Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-12
TIE ER-SLsYsRS.
A qKMER EPISODE IN WHICH TWO
sAGRAMENTANs FIGURED.
County Clerk Hamilton and Supervise,
Ross at Rubicon Deer-Lick-The
Former Comes to Grief.

| TIE isst number of the Forest and
| Sffs19i contains an interesting account,
| written by Sacramento correspondent. of
one uf the experiences of Supervisor Ross
/ ard County Clerk Hamilton during their
/ last summers deer shooting on the head
waters Of the Rubicon, IN the high Sierra
Nevada. Says the correspondent: Two of
! the members of our Board of County Su-
/ pesv.sors are noted marksmen, both having
q record to be proud Of The venerable
Saalgman of the Board is also a capital
| angler, while the charming ey-Chairman is
particularly noted for his passion for ducks
The latter gentleman is one of the propri
etors of the Canvasback, a pretty little
pleasure steamer owned by the Sacramento
Gun Club, and it requires a serious condi-
ton of county roads, wrecked bridges, etc !,
to keep him aJ his post when this little
boat makes trio up the river to the lakes
| rented by the club.
But the sportsman of whom we are par
ticularly proud is our talented County
Clerk. This gentleman has an almost
worldwide reputstion as bear slayer. He
has been an extensive Traveller both among
the Andes and the Sierra Nevada, as well
as Rocky mountains, and wherever his
footsteps have wandered an almost COM
plete annihilaiion of the bruin family is
said 10 have followed il his wake.
Some TWO years since this noted gentle
man, in company with our venerable
Chairman before mentioned, made a tour
of The Sierras in quest of deer. Now our
Clerk, like Captain Toby, Of the Court
Rangers, is perfectly familiar with every
mountain, gulch and trail of the entire
range, and soon our hunters were snugly
domiciled in Uncle Billy Vaughans cabin,
near Eleven Pines, in Ei Dorado county, in
close proximity TO one OF the finest deer
icks west Of the Rockies. Not being built
exactly on the pedestrian plan, one being
decidedly portly, tGe other not portiy
enough, and painfully short of breath as
well, some means had 10 be resorted to by
which they could obviate the necessity of
any great amount of travelling, even if they
had TO take an unfair advantage of their
prey. Therefore, laying aside all conscien-
tious scruples, large drygoods box was
obtained and securely fastened in the
branches Of lofty pine some thirty feet
from the ground, where our brave hunters
could perch secure from the eyes of the
timid deer, and at the same time obtain q
good view of the lick.
The following night one of them was
to go aloft and watch for game, while the
other was to remain in the cabin with the
host, in readiness 10 appear upon the scene
at sound of the watchers gun. The time
came for the ascent, and the question arose
ss to which gentleman should take the ele
waited position and our Clerk plead his
cause with such degree OF simplicity and
eloquence that the Chairman of course
gave way to him. Why not? He had
youth, experience, as well as beauty in his
favor, while the senior member was on the
shady side of fifty, and, as l said before,
out of breath. Well, the ascent was soon
made, and rope which had been previ-
ousiy been made secure to the Clerks
waist was let down, and his gun, ammuni-
ton. blankets, etc, were hauled aloft and
the stalwart hunter with his 2l0fbs. avoir-
dupois was neatly slowed away inside the
box and gently swayipg in the soft mount
ain breeze.
Upon taking his departure, the Chair.
man bad cautioned his youthful friend to
keep his eye on the lick and not go to
Sleep Sleep! who could think of sleep
in so exalted position No, indeed !
am here after venison,' replied that high
strung individual.
1t was beautiful moonlight night, the
lights and shadows waving in the gulch
below the almost awful stiffness and the
soothing Rock abye baby in the tree.top'
movement was simply enchanting. Our
friend was soon lost in the contemplation
of nature. The sensation was new and
novel. How he wished he was poet, that
he might in one grand poem portray the
beauties he now beheld. or an artist, that
he might paint them. But alas of these
accomplishments he could not boast The
breeze continued to blow, the cradle to
rock, and the watcher was soon asleep.
His dreams, taking retrospective fight,
hastily carried him back to childhood.
"Clasped in his mothers loving arms,
listening 70 her low, sweet lullaby, be
calmly slumbered the sleep of innocence.
But earthly joys are fieetipg, a sound from
the lower regions penetrated his elevated
| retreat and he started from his doing
posture, almost precipitating his fairy form
into the depths below. Great Scott What
did he behold? An immense buck was
| quietly licking the salt almost directly
| underneath his perch, innocent of the
proximity of his enemy.
Admiration, vain wishes, childhood
| dreams, where were they? Gone like all
earthly happiness, vanished with puff of
wind and our watcher is hunter sgain.
Bang went the trusty rife, down came
| the deer, as well as the deer SLAYER. In his
| excitement the descent was made without
his usual precaution, yet he landed with
| safety upon projecting branch some ten
or fifteen feet from the ground. An un-
| fortunate rent in his buckskin neither gar
| ments had caught upon the cruel brauch
| and firmly held his fragile form suspended
| in mIdair. In vain he struggle for freedom;
it was no use, he was there Tor good But
the inmates of the cabin, having heard the
report of the gun, soon rushed upon the
scene. The moment was an exciting one,
the wounded deer must be dispatched to
| prevent his making his escape. for the res
| cuing party took in the situation at a
| glance, and had no fears of the other VIC
tim getting away, and he was left to pine
upon the tree until the venison was secure.
Then ladder was brought from the cabin
and the hunter rescued from his perilous
position, and-but I'll not attempt TO quote
him here.
The deer was hastily dissected and
taken to the cabin, where sumptous ban
| ouet was enjoyed bv all parties concerned