The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-17
WILD ANIMAL PICTURES
WOMAN WHO PHOTOGRAPHS UNDER
RIFLE PROTECTION.

native haunts is certainly a unique
business for a woman, but Mrs. A. q.
Wallihan of Lay, Col, has made mon
ey at 1t, says a correspondent of the
New York Post
The Wallihan ranch composes the
town of Lay. 1t is the only house
there, and Is the postofiice and road
ranch combned-the latter being the
mountain term for hotel. 1t Is situ-
ated in the wild region on the west
ern slope of the Rockies, several hun
dred miles from Denver, 80 miles from
Rife, the nearest railroad station, and
Ill miles from Rawlins, Wyo. 1t was
an old government ranch in the days
when the soldiers used TO go to Meek
er during the Indian troubles, and
ranchmen travelling for supplies to
Rawlins often stop there over night.
Although there is plenty of masculine
society Mrs. Wallihan often does not
see a woman for months at a time.
About a mile and a half from the
ranch the hills begin, and at this point
are the trails over which the deer go
south in the autumn. Year after year.
when the falling leaves of October
rustic beneath the rabbits tread, and
the slender white stemmed, trembling
aspens deck themselves in gold, the
deer turn southwark yer the same
trails that have been trodden for gen.
| erations. Hundreds of miles these
trails extend, and the deer follow them
as unerringly as the water fowl finds
its way along the desert and illimi-
! table air" to the reedy home of its
ancestors.
Then is the time the Wallihans lay
in their winter supply Of meat. Years
ago Mrs. Wallihan learned to be an ex-
pert rifle shot, and began accompany
ing her husband on his hunting expe-
ditions. 1t was thus that she devel-
! oped an intense love for the forest and
its denizens. particularly the deer. Ten
years ago she resolved to have a CAM
era and photograph the deer for her
own pleasure; so she rode many miles
to ask home missionary who was 60
ing back to civilization to send her a
good instrument. Since that time the
camera has added new and fascinat-
ing interest to her life. Together with
her husband, she studied out the mys-
teries of operating the machine, and
they learned the art of developing and
finishing the pictures entirely from
books. Then they began to take pic
lures Of wild animals.
The ordinary amateur photographer
may not realize quite what 1t means
to photograph wild animals of the
fiercer variety. In order to make a
mountain lion, wildcat, or big griz-
ely sit for his picture, 1t is manifestly
necessary to get him out of the brush
into plain view; either on top of a
tree, or in the open. To accomplish
this he must be stirred up and eXcit-
ed to action, which is not always a
safe or pleasant performance. When
an animal of this kind gets close
enough to pose properly for his pic
ture, he is apt to be somewhat dan
gerously near the photographer. So
the photographer must be protected
while he snaps the shot. III Mr.. Will
Than manipulates the camera, Mrs.
Wallihan stands over him with gun,
prepared to take a lightning shot II
necessary; and II she is the operator
he stands guard. 1t must be no easy
matter deliberately to get the focus
and take a snapshot at a raging noun
tain lion or a furious wildcat. as he
comes straight towards one, but much
experience has taught Mrs. Wallihan
to keep cool, study the effect Of light
and shade, and examine the pose. even
in this threatening case. She has one
, splendid picture of wildcat just as
it left the very tip of tree in q
: mad spring at the photographer. She
drew the slide just as the cat leaped
and the result is probably unique ir
the realm of photography. A German
photographer, when he saw this pic
ture in a collection of photographs II
New York, almost raved.
Great Scott" he exclaimed, 'lool
at dat cat in de midair! Himmel! ha
you efer seen anything like dot in you
, life, heinz"
Mrs. Wallihan has heard at nigh
( the measured tread of 600 deer, ant
counted them as they moved, roya
procession, toward the south land
q Again, in the night, she has detectet
l the soft swish of the waves as com
: pany swan the river, and with on
y binding gleam from her flashlight ha
i caught the picture. By some seeming
e ly mysterious spell Mrs. Wallihan ha
5 always been able to get into the imme
a date neighborhood of the deer in
u way that is a matter of astonishmen
: to the average hunter. One day sh
: sat, almost concealed from view. i
= the tall sage brush. A bunch of dee
D stampeded in her direction. Close up
. on her they parted in V shape, an
u so ran by on either side, their breat
Il on her face, and their great liqui
e eyes looking into hers. Once she sa
e upon a bank overlooking a ravin,
It when suddenly doe bounded ou
: bleating piteously as lamb, he
'e tongue hanging out in the agony {
o her fright. At her heels leaped n Eour
l. tain lion in hot pursuit Mrs. Wall
han raised her rifle and made one {