The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-04-22
FRIENDLESS COYOTE.
TRICKS or HIS ENEMIES TO MAKE
MONEY OUT or HIM.


Wholesale killing, the Pest Does Not
Appear to Decrease.
Tho one friendless, hunted Ishmaelite
Of tho plains, against whom is every
mans hand, is the prairie wolf--the
coyote. If no is adapted to any sphere
OF usefulness OH earth, nobody has yet
been shrewd enough to find it out; If he
has ever done respectable deed, il has
not yet come to light. Tho jack rabbit
will at least furnish the basis for
saVory stew in case of need, the buffalo
was valued for its hide, the rattles OF
the rattlesnake are worth preserving for
cnriositiea, but there is yet to DO dis.
covered method Of utilizing any por-
tion OF the ooyote from his snarling
mouth to his ragged tail-except as q
fertilizer. The short grass country il
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 a gaunt figure on the horizon,
now an ungainly shape near at hand.
He 10 without acquaintance with any.
thing that is alive, usually solitary, al
ways with criminal aspect, as if he
had just done something to be ashamed
OF or was contemplating deed Of the
sort at the earliest opportunity.
Once tho 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. But
when the lands were opened to settle
ment and a family took its place on ev
cry quarter section there was less room
for the wild creatures of the plains who
had before been undisturbSd, Then the
coyote had to 60 out among men, and be
found that he was a very unpopular i'm.
migrant into any Of the communitieA
that ne 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 equivalepS |
in service. Furthermore, he is essen. |
TALLY coward The men Of the from
tier have sort of respect for the brave |
creature that deaes them or for the
cunning one that outwits them, but
they can never forgive the trembling
one that is alarmed at their very an.
pearance. So, from the farmers son MIX.
biazes away with his old shotgun at the
prowling coyote behind the barn to the
city sportsman who wastes a cartridge
intended for a prairie chicken OF duck
IN ending the life of wolf trottinR
along the hedgerow, there is a ceaseIess.
war waged against the
4uckless wanderer.
Since the immigration of the wolves
from tho territory into the farming and
stock raising states to the north there
has been more than a desultory war.
fare. The farmers have banded together
70 protect tho 1ooks and herds and
have offered generous bounties for the
iealps Of the creatures, proceeding
hat has resulted in the slaughter Of
thousands Yet the supply seems none
ne less, and all the sharpshootinR is
'ut waste of powder and balls. Year
liter year there are reported from 200 I
Q l,50O sheep killed in Nebraska and I
AGpsas by wolves, and the hundreds Of [
.ollars spentfor bounties have produced
little diminution of the plague. O
Sometimes the bounties are not WIZ. 1
ney are purported to be. Tie people al
western county found once that they {
'ere being taxed very heavily f,r tho
ayment OF this sort of expense and {
nat certain hunters were buying new /
arms out Of tho proceeds of their PROV. ]
IS on the plains, AN examination fol. Il
WED, and it was found that there was a
existence an endless chain in compar n
on WITH which the greenbacks ana q
1id reserve make but feeble showing. .
= the rear OF the county clerks Office. Q.
mere the redeemed scalps were thrown.
as convenient opening in the wall.
ID through this the scalps were pulled
the night, to be presented at the 81
unter IN tho morning for another W
unity OF So each. 1t was estimated tbat to
9 county had paid for one set of soalnS A
. less than ~ times, and the empti, pC
IS OF the treasury was explained. The '''
udest part OF the happening was that "
Q sohemers saw the investigators Al DC
mole and became bounty jumpers al "t
oe-Jumping the county for safsy iii
mes.E h;
Another curious circumstance wa. da
sie si BY the officers of two counties ma
Joining in central Kansas. The officers an
one We're paying out money every DO
J Tor wolf scalps while the others sci. wi
~ had any. demands for She reward 90
Gu gu the hunters was oompeled ro
ear tnat no had killed the wolf inside
boundaries of the county where tbe
up was presented, and there was no :.
'son for doubling the truth of the tes- 10
lony But what could be the reason
me disparity in the claimsP One dov
ettler's son was questioned; rie'
Where did you kill this wolfYn hi
Down near the edge of the oountv u 50
/, Are Al coyotes very thick therey' Tn
Wen, rather, though not SO thick ne th'
= are farther SOUTH ''A "a Blu
:. Over IN the other oountvP' SIT
Yes there are more there u pr
but they do not kill any tbera iif'
" is it?" any 'nere ant
Inc other county only pays Al for rea
bps and this pays 50. So we 5ri ia
M over the line before we Shot ito