Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-02-08
YOUTHFUL BOUNTY CLAIMANTS.


A MONG the first applicants for wolf
n bounties in South Dakota, under
The new bounty act which became a
law in that state in the winter Of 1895
20, were two mere tots OF children,
Rose and Custer Foulkrod, who made
their appearance at the house of the
county treasurer one morning only
three weeks after the law went into
effect.
Rose, the elder, is but IL years Of age,
and Custer only nine OF ten, and they
looked even younger The children are
not brother and sister. Rose appears
TO be wholly, OF in part, Of Indian de-
scent, and is a waif adopted in the
Foulkrod family several years ago.
Custer, on the other hand, is a bright,
sandy-haired little fellow, who gave
direct answers to all questions put to
him. His father, he said, had gone
for a soldier" and his mother was al
her early home in Indiana; but Grand
pa and Grandma Hogan" were al their
sod house on the North Fork, II miles
distant. The children had come from
there that morning.
When first seen, at about seven
O'Clock. they were sitting in front o!
the treasurer's home on a rude sled,
harnessed to a very subdued, piebald
csyuse or Indian pony. How long they
had been there was not clear; they ap-
reared TO be waiting TO be seen, not
heard. II was a cold morning, While
vet six inches OF frozen snow lay on the
ground, and their clothing was far
from warm or abundant. They had
wrapped themselves in three worn OLD
blankets, and had a large, rickety goods
box AT their backs. Rose was sitting
straight as a stick, her black eyes fixed
on the house windows; she scarcely
spoke AT all, and declined 10 go into the
house. after the treasurer had invited
them 20 enter, but watched his race
closely. II was the boy who did the
talking. He said that they had come
10 get the bounty so that they couia
go TO the store and buy grub stun
bounty on what?" the treasurer
asked them.
"Nolfscs." said the boy. give wolfses
and lion and a kiyote."
But have YOU the proofs-the hides
mr. scalps with the tails?' the treasurer
asked.
~Yep." replied the boy, in business
tone. Jumping nimbly over the goods
box. he hauled out from II five VOL
palts. a coyote hide and a small, noun
tain lion skin-all fresh.
The wolf-skins were those OF the
large. gray timber wolf a formidaole
aud destructive brute which intlicts de-
,lorable losses on the stockmen Of the
counties west OF the Missouri border
inc the Black hills. The new bounty
law provides that three dollars SHAH De
Maid by county treasurers for each gray
Wolf scalp or hide, like sum for
mountain lion, and one dollar for
coyote.
But satisfactory evidence must be
presented that the animals were hlile"
within the county or state, and II Is the
treosurer's duty. on payment, TO punch
, hole not less than half an inch IN
diameter in each ear Of every skin, 10
preyept repeating" The skin, thus
marked, is returned 10 the person pre-
.enting II. who can sell it if he wishes,
IL is expected also that the owners Of
cattle and sheep ranches will pay
b,urtv TO those who destroy wolves and
papthers, in addition TO that paid 10y
the state.
To preyent fraud. the county officers
are Obliged to use vigilance, and m TINS
instance the treasurer's suspicion was
shat the children had been sent to him
lty some one who had brought The SKINS
;T,o the state from Nebraska or Wyom-
ing.
Where lid you get these hides?' he
asked.
-on'n wolfses." replied the lad.
yes. but who killed themV
The boy's eyes searched the treas
urer's. Grandpa Hogan made pills
fer EN-" he replied, as if coneeding
something unwillingly, but her and
me ketched en-" he added. stoutly, in
,licating his companion with a nod.
.How old a man is your grand
father?" the treasurer asked, ineredu-
iously.
"He's most so. grandpa is, and It TOOK
him most all the forenoon every time
to get TO skin EN-
Look here. you must tell me the
truth about thisi" said the treasurer
severely.
I'm telling You the truth" replied
the boy, with clear-eyed honesty
.IIer and me ketched 'em and grandpa
made pills fer 'em fer us.
But tell me how you caught ines,
wolvesi" exclaimed the treasurer. siill
unc0nvinced.