The morning call., 1891-01-11
GUN AND GAME.
Joaquin Miller and His Pheasants-Bag-
ging Wild Ducks.

Joaquin Miller and His Pheasants-Bag-
ging Wild Ducks.
All who may not have the pleasure of a
personal acquaintance undoubtedly know
by reputation Joaquin Miller, poet Of the
Sierras, whose demesne is situated three
miles northeast of Oakland. The poet re-
Gently procured some barn-yaTd pheasants,
which he turned loosd on his estate to await
his pleasure whenever he felt disposed to
have q game dinner. Recently his poetic
soul became harassed by the rop of rife
shots and the boom Of the pot
hunters niuzzle loading sh0tguus. His
lofty spirit was disturbed by the re-
yer 0erations Of these death-dealing imple-
ments and the poet of the flowing locks
seized him his pen and openly declared war
on the offending tribe Of reckless hunters
who decorated the garden spot of the
Coast Range by their presence. Autcpat-
ing renewed visits by pot-hunters and fear
ful of the determination of his beautiful
BIRDS Joaquin has prepared a proclamation.
printed in red letters, and as follows:
NOTICE!
These grounds are for my own private use,
where l desire absolute quiet and ssclusion
(veTbum sat-.
To HoodIltms, Tranps aud House-breakers:
l am again stocking these grounds with I'M
ported birds. l also wish 10 preserve The native
ones.
Now. as you have no business here, except to
destroy, you viii be treated as thieves and bur
glars, If found on these grounds
And any one shooting At this notice, or shoot.
Ing in this direction, viii be eectnally fired at in
return. JOAQUIN MILLER.
ETnese have been nailed conspicuousy to
trees on the Miller estate. " \ on see," said
the poet, I'VE wearied of the ANNOYANCE
these free shooters give US Especially on
the Sabbath do they make riot of peace and
quletness in our woods My neighbours and
myself have concluded to protect ourselves.
/, at least, shall accept the next bullet that
comes flying toward ME as intended for me,
and ! shall certainly shoot the next person
who so shoots al me on my premises.
The other day bullet came in my open
door and lodged in the interior of my bed
room, within six feet of my head. l found
one of my cottages leaking from three big
bulet-hOleS in the roof. The shots must
have been fired from the hills above. They
have not yet fired into the cottage where
keep my old mother, and the Lord God help
them when they do. My pastor, the gentle
DR.. Chapman, recommends prayers but |
say buckshotl Buclishot right in the bow
elSi Prayers later on"
1t may be added that Poet JOAQUIN knows
well how to handle gun, is a dead shot
and Doubtless Will SOON have well-stocked
cemetery on the south lace OF The Heights
The constant reports of the bTeech-lOader
on the marshes Is evidence that birds are in,
and the sportsman who delights in stopping
the flight of swift-goips can" or teal
duck is now in the height of his glory.
There is not much shooting done on week
days, but when the first streak of light of
the seventh day fails upol the quagmires,
where the brOad-blllS congregate, the con-
slant booming of the duck-guns would make
an Indian warrior feel as If the Great
Father had sent forth an army of pale
faces to practice for the slaughter of the
native sons of the far West The late rain
storm, contrary to the opinions Of MANY
hunters, did not influence the quackers to
Yyacate the mud flats for more congenial and
less disturbed quarters inland. The birds,
IN fairly good numbers, are within easy
reach OF the city, and as con-
sequence the man who cannot afford
more than one days shooting in the week
IS happy IN the thought of having an oppor-
tunlty to bag nice mess of game for a
Mondays dinner. Teal are very numerous
this year, and in the last month several hun
dIed of them have been shot on the marshes
north ard south of the city. Accounts from
Staten and Bouldin islands, on tie Sacra-
mentu River. give very encouraging news
to sportsmen ~ho have been waiting for ID
few days good shooting. Now is the time
TO take advantage OF the sport.
An exchange says of the late Annie Oak
ley, who died at BuenoS Ayres recently of
congestion of the lungs:
She never became Mustered In shooting CLAW
plseons she had record OF 90 out of 100. At
i've pigeons her best record w IS 23 out of 25
Dut Inns was surpassed by her In the shooting
malch al Merchanville, when she Killed AT out
Oh 90. ms Is the highest score ever made with
gun oil the small caiber used by her
, among her tricks in quick and fancy shoot
ny was one IN which she threw Two glass balls
over ber mead with one hand, and wheeling
anoul, shoi them both before they landed. In
another she an twenty feet, picked M her pun
duu M Two clay pigeons, one to the right and
ohe 70 Inc ieit, without pausing. Her real name
was buter, She having been ma rrIed to Frank
Butler, who acted as her manager.
:, MISS oakley was not only Il good wing shot
gentleman near Greenviile, Ohio, who owned n
valuable but vicious and unbrokcn horse fold
her lie would give her the animal II she conId
ride MN III less than three days, and wiIhout
any assistance, she broke him 10 saddle and has
since used him when not engaged sometimes
riding as high as fifty miles In one day. All the
fair at Newton, y. j., she proved herself TO be
al home In the saddle by winning our out OF FIVE
hall mile races, although the horse she rode was
selling for hind place.
Since her departure for Europe to take part In
Buffalo BilPs Wild West Show she has regularly
transmitted her savings TO a prominent sporting
house In this city, and tie same were d. posted
10 her account In a Broadway bans, and quite
lltue fortune has accumuatr d. Her last com
ihuhicatlOn TO American shooters contained the
following lines:
May the year OF eighteen ninety -one
bring much pleasure with rod and gun;
70 aH true sportsinen and friends so dear
merry Christmas and happy New Year
Ashford, EcItt, England. ANNIE OAKrrv
The sportsmen OF Oregon are preparing a
Dill TO present to The Legislature of that
State to restrict the sale of nearly all kinds
oil game to the months Of November and
December in each year. They have issued
circular letter which has been sent In ali
members Of the Legislature, setting forth