The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-19
ELK-sHOOTING IN THE ROCKIES.
Story of Sport in the Forest Calculated to
Kink the Hair of Ordinary Sportsmen.

the 'Elk-hea Range, nRd climbed the rugged
brush covered sides Of Black mountain follow
ing their flying feet, had pursued the sinuous
course of Slater river, crossing its torrent bed
from side to side in an ever steepening path, by
cold, deep pools where lurked the beautiful
speckled mountain trout, and up into the
still heart of the Rockies. But as yet we had
caught no glimpse of the particular game in
search of which we had come so far. the largest
animals now found in the mountains, the elk.
The season was not far enough advanced to give
us any hope of finding them in the foothills or
lower ranges of mountain, for not until the snow
sccumuIatss to great depth in their rocky mount
ain Businesses, amid the highest mountain heads,
will they descend to the lower plateaus and Sc
cluded valleys of the foothills. AS they would
not come to u.s. we decided to go to them, and
bright frosty morning in October found us
mounted on strong-limbed, sure-footed bron-
chos, each hunter having another horse in lead
ing. equipped with pack-saddle, blankets, coffee
pot, ETC., our objective point being place near
the continental divide, at the head of Battle
creek. We encamped at shutdown in the midst
of beautiful grove of young pines. few rods
away cold mountain brook fretted the
gray rocks with ceaseess splashing, while
near by rich carpet of bunch
grass furnished food for. tired horses
The campfire started, our combined dinner and
supper was over. While the shadows
gathered rapidly and heavily in the deep narrow
valleys, far eastward the snow-capped mountain
peaks were gllsten1ng in the last rays OF the
sinking sun. Almost Immediately upon the de-
parture of the sun night developed US. 1t seemed
if the black shadows rose from their hiding
places IN the valleys and swept over us as q
great cloud. We pile the logs on the campfire and
throwing our heavy blankets upon bed of pine
boughs, we draw other blankets over US, and are
asleep There is dreaming for the
weary hunter on these cold heights. He sleeps
as soundiy and sweetly did ever tired child.
The sun had not yet risen when our hastily pre-
pared breakfast was eaten, and at once the hor-
SEES were saddled and everything made ready for
the days chase The packs contained extra
ropes, and we added a bag con taining few cold
er My "Forty-eighty Two" Winchester was
oiled, carefully wiped out, its magazine holding
seven cartridges, filled. and it was strapped in
its gun case, and securely fastened to the saddle.
Everything being ready, we mounted and were
away. Our route lay across broad plateau
that a few years ago had been covered with
now by charred and blackened trunks.
standing, some fallen and all in ruin.
The rank growth of grass, now made gray by
the keen frosts, half hid the huge logs. the
moldering pillars of Gods fallen temple. The
sun had climbed half way to the zenith when we
entered the dense forest that chung to the
mountain side. Tall pines grew so thickly that
the rays OF the sun never found a way through
the interviewer branches, and all below was
dusky and still, sort of solemn twilight &C.
cording we'll with the low moaning overhead
Keeping we'll up along the mountain-side we at
last emerge, with faded horses. from this almost
impenetrabe forest, and enter upon sue
cession of rocky ridges, with here and there
patches of mountain laurel and short. scrubby
choke cherry bushes. where we halt, uncoil the
trail-ropes from the saddles, and are soon
stretched at rest upon the ground.
Though our long ride had been taken with the
express intention Of reaching this spot. from
which, by wide dotours. we hoped to find our
game l was far from anticipating the good fort
une which quickly befell Us. While lying at
rest. listening to the horses quietly munching
dry grass, frosr-cured and sweet, was startled
by shrill, loud cry. very different from any
any hunter would know the voice of great
game though he had neither heard it before.
nor ever had it's notes described to him. Indeed,
it would be difficult to describe the sound. Begin
ming like the first low. heavy tones of locomotive
whistle, and rising gradually to a volume and
power that filled the great woods with its defiant
notes. and might bs heard distance of two
miles, this singular cry brought me to my feet in
an instant, and with noseless haste detached
my Winchester from the saddle and made ready
for action. Again the same strong voice shrllled
out from the mountan-side far above US, and a
moment later another cry answered it from a
point away below the slope. With my
rifle in hand I stole silently down the sdraw" to
head off the approaching band. for well knew
that the voices calling and answering along that
mountain side were from the throats of two bull
elks the respective leaders of separate herds,
would draw together tho rival chieftains. Again
and again the battle cries resounded through the
forest, and finding that the lower herd was
rapidly neari ne me- stepped behind a clump of
laurel, threw charge into the ever
ready Winchester and awaited with every nerve
thrilling with excitement Presently l could
hear the trampling of tho coming herd and the
rustic of the brush and small stones. Peering
through the laurel branches found
the band nearly all in view. And such a
sight! More than fifty huge animals. stand
ing from eight hundred to thirteen hundred
pounds each. And such heads of horns as
graced the crowns OF the leading bulls it had
never been my fortune to see before. While
stood debating in my mind which to choose, and
trying to thoroughly quiet my exalted nerves,
the great bull who seemed be the acknowl-
edged leader of the band lowered his head
nearly to the ground and began the deep. low
cry. which rose and swelled in volume with his
head, until. with his muzzle raised
high and his long neck outstretched, he closed
his angry trumpeting with shriil and startling
shrek that filed the whole forest with sound.
know that it would have been better TO have
waited and studied the ways of the wild mount
aineers more fully. but the passion of the chase
took fierce hold upon me, and the next moment
the leveled rife-narrei was trained upon the
splendid fellow who ruled the band, and in less
than a second the sharp report rang ont and the
heavy bull ct had gone. l have often heard that
men IN moments of deadly peril will think of a
and that in moments of deepest horror grief
the mind is apt to run off upon things having
present relation to the. minds overwhelming
sorrow. Dante G. Rossetti we'll illustrates this
n his Wood Spurge." I am inclined
TO believe that such result often flows
rom intense mental excitemens OF any character.
know that during the second Of time which
passed from the leveling OF my rife until the
port of the discharge, two distinct and wholly
irrelevant thoughts took possession of my mind
observed with great distinc tness that the hugo
,ntlers of the elk against which my aim
directed were peculiarly formed, the lateral
orongs being greatly fatsened, like those of
moose, and that the color of the animal was far
darker than that of the other bulls of the band and
hat the hair was longer and coarser than that
covering any of his mates At the same time l
suddenly recalled hunter friend Capt Henry
Talbot, of Charlottesville, Ind. with whom l
lad often pursued smaller game. and whose
natchless skill and cunning circumventing
he wiies of the game had often filled with
admiration. and the thought rushed through
nv mind, What festival this would be for
ra1botir Instantly upon the report of my
fife the big bull sprane wildly forward.
eeed TO the right. sprang into the
80 and foil hooxi