The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-23
CLEVELAND AS A SPORTSMAN
lie Puzzies the Professional Hunter as
Much as He Perpiexes Politicians


Much as He PeTptexes Politicians.
From the st. Louis Republic.
President Cleveland is scarcely less
of an enigma to sportsmen than he is
to some politicians. Many of his pc
culiarities are entirely recOncilahle
with that disposition which makes a
man fond of outdoor sports, especially
Shooting and fishing. Very different
personal qualities from those he dis
plays are looked for generally in a man
who is fond of his rod and gun. This
leads many, who have never accom-
panied him on one Of his trips, to be-
lieve that he really does not care for
a great deal of the sport when he gets
out, and that the ducks or the fish
merely furnish a convenient excuse
for getting away. Those who have
seen him with gun or rod do not share
On this impression. 1t is evident to
them that he truly enjoys killing game
Moreover. lis quick TO avail himself
of an opportunity to partal1e of the
homely fare OF the country people, and
he shows a liking for ''roughing it,"
Mr.. Harrison, when he was in the
white house, was quite as fond as is
Mr.. Cleveland of shooting and fishing
but he did not devote az much time to
that sort of enjoyment. There is a
great difference between the habits OF
the two men when in the field. the boat
permanent is very conspicuously shown
in the manner OF handling a gun and
taking a shot. Harrison has more OF
the recognized traits of a sportsman.
He is a quick shot and takes chances
He is ready to risk an almost impossi-
BILE shot rather than let II go without
the trial and often gets his game on
just such slim chance. He does not
wait for a sure thing. Consequently.
when he has been duck shooting, he
has made more misses. but at the same
time bagged more game than has
Cleveland.
Cleveland seems to be more anxious
not 10 miss than he is to get a shot.
He will permit any number of chances
to pass without pulling the trigger
which Harrison would take, hit or miss.
He will wait for hours, possibly half
the day. for a sure thing. and let's fair
chance opportunities so by. He shows
neither impatience nor fatigue In
waiting. He brings his gun firmly to
his shoulder, gets a deliberate sight
along the barrel and when he is per-
fectly sure OF his aim pulls the trigger.
If he fails to get the duck covered Just
to his Hiking he will lower the gun
without firing and wait for other ducks
to come. He wants an absolute as
surance with each shot, and often al
lows the bird to go by when most any
other man on earth would take the
shot. The result is that very seldom
ne wastes a charge of shot, but he does
not get a large number of birds. To
miss one is to spoil his sport. He does
not mind the game getting away with
out being shot at.
Harrison would take a quick shot
without waiting to get the gun to his
shoulder and would get the game IL
there was any sort of a show for him.
But If he failed he was ready for the
next and thought no more about IT. At
the end of the day he would regret few
shots lost through hesitation. Cleve-
lands gun is sure death TO what gets
in it's way. Harrison's gun is liable
to reach that which seems to be at n
safe distance. Cleveland wants slow
and unsuspecting game. Harrison
takes his chance with the wary. Those
who have hunted ducks with the two
presidents have been greatly impressed
with the difference between them