The San Francisco call., 1897-02-07

I pearance that would offer the least sugges-
tion OF mannisnness.
She uses the soft-nosed bullets, which,
when they hit an animal, spread until
they widen half an inch in diameter. The
deer which she has brought down, as a
rule, do not run more than twenty yards,
and many have died before half that dis
tance was covered.
She finds antelope hunting the most IN
teresting and exciting sport of all and de-
scribes one Of her recent victories as fol-
lows:
Il took my pony and went away up
above the ranch, tethered the animal and
then went along little bluff to where l
could look OFF across the open country for
long way. l brought my field glass into
! play, but could not see a single thing.
Then l went on q short distance further
and scanned the plain again. l had been
out for perhaps an hour and half when
happened to see glimmer of something
over little hummock not more than 500
yards away. 1t was just little speck of
brown that 1 had seen, and l was not alb
solutely certain that l had seen anything,
but l cooked my rife and waited. 1t
seemed so long waiting there that had
almost concluded that I was mistaken.
Suddenly, however, up went something
on the rising ground. Another jump and
an antelope was In sight, followed by four
others. tried to catch sight of one, but
they were SO small in the sights that they
looked ike little bits of rabbits. Pretty
soon pulled the trigger The next in
slant they were gone. But put in an
other shell and ran over to the top of the
rise, and there lay one dead. The bullet
had gone into the back of the head and
torn fearful hole"
Mrs. F. Eugene Belden of Chelsea,
Maine, is another recent addition to the
ranks of huntresses. Prior to last July
she had never handled a gun. She was
proficient, however, in the use of the re-
volver, but there her skill in the hand
ling of firearms ended. Since that time,
however she has been in at the death in
| lox hunt, having killed the elusive ami
NAL herself.
Her husband is a great sportsman, and
while they were in New Hampshire last
summer he taught her the use of the rife.
She took TO it handily and began by ex-
perimenting on bottles. She improved so
rapidly from the beginning that early in
October she accompanied her husband on
a hunting trip into the Maine woods. She
sighted a deer while on the expedition
and without fear or wavering shot it
square in the shoulder. Elated with her
success she determined to seize every op-
portunity of improving her skill, and
shortly afterward went to Paris Hill, Me-,
to try her luck at fox-hunting aud rode in
the fifth hunt of the Buckfield Fur Club.
The result of the days sport was tha
she killed the first fox-the bis gest and
the first ever secured by woman in the
history of the club. On the day OF the
| hunt about twenty members of the club
were present, divided into three parties.
In one party were Mr. and Mrs. Belden
and Mr.. and Mrs. J. c. Emerton, Miss L.
McQuade and F. C. Mower of Auburn.
When near the signpole one of the
hounds started fox in one of the swamps.
As the game seemed to be coming toward
them the party spread out. Soon Mrs
Beden's quick eye discovered fox steal
ing up the hill about forty yards distant.
| She fired instantly, holding her heavy
double barreled gun at arms length with
out resting. The fox tumbled dead, but
she was SO afraid that he was not quite
finished that she emptied the second bar
rel INTO MS Douy IN oIuef W MAKE sure.
She is inclined to rest upon her laurels
| for the season, but declares that her next
expedition will be in search OF bear or
\ moose.
Mrs. Belden is young, pretty and lady
like. She wears very becoming hunting
costume, consisting of corduroy jacket
and bloomers, with high rubber boots and
a corduroy cap to match the suit.
She is fond of ali athletic sports and be-
sides being splendid horsewoman is al
expert swimmer.