Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-11-04
My First Antelope.

David w. Judd writes ON the Far
West to the Americon AgricuItlWiSt for
November:
An incident to-day recalls my first
antelope, Equipped with Sharp Car
bnes and Winchesters, supplied with
provisions for three weeks, we pushed
southwark from Laramie. Wyoming
Territory-Auditor Weston, Of Nebras-
ka, his son Ralph, Tim Foley, the WELL
known frontiersman, n trustY guide,
al d le writer. 1t was bright. crisp
morning, and in that peculiar atmoS-
phere Sheep Mountain, seemtd but five
miles away. though the distance proved
to be more than twenty. Before noon
the antelope began TO appear in the dis.
tance, and ,as we approached the noun
tain, occasional small droves trotted
leisurely by and whirled with eager GU
riosity to turn and gaze at us. Then
after them We would go rs fast as our
horses could carry us, emptying cham
Der after chamber Of cartridges, but
with no seeming effect. Army officers
stationed near hear and elsewhere on
the frontier have frequently run them
down with greyhounds. 1t is reported
of one OF Gen. Stanley's dogs that he
brought to bay and "downed" twenty
four antelope on single expedition.
We loaded and unl0aded our rifles all
the afternoon without striking, as far
as we could ascertain,a "a single antelope,
/ though several jack rabbits and an oc-
casional sage hen rewarded our constant
fusilade. On the second day we were
glad enough, after our long ride, to lay
up for repairs at PInkham's, in North
Park, Colorado. Here droveS of ante
| lope were seen in large numbers at q
distance. Chatting under my constant
| failure to bring one down, determined
on resorting 10 the old TuSe of "fiag-
| ging~ them. Possessed with incordi-
nate curiosity, they can sometimes be
drawn within shooting distance by rails
ing ones handkerchief on the tip of the
rifle or on a pole suspended above the
| long grass in which the hunter is con-
cealed. At early daybreak started off
alone, stealthily crawling through the
grass toward small drove IN foot hills
a mile or more away. After maneuYer-
ing in this manner for full half hour,
| got within less than six hundred
yards Of the game unperceived. then
attracted their attention, and the ami
mails, after approaching me for some
distance, came to halt. L then took
deliberate aim at what appeared to be a
noble buck, and enjoyed the exhilerat-
ing satisfaction of seeing the animal
stagger and fall. Imagine my chagrin
and sorrow however, when, upon mount
ing my broncho, and quickly riding to
the stricken antelope. found doe
bleeding TO death with two fawnS
standing over her. Instead of trotting
away at my approach, they remained
| by the dying doe, and with their beau
tiful gazelle eyes, bestowed such looks
of piteous Teproach as one could never
forget. 1t was sight which OCCASION
ed no little remorse, and though the
succeeding days we were constantly
surrounded by the antelope in close
proximity, could not bring myself to
shoot at one of them again while We re-
mained on the expedition, excepting
one morning when we were out of sup
plies. We subsequently killed ourRocky
Mountain lion and other game, but tbs
antelope, so far as l was concerned, re-
nlained undisturbed.