The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-05
SHOT
The Fascination of military Duty In
4ers che Far West.

"Few people would believe the story
said Corporal Chris Newshwander, OF
Troop l., seventh Cavalry, but / can
vouch for the truth of the statement
that within year past soldier OF our
regiment killed an African leopard
within twenty-five miles OF Fort Grant
Arizona. The leopard was a magnih-
cent specimen and its skin is now at
Fort Sill.
"The leopard was prowling around In
Taylor Canyon when he unluckily got
his foot fastened in a steel trap. The
soldiers at the fort are in the habit OF
going upon hunting and trapping expe-
ditions in the mountains, and the man
who set the trap was out on furlougn
when camped in the canyon. On visit
ing his traps early one morning last
winter he was very much surprised at
seeing a large spotted animal making
frantic struggles to get away. The iron
teeth of the trap sank deeper into the
animals paw and the soldier saw that
IL was necessary to act promptly III ne
would secure the game. He was opiiged
to fire six shots before the struggles or
the animal were brought to an end, and
nobody was ever more surprised than
he when he found that he had a hne
specimen of a leopard.
Inquiry brought out the fact that q
railroad train had been wrecked some
months before at Lordsburg, and sew
eral animals belonging TO travelling
menagerie had escaped. Two leopards
We're among the number. One or the
ieopards is still at large, notwithstand-
ing frequent efforts to catch him. The
carcasses OF cattle on the ranges are
pointed out as victims OF the voracious
appetite OF the leopard. The climate Is
well adapted for tropical animals. and
| leopard can easily find plenty or food
| in the valleys where the cattle roam.
Life at Fort Grant" said the COR
/ poral, who has served faithfuliy Tor
| twelve years in the regular army, rs
| not so monotonous as some imagine.
| Detachments are always on the move
over the country for one hundred miles
around to keep an eye on the Indians
and to see that everything is quiet.
Hunting parties are made up which are
| in the field two weeks at time, and
l something is always going on TO keep
| a man occupied. The out door life has
many attractions for a man who grows
used to IL, and the bracing atmosphere
and magnificent scenery would be sadly
missed If one were to allow himself to
be shut up i'm room like many people
in Denver Once. after being in the army
mum r OF years, tried to settle
down % the life OF a civilian. l en-
l gaReu as clerk, Out IL lew WtchS SH
| perience convinced me that i could moi
| stand the confinement. Army life Is
not SO bad as IL is sometimes pictured
III a man tries to do his duty he will al.
| ways find smooth sailing and kline
| treatment. / was never before a cour
martial but once. and that was for be-
ing five minutes late at a call.
"While there is no fishing in thu
mountains of the Southwest, the hunt
ing is very interesting. Bear, deer ant
mountain lions are the game we. e.
after. The only objection to travelling
In the lack of water A man can neve
| appreciate the value of water until n
has been deprived of the life-giving ele
| ment for many hours under the burn
ing sun. / have travelled many da
| under the frey sun of the Arizona deser
] with little hope of obtaining water a
| the close of a long days march. Tn
| horses suffer terribly, and man woul
, | freely offer a whole months salary 70
| a single glass of sparkling liquid sue
! as we see running through the street
of the residence portions OF Denver.Th
: water holes are In places twenty-five
. fifty or sixty miles apart. and 1t is nee
!, | essary to continue travelling until wa
ter is reached. The holes are in posses
, sion OF settlers, who look on them as
D | KIondike The ordinary charge for
9 | drink of water at one of the holes
ten cents and the government Is oblif
ed to pay as well as the citizen. Wats
0 Is the mighty problem in the Southwes
g III that problem were solved Arizor
4 | would be a paradise. Denver News.