The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-27
IN THE NATIONAL PARK /.
Herds of Game and Streams Full
of Fish Abound.
VIC SMITH TELLS OF THEM
Has Returned From q Month Spent
There = He and His Wife Enjoy
Unique and Delightful
Outing.

Anybody who has it in mind to make
and is undecided between that tour
and some other, would not be on the
fence very long if he could hear what
Vic Smith has to say about his trip
through the park. Vic Smith is the
famous bear hunter of the west side,
and has more of bruins scalps at mis-
belt than an ordinary mathematician
can count. Mr.. Smith spends at least
seven-eighths of his time in the noun
tains and along the streams of Moi
tana, and he knows every fishin' hole
and every draw where game is wont
about outdoor life, and his wife is none
the less so.
Vic knows Of lots and lots Of places
where game is as plentiful as cracks in
Missouri river bottom land and where
fishes fight with each other to get the
first whack at the fly. But of all the
hunting grounds that have come with
in the observation of Mr.. Smith, none,
says he, can hold a candle to the park
and its immediate vicinity.
BY George" said Mr.. Smith yester
DAY, I've seen lots of game in nv
.iile, out | never run across anything
like the herds of game in the park. /
saw one herd of elk that must have
numbered more than 200, and bears and
deer ana all the rest of them were as
numerous as anybody could wish 10
see. tell you it was a mighty fine
thlng for sore eyes to see all those ami
inals grazing peacefully and paving no
attention to us whatever
we mad very fine trip indeed, We
left Anaconda just a month ago. with
-FOUR horses and two wagons We went
py way of Virginia City and Alder
guich, where we took in all the sights
ana scenes made famous by the assoc
citation of Montana's earliest pioneers
we saw every tree upon whose branch
es were hanged the notorious chars C.
ters VINO came within the corrective
measures of the vigilantes, ard / never
pelleved that so many men could have
been hanged in so short time and in
SO limited an area. From Virginia
we went on to the park with one team.
stopping whenever we felt so inclined
and generally taking things easy. Once
in the park we avoided the Travelled
roads and kept off the routine Journey
pain. We went this way or that as we
pleased, and pitched camp when we
pleased. We saw 1t all, and a good
deal more than most people see, / i'm
as1ne Altogether, it was the grand
est outing | ever had and Mrs. Smi n
enjoyed it fully as much as / did"
Vic tells pretty good story ON him
sef-an experience he had with bear
One night, while they We're asleep in
the tent, Mrs Smith was aroused by
nearing a noise outside, where the
camp stove and provision boxes We're
She concluded at once that a bear mad
round his way to the dainties in the
stores. She awakened her husband
and told him about it. Vic don't mind
little thing like a bear He has cen
in close quarters with so many of the m
that their bluffs are commonplanes
So Vic thought he would lust get In
and Brighten him off
Il poked my head out through a mar
row opening in the tent" said Vic.
land just as l did so one of the big
gest silver tips I ever saw raised up
on his launches not more than four
feet from my nose. The bear gave
just one grunt, but that was enough
for me. I tell you, 1 never was so
scared in my life. By George, but if
just set my heart a-thumpng like a
trip hammer"