The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-05

on the Same Set Of scalpS-In Spite Of
Wholesale Killing. she Pest Does Not
Appear 80 Decrease.
The one friendless, hunted Ishmaelite
OF the plains, against whom is every
mans hand, Is the prairie wolf-the
coyots. II he 10 adapted to any sphere
OF usefulness on earth, nobody has yet
been shrewd enough to find il out; If he
has ever done respectable deed, it has
not yet come to light. The jack rabbit
Will at least furnish the basis for a
saVory stew in case Of need, the buffalo
was valued for its hide, the rattles of
she Tsttlesnake are worth preserving for
CuTionties, bat there is yet to be dis
covered a method of utilizing any por-
ton OF the coyote from his snarlinR
month to his ragged tail-except as q
fertilizer. The short grass country is
his home, the high prairies where the
gray, hairlike vegetation that is called
pasture blends with the dirty coat of
the vandal. Through it he sneaks and
runs, now gaunt figure on the horizon,
now an ungainly shape near at hand.
he is without acquaintance with any.
thing that is alive, usually solitary, al
ways with criminal aspect, as if he
mad Just done something to be ashamed
% on was contemplating deed Of the
sort at the earliest opportunity.
Once the coyote had the whole Indian
Territory to himself He could snarl
and fight to his hearts content, and
there was none to say him nay. Rnt
when the lands were opened to settle
ment and a family took its place on ev.
cry quarter section there was less room
Tor the wild creatures of the plains who
had before been undisturbed. Then the
coyote had go out among men, and he |
found that he was a very unpopular i'm |
migrant into any of the communities |
that he favored with his presence. And |
he earned the right to so be considered
honestly. He robbed the sheepfolds.
stole the chickens and made the travel. |
or afraid-an without any equivalent
IN service Furthermore, he is essen
italy a coward. The men Of the from.
tier have sort Of respect for the brave
creature that dehes them or for the
cunning one that Outwits them, but
Shey can never forgive the trembling
one that is alarmed at their very an
pearance. So, from the farmer son who
blazes away with his old shotgun at the
providing coyote behind the barn 20 the
cAty sportsman who wastes q cartridge
INTENDED for q prairie chicken or duck
~ ending the life of q wolf trottinR
along the hedgerow, there is a Ueaseless.
unrelenting war waRed against the
luckless wanderer.
&fnOn kh0 fYnv,,f Az, -
from the territory into the farming and
stock raising states to the north there
mas been more than a desultory war
tare. The farmers have banded together
% protect the hooks and herds and
nave offered generous bounties for the
lcalps OF the creatures, q proceeding
That has resulted in the slaughter Of
thousands Yet the supply seems none
The less, and all the sharpshootinR Is
but a waste Of powder and balls Year
A1ter year there are reported from /, 400
q 1000 sheep killed in Nebraska and
kansas BY wolves, and the hundreds of
dollars spent for bounties have produced
little diminution Of the plague.
Sometimes the bounties are not what
'hey are purported to be. The people of
"SNCSAA SOuAty 4Ouuu once C1aB they | Z
we're being taxed very heavily for the
,ayment OF this sort Of expense and
hat certain hunters were buying new
arms out Of the proceeds Of their prow.
IS on the plaina An examination fol-
owed, and 1t was found that there was
existence an endless chain in compar
son with which the greenbacks and
ola reserve make but feeble showing.
1t the rear of the county clerks Office, =
where the redeemed scalps were thrown,
vas convenient opening in the wall,
nd through this the scalps were pulled | +
the night, to be presented at the
ounter in the morning for another
ounty of $S each, 1t was estimated that a
he county had paid for one set of soslps
OF less than 12 times, and the empti-
ess OF the treasury was explained. The
addest part of the happening was that
he schemers saw the investigators at
le hole and became bounty jumpers at
1oe-jumping the county for safer [
lines.
Another curious circumstance was
otioed by the officers of two counties
i1olning in central Kansas. The officers
one were paying out money every
ay Tor wolf scalps while the others sell
ON had any demands. for the reward.