Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-03-01
A HUNT FOR NOBLE GAME.
TRAILING THE MOUNTAIN GOAT IN
THE WILDS OF IDAHO.

A Chicago Travelling Man Tells His FIX
perience in Bringing Down the Fleet
Footed and Rare Animal-He Had a
Genuine Attack of "Tsuck Fever"
left Boise City, Idaho, with a half breed
guide and two pack mules. Our destination
was the Sawtooth range of mountains the
only spot in the United States where the
Rocky mountain goat is to be found. After
tedious tramp of week we found ourselves
near lofty peak of the range known as Sill
yer mountain. Here we pitched our camp
and began the hnnt for game. Two days
passed without success.
The third day, just before shutdown.
sharp exclamation from the half breed, fol
lowed by a confused jabbering of English,
French and Indian words, suddenly put my
tired senses on the alert
My eyes quickly followed the direction in
which his finger pointed. Outlined against
the sky on point of rocks far above US, gaz-
ing down evidently with mingled fear and
curiosity, stood a mammoth male specimen
of the identical game for which our pilgrim
age had been made to the Sawtooth range.
He was apparently out of reach of my rifle,
but, nevertheless, good Judgment deserted
me just when it was needed and l blazed
away at the old fellow. The bullet knocked
up a cloud of dust fifty feet below him.
He gave a contemptuous snort, reared on
his hind legs, turned on them as if on pivot
and again stood facing US. had my rife to
my shoulder again by this time, having
raised the sights trifle, and gave him the
benefit of another shot, this time making the
dirt fly just under his nose. Another snort
and again he stood erect and pirouetted like
a ballet dancer.
THE FIRST VICTIM.
Just then l heard the report of gun by
my side. The half breed had tried his hand,
and with much better success. His bullet
struck the goat squarely in the breast and
penetrated bis heart. He gave a shril whis-
ting cry, as if of warning, sprang into the
air, and then his body came rolling and tum
bling down the hillside until it landed at oul
feet.
''There's more of them where he cano
from" said the half breed, as he quietly drew
his knife and began to remove the hide while
the body still quivered. | wanted to rush up
the hillside in hot pursuit, but my companion
restrained me.
''No use now; all gone; wait till morning"
said he. Tomorrow we get all we want"
He was as cool as the mountain stream
which ran down the hillside short distance
away, while was experiencing genuine at
tack of ''buck fever''a and shaking like leaf
However, managed to recover my compos
ure, and examined the animal before me. He
was one of the largest of his species, and must
have weighed over 300 pounds. In build
know of nothing he more nearly resembled
than the little black bears in Lincoln park.
His body was large and heavy, and his legs
short and stunted. But his hidel 1t was the
prettiest pelt had ever set eyes on during all
my experience in the northwest. Snowy
white in color, with long, straight hair like
an Angora goat, it almost made my mouth
water as | looked at it, and i'll moment
bad reached into q ny pocket, pulled out q ten
dollar gold piece, and given it to the half
breed with the understanding that it was to
be my individual property. have it now in
my home in Hyde Park, andgno amount of
offered five times its price shortly after my
return to Boise City, and could have sold it
on several occasions since then at handsome
advance.
THE SECOND DAYS HUNT.
Early next morning we swallowed some
coffee, nibbled cracker, and, shouldering
our guns, started up the mountain side to-
wards the spot where the goat had been killed
5the night before Reaching the point of
rocks, the half breed searched for few mo-
ments and then said:
''Come on"
followed him. The snow was crushed
and broken for several hundred yards, show
ing that Immediately after the death of the
leader the flock of a dozen or more goats
which had been with him had suddenly STAN
peded and fled without any particular aim
except to get away from the spot Then the
trail narrowed, and finally it appeared as if
some of the younger bnsks had taken COM
mand and led the retreat. Day was just
breaking, and above us the peaks were CLINT
ed with the gold of the coming sun. The
half breed broke into a rapid trot, and it
taxed me to the utmost to keep up with him.
For nearly mile he kept up his speed, and
then suddenly stopped.
mot far off now" said the half breed
'They sleep pretty close to here"
Then with warning to go slow and
watch every footstep made him lead the
way. We were approaching narrow point
of rocks, and just before reaching it he
stopped.
"Around there" was the brief injunction
"Me climb over rocks and scare 'em back
Then you get shot at EN-"
My nerves were like steel by this time, and
concealing myself behind tree | waited
The half breed wriggled over the peak and
disappeared. Half an hour and not sound
Then | heard far away two faint reports
Instantly braced myself In few seconds
the flock came racing round the corner and
came straight toward me. had placed my
self so that | calculated they would pass
scarcely a dozen yards away. Past me they
raced, and | let the leader have it squarely
behind the shoulder He sprang to his feet
and then dropped dead. A female goat just
behind him stumbled and fell over the body
The others huddled together, and emptied
shot after shot into the flock from my repeat
er until all except four suddenly turned and
sped back in the direction from which they
originally came. They had scarcely disap-
peared around the rocks before | heard the
half breeds gun. He had hurried up on the
trail, and was just in time to do some lively
work. The frightened animals finally raced
back past me; but had not expected this
move and so they were out Of danger before
could use my gun.
On being assured that it was useless
to pursue the game farther broke camp
and came back to Boise City and thence to
Chicago, bringing with me the half dozen
hides you see there and also my treasure,
which is now at home.-Chicago Tribune
Inventor Westinghouse Millions.
George Westinghouse. of Pittsburg, is esti-
mated to be worth $50, OOO, 0O0, which he made