The San Francisco call., 1896-10-16
THE POACHERS
AND THE KEEPERS
Not a Single Drop of Human
Gore Was Spilled
Yesterday.
The Aristocrat and the Plebeian
Sportsman Shot Side
by Side.
DUCK.sHOOTING NEAR sUISUN.
The Launch of Pleasure Party Blew
Up While the Crew Was
Taking a Dip.
DUCK.sHooTING NEAR sUIsUN.

Those who prognosticated war on tn e
Suisun marshes on the inaugural day of the
duck-shooting season were sadly disap-
pointed yesterday evening when reports
were received that not single drop of
blood was shed, because the so-called
poachers were not molested to any ex-
| tent.
The Mallard Club with full compile
| ment of warriors, under the command OF
Bob Boyer and his lieutenant, Bill Nye,
anchored its cruiser Rattlesnake imme-
diately outside of barrier which was
erected this year by the Teal Shooting
Club in Frank Horn Slough, which body
of water empties into the Cordelia Slough
and is distant about one and half miles
from the draw bridge.
Half mile south of the Mallard's head
quarters the McRae and Myrtle gunboat
Toothpick is anchored. She had on board
twenty-five able bodied duck. hunters ON
Wednesday evening, all of whom ex-
pected to return last night with big bags
of wel-fed game, bat the ducks which
they had longed for never came-that is
within range of hard and close shooting
breechloaders.
With the exception of three old-time
duck -punchers who understood the lay of
the land and the ponds in which quackers
quacked at early morn, the remainder of
the would-like-to- be successful spOrtsmen
returned early in the forenoon with empty
stomachs and empty hunLiDg-coat pockets.
The day was entirely 100 fine for good
duck shooting. In the early morning,
when hunters could see just sufficiently
clear to draw a line of sight, some very
1ual hpf
last long, as the birds vacated their feed
ing ponds at the first salute from the
enemy and departed for the Sacramento
River.
The MalIard Club expected trouble on
Thursday morning, as two guards were
stationed under orders fromithe Teal Club
within fifty yards of the so-called poach
ers' ark with instructions to keep close
watch upon the sportsmen OF "anarch-
istic intentions" and 10 protect them
selves If necessary.
The keepers, or gillies, by which name
| they are better known to the sportsmen of
| Solano County, carried Winchester rifles,
and from all accounts they would have
used them if member of the Mallard
| Club attempted to remove any portion of
| the blockade which stretches from bank
| to bank of slough that is fifteen feet in
depth. The Mallards did not, however,
make any attempt 10 remove the barrier
| to navigation; but the boys held quite a
] good-natured interview with the guards.
] The president of the Malards inquired
very particularly for the health OF his dear
old friend Mr.. Whitney, who is presiding
officer of the Teal Club, and was also very
desirous of knowing the pond which Mr..
! Whitney proposed to shoot over on Thurs
day morning, as he fancied that he might
! join him in The sport.
'My only objection to the Teal Club
| IA Ill ~
president sis that he shoots a majority
of his birds on the sit. and according to
my old friend Bill Nye this style is obso-
lete outside of preserved territory, but
friend Whitney is old and consequently
excusable."
The guards informed the ''poachers" that
| they would regret their foolishness if they
| entered upon any of the preserves, but
| the caution was not o5eyed as the ponds
in the preserves were surrounded and shot
over by preserved" men and "non-pre-
| served men bright and early yesterday
morning. Keepers stood alongside the
trespassers and scared the incoming ducks
away by firing blank cartridges at them at
| long range. When a tres passer was an
noyed too much by this kind of play he
would seek the pond that was being shot
over by some club mem ber and join him
in the sport. The ''poacher" as rule
then finished the days shooting with good
| results.
In an interview with two of the Super
visors of Solano County, who were among
the sportsmen who took advantage of the
opening day, it was learned that the sea-
son for the shooting of wild ducks will be
closed positively next month, unless the
preserve clubs cease to annoy the hunters
who go into the marshes for the purpose
of killing q few birds for their families and
friends. The people of Solano County are
very bitter against those preserve clubs,
| and trouble will assuredly result this year
unless some understanding between the
hunters and the clubs be arrived at. The
| Sheriff Of the county was asked to send
constabl$ to the marshes yesterday in
order to protect any possible destruction
! to life ana property but he refused to dc
so, stating in answer that the so-calIed
poachers did not require watching by his
men.
Three pleasure-seekers had very mar
row escape from death last Wednesday
afternoon in Cordelia Slough. 1t appears
that Frank Happersberger, the sculptor,
Charley Barlage and 0. Weisman, propri-
| etor OF restaurant on Market street,
! journeyed from this City last Sunday In
the gasoline launch Comet for a week s
shoot in the Suisun marshes. When at
the head of the CordeIia Slough and
northeast of the Cook ponds the hunters
decided to take a swim. and while enjoy
ing natatorial sport Barlage noticed a
strong smell OF gasoline in the air, and be
| Immediately swan toward the launch.
When on board he essayed with a
| lighted match to discover the whereabouts
OF the escaping gas, and in doing so the
gasoline became ignited and an explosion
resulted just as Barlage struck the
water in his endeavor to escape. The
young man had an extremely close call i,
but luckily escaped any serious injury.
The launch quickly got on fire and sank
before the eyes OF the crew, leaving them
without a stitch of clothes. They lost be-
sides their clothes about $500 in money
and two valuable diamonds, also two new
| guns.
The launch was valued at $4,000. In a
naked and Respondent condition Hap
pers berger, Welsman and Barlage man
aged to reach farmhouse, where they
were given some clothing, and on their
| journey home they received further as
sistance from Donald McRae, whose hunt
ing ark is in the slough in question. An
attempt will be made to-day to save the
machinery of the craft and the guns.
RENDERED HOMELESS.