The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-01-03
KILLING WILD TURKEYS.
RARE SPORT IN THE INDIAN
TERRITORY.
General shsridan's Diplomatic 'Anbuseacs and
Its Hssnincent ResuItx-Fuu Only
for tho 0fiesn--Troops Camped
In . Turkey s'Roost.v

region, which includes the Wichita,
Canadian and Beaver rivers, in the
Indian territory, was the habitat of
our noblest Indigenous bird, the wild
turkey. To employ slang phrase
for the wild turkey makes its haunts
In the timber-the woods were full OF
them. During the winter expedition
against the Indians ii 1869, writes
Major Inman, portions OF the command.
particularly those companies which
escorted General Sheridan on his mis-
sion to Fort Sill, lived for days on
them, and shooting them by moonlight
afforded an immense amount OF sport
to the officers, in which the general
INDUCED largely.
On the North Fork Of the Canadian,
is place still known as .'Sheridan's
Roost." The general was an old.
sportsman. After going into camp
ut this place, on the evening OF the
9th Of December. the command found
themselves in turkey roost"
Sheridan had himself made the dis
covery, and he Immediately gave or
ders that no one. either officer or
man, should leave the camp without
his permission, because. II anyone
commenced to prowl around, the birds
whould not come back TO their ac-
Gus toned resting place at night just
as the last rays OF the setting sun sunk
behind the lowfmountains on the west
Of the camp, the general and about sew
en- officers. whom he had selected as
companions, left their fire and wandered
slowly into thick woods where he had
discovered early In the afternoon
the coveted birds we're in the habit OF
congregating to roost Each OF the
officers. at the suggestion OF the gen.
erai, took position on the ground to
watch until the time should arrive for
the birds to seek their sleeping place.
They did not have long to wait, as,
before 1t had grown fairly dark. two
or three magnificent fiocks came walk
ing down the ravines leading to the
valley. At the head OF each flock. as
thCy uuouoPCCbiuSiJ ooNouCOoy Woo q
fine male bird, upon whose bronze
plumage the moonlight glinted as it
sifted through the interstices Of the
trees. When he had arrived at the
place at which the flock under his
charge had been accustomed to roost,
he stopped. glanced all around for n
few seconds and then. apparently salts
fed that everything was all right. he
gave q signal-a sharp. quick. shrill
whistle. At that instant every bird in
the flock with one accord raised with
u tremendous Tutoring OF their. wings
and alighted in the tops Of the tallest
trees. At this juncture. all the various
flocks having become settled In their
several roosting places, the general
gave the word and every man COM
menced TO fire on his own account.
The turkeys fell like the leaves in the
fall. but did not seem to have sense
enough to get away from their doom;
they few from tree to tree at every
shot but persistently remained in the
imm Mediate vicinity OF their "roost"
W it'll all the characteristic idiocy OF n
sage hen. which appears. according to
my observation. to have less sense
than any bird that flies.
1t was time that all honest men.
whether lin camp or court" were in
bed before tho general and his party
left the ground. so exciting was the
rare sport After counting the num-
Der OF birds that had fallen, it was
discovered that they had bagged near
| ly 100, OF which the general had killed
the lions share. The. now historic
spot was called "Sheridan's Roost. "
which name Is retained to this day.
! Another turkey shooting occurred
previous to the one above referred to.
In which the whole OF General Custer
command took part 1t was about
eighteen days after the terrible battle
OF the Washita. and Custer was chas
ing the fugitive savages towards For,
Cobb. The weather had been very
disagreeable cold, snow and furious
wind. The troops had been wadinl
through about foot OF snow. and the
horses were nearly starved, because i
was impossible to got at the grass ly.
n ing SO deep under the snow. Tha
night the command went into camp OF
the Washita, and It was soon discov
cred that accidentally they HAD
pitched upon an immense turke,
roost.. 1t was not yet shutdown wher
the picket line was stretched and pre-
parations for the mems scanty supper
begun. Eagerly expecting that thu
birds would come TO their haunts a
the usual hour. the cooks were LITTLE
periunctory. anticipating that the bill
OF fare would. that night, vary ma