish the
table with meat. The result Of their ex-
pertinent was Is or 20 fat ducks. The
epicure who has never sat upon II log or
stump frying a duck on Il stick over the
Goals Of camp fire is not worthy the
name and knows very little of the delic-
iousness of a duck, and appelites sharp
ened by exercise do not detract from the
enjoyment of such a meal. After salts
flying the demands of our stomachs the
cob pipes were brought forth and the
smoke from the calumet mingled with
that of the camp fire while amusing stor-
les went the round. Slumber is essen.
tial TO the hunter so We turned in, INTO
the ground floor of a tent. a quantity
Of hay spread upon the ground with
buffalo o%vercoats and blankets spread
upon it was the ground work Of our bed
and more blankets our covering. Thus
in truly primitive style We snored away
the lazy hours Of the night. Score! Did
you ever know what snore means? If
not Just call around to Il tent with five
men, each weighing over 200 pounds,
sleeping in it and listen. You can have
all the money | have got that you will
get a better definition than Webster
ever gave of the word sncre. Listen !.
bass, alto, tenor, bumblebees, wasps and
hornets, winter winds bowling through
the branches Of dead hemlocks, thunder