The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-04-03
CLIMI,S THE TREES
The Modern Hunter an6 His De-
structive Methods.
Instead OF Firearms, He Us-z AK, Saw
and Bulldog and hut Few OF the
Little Tree Climbers Is
cnpe Him.

pictured as tall and stalwart. deckeo
In the garments OF the wildwood, Whose
every feature displays honor and cour
lge. he has come out to get dinner
Ind picks target on a PARKWAY tree
He matches his skill against the dis
lance and wins. With the fash Of the
!. long rife the nearer squirrels hidl
eway, and moment afterward bark
Justify at the retreat of the intruder
Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett might
be the model for such picture. The
new squirrel hunter is a very different
person. His methods are like those o,
The drag-net fisherman that sweep:
trom shore to shore. leaving no way o,
escape. His work, if unchecked, mean:
5 determination
The new hunter. says the New York
Star, has nothing to recommend him tc
the public except possibly his courage
Fear seems to be unknown to him. His
Equipment might not suggest peril. II
consists of gun. an Ak, saw, climb
ing spurs, rope, a stringing belt. and q
bulldog. With the first snow of winter
ne begins his woodwork, because il
is vocation, and not a recreation OF
pleasure. After the first night the
snow through the forest is lined with a
network of tracks that lead from many
quarters to some mammoth tree There
may be dozen trails all centering at
this point, some from the distant corn
6elds, and others from nearby logs,
Ehere a supply of nuts was garnered
Tor winter. Probably with the pot
hunters coming a red fox squirrel,
holder than the rest. banks from the
upper boughs at the intruder, and
iashes its long fiery tail through the
sunlight. Its position would delight a
sportsman, for it would afford a superb
Shot, but the pot-hunter has no senti-
Elent. There is no quickening Of his
pulse as he unslings his gun, for it is
not to be used, but is piled with the
Dther Announcements at the foot of the
giant tree while he prepares for the
coming slaughter.
The climbing spurs are already
buchled to his boots. The AK and saw
are slung to his belt, and with extend
ed arms he measures the tree; then, set
ting his iron heels INTO the bark, the
ascent begins. With each reach of his
long arms he leaves the Younger forest
below. The line of the pawpaw tops is
passed. the silver birch is distanced in
the upward reach. and at last the
rlimber comes ont into the open sky.
Long before the hunter has reached
bali the height the fox squirrel,
Alarmed. has hurried TO his nest The
tliInber reaches the point where the
Squirrel disappears and finds the en-
trance to the nest hollow knot which
had been enlarged by the sharp teeth of
the little fellows. The hunter now
knots the rope about the tree and IN
Ter his arm. Then. Embedding his iron
heels deep in the bark. he hangs out
from the tree at an angle of forty-five
degrees. It Is a dangerous position:
his safety lies IN his ability TO keep his
muscles rigid and the iron spurs buried
deep IN the tree. Should the spurs slip
Or the muscles relax the death of the
pot-hunter would be assured. After
attaining this position he removes his
Saw from his belt and makes deep cut
Zen; the black dust telling him when
he has cut deep enough Then the saw
Is dropped TO the ground, and its crash
awalzens the bulldog to the fact that
his part of the programme is about to
begin. Before this he has sat motion.
less. Now his dull eyes flash. He
takes mp position at the foot of the
nee, his short neck bent backward as
he looks steadily upward awaiting de-
relopments.
The climber begins splitting out the
block with the ak. There is rain of
ehips, and at last the AK penetrates the
interior and the slab is pried open.
Already the squirrels have been plan
ming to escape. aud as the light enters
their home one of them springs out of
the knot hole. The others would have
followed. but the climber sets the steel
blade of his AK across the opening. and
the slab springs back TO its place. barr
ing further escape. The squirrel that
jumped from the tree strikes the snowy
ground and endeavors TO escape the
rush of the bulldog. \ quick spring to
2 neigh boring tree would save it, but it
lOes not recover from the shock of the
fall quickly enough.
The sharp fangs of the dog are set in
Its back. There is cry of pain. min
gled with the crack OF bones. and
vigorous and prolonged shake of the
dogs head ends the squirrels life.
Then the climber releases another VIC
tim. and in this way the slaughter con-
tinues until half dozen dead squirrels
are scattered in the snow.
The profits Of his calling net the hun
ter only scanty living, because the
law prohibits the general sale of SOUR
rels The pot-hunter has been defended
by many who believe that no other call
ing is open to him, but this excuse has
little merit. a climber of such daring
could easily earn from two dollars TO
three dollars day rs telegra ph line
man. and not work half so hard or SO
long.
The Oceans Salt.
The Pythagoreans held that the sea