Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-07
a Deer Hunt.


bonds are to be voted for.
J.. w. PorTs.
A Deer Hunt.
EDITORS HERALD Please allow me
space to record in your worthy columns
brief account of the most interesting
deer hunt of my life, and also few in
cidents OF the trip. On Thursday, July
25tb, John S. Thornsburg, of Boyle
Heights, or better known as an old
hunter by the name of "Nimrod Jack, u
Otis Bell and his brother George, OF
Fruitland, left behind a gay team OF
blood bays, bound for the land of deer
and waving pines. We passed up the
valley and camped at noon near San
Fernando. We had shot few cotton
tails from the wagon for dinner. Every
thing looks prosperous in the valley ;
threshing and hauling wheat is the
general employment as there is an un-
usual crop this year; we arrived at
Newhall about 8 p. M, and met an old
friend George Compton who was sociable
but as busy as in former days. After
having drink OF cool water and ex-
changing few words, our driver sang
out ''all aboard for San Francisquito
Cahon." We crossed the dry bed of the
Santa Clara and came up the caflon to
French Charley's rancho, about ten
miles from Newhall, and camped for the
night.
Well refreshed after a good breakfast,
the next morning we set out for Elizabeth
Lake. In passing up on the high grade
of San Francisquito canon, we dis
covered something unusual-a pure
white lizard. We captured it, but had
no way of taking care of it, go we lost a
valuable specimen. The quartz mill is
not now running, from some cause un-
known to me-one dry washer and one
run of sluice are in operation in San
Francisquito canon.
We arrived over second summit about
p. m. at Elizabeth Lake. We now be-
gan to inhale different atmosphere, hot
and oppressive, with burning wind.
Soon our lips became cracked and sore.
In passing through rolling hills, the en-
trance, to Antelope valley, we came by
small patch of red-top weed, and the
jack-rabbits began to spring out until
the road and prairie was alive
with them. We stopped our team
and commenced practicing with our
Winchesters, and soon had slain at least
twenty-five, while not less than 100 es-
capped from about ten acres of weed patch
where they had taken shelter from the
rays of the sun. We drove out through
the valley, and soon came to the small
village of Fairmont. We drove on until
the stars were shining, and came to a
fine place now owned by Boston COM
pany, called Glorieta ranch. We
camped there over night and were we'll
treated. Bostonians are clever people,
if they do eat baked beans. We made
special inquiry concerning the timid an
telope. They said that two years
ago there we're several hundred, but now
the herds are reduced to sixteen or
eighteen, and they are seldom seen. The
day for antelope in that valley is nearly
at an end. The law is no protection to
these poor animals.
We bid goodby to our Boston friends
and got aboard for the North range,
where we expected to find what we are
after-the noble buck. We struck across
the valley without water, and in due
time came to the North range, where
nobody lives, but occasionally vaquero
glides over the hills, looking for General
Beale's cattle. We go up one winding
cailon after another, going higher and
higher, until the grand summit is
reached. Grand scenery now greets the
eye of the weary hunter. We take a
rest and get out our Winchesters, for the
sign of the buck is ever present. The
sun is now lowering behind the distant
mountains, and we have over two miles
| of dark, deep, rocky cafion to descend
to the creek, which is our destination.
So we elatter down, over rocks and steep
places, where wagon seldom ever
marks. Finally We land at the bottom
about dark, in q wonderfully wild caflon,
with dashing, bubbling stream of cold
water, and deer sign at every step.
We made good camp, cooked plain
supper, and as we were all much wearied
with the days travel, we slept soundly.
Next morning early we scaled the craggy
mountain, with bright prospects at every
step. We had not advanced more than a
| mile and half until we discovered the
long g-looked.for herd of deer on the
mountain side. We followed rapidly, but
they escaped. Soon we passed over a
ridge. and more deer came in sight. Soon
our Winchesters began to ring out and
echo through the wild gorges. The first
volley, no deer The second, down
comes the noble buck
We soon had him disemboweled and
on the way to camp. Another herd arose
and an accurate shot from Otis brought
down the second one. In three hours
we had them in camp. A good dinner
and jolly time followed, with many
toasts, poems and funny stories. After
dining heartily on delicious steaks, the
work of curing the meat was COM
menced and done in good mountaineer
style; not pound was lost.
The same programme was repeated
the next day.
After remaining two days in camp and
getting our meat properly cured, we
commenced the descent of the great
cafion on our way home, all feeling thai
we had found the greatest hunters para
disc on the Pacific Coast, and had en-
ljoyed one of the greatest hunts OF oul
Lives. NnGRoD JACK.
] Boyle Heights, Loe Angeles, Cal.