Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-11-07

NY Man who says tina
:; :: :; :: !: !: !: :: :: !:
Thus spoke Elwoo
Hofer. better known all through III
Rocky Mountains as BILLY" Hofel
while on a recen. visit to Chicago
Billy Hofer Is something OF char
acter. For twenty-eight years he ha
lived in the West, and made his llvla'
under the rugged conditions OF ina
country. He carried mall for In
United States In the Rocky Mountain
IN the winter Of 1875 and 1915. when tn
snow was twenty feet deep and one
could not stir except upon the ione
wooden snowshoes Of that region. Hl'
route was from Tellurium. Colo, ove'
the Grizzly Pass into Animas Forks
and he took up work which two car
riers had laid down. frightened by the
terrors Of that wild mountain journey
alone amid the SHOWS.
He was once caught In snow slide
and barely escaped with his life from
an experience OF which but few men
have ever came alive, Moving from one
part to another Of the West. Hofer has
Tor many years lived at Gardiner.
Mont, where he has acted as guide to
parties in the Rocky Mountains He
was with the Colonel Pickett-the same
Colonel Pickett mentioned by Ernest
Seton Thompson In his Biography OK
q Grizzly"-when that noted bear
hunter killed twenty-six grizzlies on
one trip In the Grey Bull country Of
Wyoming. He has guided Secretary
John Hay, who was then only Colonel
Hay, and his son, Adelbert Hay, who
was then but boy. In long trip
among the Rockies. lie has filled the
same office for Charles Allen. now AS
slstant Secretary Of the Navy. He has
taken on similar trips Henry Adams,
grandson Of John Quincy Adams now
Of Washington; Archibald Rogers,
Louis Tiffany and Daniel Appleton, of
New York, members Of the Vanderbilt
family, and many Engllshmen of rank
and reputation.
There Is no better known guide or a
more reputable and honest man any
where In the Rocky Mountains or any
where on earth, for THAI matter, than
this -.iie stocky, sturdy, wrinkled
plcasant-faccd Billy Hoftr.
An American Hunter.
In 1890 he was appointed Smithsonian
hunter With special commission
from the Smithsonian institution to
collect wild animals In and near Ihs
Yellowstone Park. lie has done SINH
lar work az the National Geological
Gardens al Washington and has guided
the United States Fish CommIss N
the Rockies, etc. He In just back from
the coast of Alaska, WHERE he was
sent by the United States goyernme II
to eolr.ct specimens Of the great no
Ssnk btar, alive, for TIE gardens at
w h!nT.on. He bro"ght back the bar.
lie caught many bears VIII lie in the
Yellowstone Park, and has shipped
grizzlies as big as COWS safely to he
East. He has more than once climbed
a tree after a grizzly cub Will, MS
dog was keeping the mother enter
talned at the foot Of the tree. He has
taken to the great geological gardens
Of the East more wild animals than
any other man In America-live adult
beaver, live elk, antelope, deer and
bear His reputation Is established
with the best-known big game hunters
In America, and Is even better estab-
lIshed with the authorities at Washing
ton. He Is known among scientists and
army men, and he Is known, above all
things, for his perfect and absolute
straightforwardnes and honesty.
As to his frank and emphatic remark