The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-04
LONG STALK OF A HUNTER.
DETERMINED TO GET THE BIGGEST
OF MOUNTAIN SHEEP.
Succeeded mt Last by Ruse-but
He Felt So Mean About 1t THAT
lie would Have Given Almost
ANYTHING to Undo His work.


Eagle reproduced the photographs OF hve
remarkable game-heads, the originals OF
which had been sent to John w. Harmon,
OF Brooklyn, by +. w. Sheard, dealer
in furs and skins in Tacoma. one OF the
pictures was of a magnificent pair OF horns
from the head of the largest Rocky noun
tain sheep in the word. Mr.. Harmon took
to that office the following account Of the
capture of the sheep. The account is taken
from the magazine Recreation, ana was
written by Mr.. Sheard
II have killed a great many mountain
sheep old Scotty MacDougal wrote from
the Seikirks to friend in Tacoma, but
this is the craftiest old ram ! ever under
took to corral. 1 have followed him no less
than 800 miles, from one range to another.
He has left the band and gone of by him
self. and always when get sight OF him
he IS out OF range, standing across on some
peak, looking at me.
II have tried many long shots at him;
have seen the snow fly, close to him, at
times; but have never yet hit him. l have
had TO almost stand my old 1870 Ballard
on end 10 make Il reach that far" (mean-
ing he had to hold so high above the
game)
Finally, after the old man had been after
this sheep two or three months. he wrote
again:
well, at last I've got the old Ellick!
I've had a of a time following him.
I've grown twenty years older and my
hair has turned white on the trail of the
old Turk. How did / get him, you ask?
Well Ii was this way:
II had been after him so long he seemed
to have got disgusted with ife-tired.
poor and pretty well worn out: so he did
not travel far when jumped him. as for
merely; but would sneak UP among the
highest peaks and glaciers and hide. So
1 was able TO get closer to him. Still,
could get only a glimpse of him; then he
would be out of sight again. The only
time could ever see him standing was
when he was safe across some great can
yon. out of range Then, as long as
would stand and look at him he would not
move, but the minute undertook to make
a sneak, or back track. so as 10 make a
circle he was off. Then. when got over
near where l had seen him. he would be
back on some other peak, near where
started from, looking for me TO come up
where he had been.
We'll. / got gray-headed thinking how
| could fool him. My partner hunted with
me several days. Then he got disguised
and quit; for when two of us hunted, this
old ram would keep right on the jump and
would travel clear out of the country
without stopping: never giving US a
chance to make a sneak on him.
Finally. one day, after l had travelled
about twenty miles after him. always to
see him just out OF range, | was plumb
worn out and had about made up my
mind 10 quit him I was away up on
peak sitting on rock taking a smoke
and looking at old EllicS q had named
him Smart Ellick.) He was across on
another peak, usual. about 800 yards
away looking at me and taking nip Of
grass or moss, once In awhile; but all the
time keeping his weather eye on me.
1--WE had now got well acquainted and
often entertained each other in this way
We had some nice social visits. at long
range, but the ram was always very at
tentive. While l would rest and smoke
he would eat brush. When | got ready
TO go, he was always ready.
We'll as l sald. / was lying on the
rock smoking ard watching old Eilick.
noticed that when / would make move,
even to take or my cap. he would no
tice II: and a thought struck me. Now.
Ellick. | said, 4 viii Just fool you once,
for luckn So | took out my hunting
knife, cut a limb. made cross piece
and planted 1t on the rock Then 1
took of my old blouse and my fur cap
and dressed up my scarecrow, keeping
carefully behind it meanwhile.
Then / rolled of the rock backward,
out of sight leaving old Ellck looking
at my old cap and wondering, ] sup
pose what in the dickens j was doing
| went down the hog back. out OF sight.
got the wind In my favor. made Il ctr
cult. and came up within seventy-iive
yards OF old Ellick. and for the FIRST
time found him where | had left him.
Il have killed bear as big as a covered
wagon, and never was excited. but when
I saw that old ram there watching the
old coat ! was plum ratified. 1 could not
have hit q buck Indian at ten yards All
! could do was To lie there like a tom
derfoot all out of breath. with just my
eyebrows showing above the rocks.
alrsaf
DAYS. watching that old duck with my
heart humping like a woman's. Wish
You could have seen the old cuss. The ex-
ptessions On his face were a curiosity.
Sometimes he looked n he were afraid.
Then again he looked mad. and seemed 70
be frowniug about something. Then he
would get impatient He wanted me 10
come on. guess. Again he would take a
good. long steady gaze, as II saying.
What In the ---- - the matter with that
tendeFfoot? Has ne gone to Steep or
is that really he5 He has not moved FOR
two hours He must he dead
Il was worse scared than a squaw. ]
was afraid 20 shoot now that 7 had a
chance Tor fear should miss him. and for
the first time in my lfe ! wished for one
OF these guns that has n reaction business.
fuli OF cartridges. ! would not have cared
ST the thing did blow Up so | killed my
sheep.
" els 4 IuG4Af XII wy NtANftl WIN me
old Turk was getting uneasy. AZ though
ne had about made up his mind u was not
over there I sid the Old croN bar quiet
lv inch BY snch up over the rock and
rut the stock IN the middle Of my breast.
! was lying fat on my belly. and could
not move my SHOULDER or raise above two
rocks ] was wedged into !, was an
awkward position 20 shoot in. but / dare
not move / got the sishts l8nsd up On
his righf shoulder and before ] pulled I
looked several times 20 Ae sure / was
r.Ent Thne / lct her 80,
when that oid cr0Rbar event an she
almost made consumptive cut ~ me hy
crushing nay chest. ! was so wsdged n.
that Tor q minute or two | could not get
up nor see anything. hu, when ! finally
pulled myself out. cid Elilck Vas there All
right He Was kind o. pushing around,
tgt was hit Ia the righ. placf and ald uoi
need any more.
u went up so him ard sid 'Weii old
par8. you took me faf q tsuarrfoos dls yau1
AHd rau 20. lefi j plt up % cold GRCK en-