The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-03
TRAGEDIES OF THE WOODS.

l One day in the fall of 1888, in the l mountain of northern Colorado. while engaged about the ranch, I saw up at l the head of the meadows a half-mile away bunch Of dozen antelope com | ing down from the hills at full speed, closely pursued by some black animal I knew that it must be black wolf, since an occasional one had been seen, and nothing else that I could think of could run as this was running. All who are familiar with antelope know how wonderful is their speed there are very few animals which can equal them.
 When I first saw them the wolf was perhaps five or six rods behind, and during the distance [ could see them tpossibly eighty rodsl-it was gaining
 steadily, but surely, and as they went
 out of sight into the hills on the other
 side of the meadow it was seemingly
 only about two jumps behind, and they
 began to scatter as it was closing in on
 them.
 I was so intensely interested that I
 was fairly riveted to the spot, and not
 until they had disappeared did waken
 to oetipii. idii tp tIit Sot
 my gun, and ran up steep, timberad
 hillside for a near cut to an open
 valley, for which they were headed,
 believing it would catch one within a
 short distance. When I got to the
 edge of the timber on top of the hill
 saw the antelope all huddled and
 standing still, just as sheep do after
 being chased or scared. The antelope
 would have offered a good shot if it
 had been meat I was after but cared
 nothing for getting an antelope, but did
 want shot at the wolf.
 Judging from the actions of the others, I felt certain it had caught one, but the surrounding country was com posed of ridges, ravines, and patches of timber, and, notwithstanding my careful search I failed to find any trace of the wolf and it's prey.
 As 1 trudged back home after my fruitless chase, I meditated, as I have often done since, on the long unwritten history of wild-animal life in regions where man has not broken in upon the natural conditions; of the contest and among natures wild creatures, from the smallest up to the OL tle lOIeSl, hll uIhHOWA | and unrecorded, save on rare occasions | when we by chance see for ourselves or see the evidence thereof, terminating, of course in the survival of the fit- test"
 At one time I was passing along the edge of the woods in winter when there | was snow I saw the track of a lynx, | where it had been leisurely travelling along, when the tracks showed where 1t had stopped behind pine bush and down In the snow, then made I tremendous leap out into the open field and run few rods, evidently at 1t best pace.
 There was the track of a jack rabbit coming down at right angles with the ,ourse the lynx was going, until direct y opposite where the lynx was crouch ng behind the bush and about fifteen seet away, then sudden turn and heir tracks were mixed together in the ace for life or a meal; but soon the racks showed where jack had left his 1ursuer behind, and the lynx went on 1io way at his regular gait, but we will suppose not rejoicing, thus showing he survival of the 'swiftest'
 I1au JdCh ldlleu tp get out oL IedcH md the lynx had made the proposed there would have been a bloody, trampled spot on the snow, a ew patches of white fur and only the ynx track leading thther. Written m the snow like the great white pages if book the observer may read most tales as he passes along, md learn the life and habits of natures wild creatures.-Forest and Stream.
 John T. Grisbach, of this city, sang :,