The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-25
GOV. ST. JOHNS STORY.
The Noted Kansan Tells About Ny
Most Memorable Christmas"
In WAS AWAY OUT IN CALIFORNIA
In the Golden Days-rhe Governor
Paints Moral as Wen as AdOrns n
Tale.

In the Golden Days-rhe Governor
Paints nOral as Wen as Ad0rns n
Tale.
Governor ST. John sends the STATE
Journal the following Christmas story
accompanied by personal letter, in
which he says that the story was con-
tributed to a New York newspaper syn
dictate and will appear in New York this
morning a. well as in Topeka.
"The most memorable Christmas Of
my life" occurred at a point west of Co
Iusa. Cal, on the Pacific Coast Range
Mountains, where half dozen hunters.
myself among the number, encamped
for the winter Of 1897.
NE was agreed that the man who
should kin the most deer between the
rising and setting Of the sun on Christ
mas should take all 1 killed nine and
won the prize IL was not because 1 was
the best arksman, for there were others
in the camp equally as good as myself
but 70 seemed that streak Of good luck
fingered In my pathway during the day.
1t happened in this way. / started out
early in the morning. accOmpan Dy an
uuarmed old Indian whom we had nick
named ..Skap." We had scarcely gone a
half mile from camp when downed
beautiful three pronged buck A mile
farther up the mountain 1 killed my
second deer. We were greatly en-
line where deer usually were the most
plentiful. but 20 our surprise we failed to
find amy more until about noon,
when having turned our course Obliquely
down the mountain we suddenly
came to an almost perDendicular rocky
bluff, and looking over into a little val
ley. OF level spot Of ground, covering not
more than an acre just below, saw eight
deer. Slipping quietly behind a big pine
tree standing near the edge of the bluff,
where I had full view Of the ground
below ME, / drew down upan large six
pronged buck, which / supposed to be
the leader or the herd. and at the crack
Of my rifle he fell. Deer never knowing
Iy run into dang sr if they can help it.
The wind, as well as the position 1 &C
cupied, was IN 10 favor.
The echo seemed to confuse them.
They did not know from what d.
rection the danger came. 50
they simply ran in a short circle.
stopping near the point where the first
one fell A second shot killed another
and seemed 10 intensity the confusion.
They did not know in what direction to
run to get out Of danger, SO they repeat
ed the short circle Another was killed;
another. another. and SO until seven
had fallen The eighth, splendid look
ing doe, stood there trem bling like
aspen leaf I really felt sorry for her,
Tor the thought struck me that the one
just killed, being only half grown. was
Der baby But 4 was anxious 70 win the
prize
/ had already killed nine, and deer
were worth $40 per head in the market
and who should stop under such circum-
stances to consider mothers grief.
when her baby could be sold for revenueI
So bang Went my gun and down
dropped the doe, but I had only creased
her, and she had barely fallen when she
spran0 to her feet and dashed down the
mountain at a frightful speed, crossing a
canon. AS she struggled up the rocky
steep beyond he suddenly paused. and
a last pitiful call for her baby, but it
answered not, twas dead
"Skap" said: ''She heap cry, no shoot
any MORE and I didn't
she passed on out of sight only to meet
her death a half hour later at the hands
Of another hunter. who, that evening
turned her over to me as one of thirty
six deer which fell to my lot as the man,
who by reason of having killed the
greatest number was entitled to all
Today our government com missions
$4,000 hunters. who, armed with
poisonous liquors, waylay, entrap and
destroy the mothers boy. She is con-
fused. dazed. she knows not where to
turn for safety. AT last, as she sees her
deA- ones GO down. one by one, she cries
ont aloud In her desperation. sscome
back, come back, but thev answer not;
they are dead They have been sold to
the devil for dollars, upon which is
stamped the national lie, ain God We
Trust"
Would you be strong and healthy