The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-24
BUCKS WITH LOCKED HORNS.
A Trophy Secured by Hunter i'm the
Oisinhemn Region.
CFfom the Kansas City Journal.

/
| Shawnee, OkIa.-Sam Aldridpe. a nor,d
| hunter, who lives just over the line in he
| Creek Nation. near Keokuk Falls, Okla.
was out some time ago with his dogs in
search of game. and about shutdown big
| buck deer. with immense antlers was
started, and made for the wiIds Of the
Indian reservation. Aldridge called off cis
dogs, as 1t was too late to pursue The
quarry further. and went home
Early the next morning the hunter. who
is perfectly familiar with the habits of
deer, went back to where he had flushed
his game of the night before. knowing Il at
ii was almost certain the buck would track
back and be in the immediate vicinity
Soon the dogs struck the trail and set Of
at a hot pace, giving tongue in a manner
that caused the woods TO ring Aldrid.e
followed as fast as he could. and after
going about two miles he heard his doc
at bay. As he came in sight he saw
scene that gave him the first attack of
DUCK aSue' for over thirty years Jump
ing and bounding around what seemed to
De three big buck deer with only one head
were the dogs, and the hunter wined his
eyes to be sure his vision was not play
ing him trick, and this is what he saw:
Locked fast in an embrace that could
only end In death were three enormous 1
bucks. with horns entwined in such a /
manner as to render escape impossible !
TWO of the deer were weak and exhausted !
but the third made violent efforts to es-
cape and plunged and paved madly After |
he had Gained his nerve Aldridge shot
The violent one of the trio through the
heart. The other two encountered by the
lead one. fell in a heap and the hunter
to cut their throats with a
common pocketknife.
From the condition of the three bucks
Aldridge readily came to the conclusion |
nat two of them had met in battle several |
lays before and had locked horns in such
manner that neither could escape. They
we're exhausted and showed every effect
II long, hard struggle. The other buck
vas evidently the one the hunter had
tarted the night before. and when it had
racked back in the early morning it had
ound the two others with locked horns
nd had at once attacked them viciously.
s the torn sides and TANKS indicsted. In |
ONE manner the mad animal had finally
harged into the two helpless ones and
is horns. too. became entangled in such ,
manner that he was held fast until Al
ridge came up.
After putting his game out OF their ,
lisery the hunter tried TO disentangle the :
crns. but found this impossible. He then q
ut the heads OF the bucks of and dragged !
hem to the wagon trail and went after
is team and hauled them home. where he ,
leaned the meat of the skulls and kept ] .
Re strangely locked horns a trophy. His /
eighbors came to see the unusual sight
nd Aldridge finally offered a reward OF :
0 to anyone who would unlock the horns y
ithout breaking them. but no one sue !,
-eded in earning the money p
r. E. Wood. the present representative h
the Sixth Legislative Assembly from (.
County was at Keokuk II
ais some time afterward, and heard of 8!
c curiosity. He met aldridge and Sc 4
red the horns and now has them In his | HI
ice at Shawnee. in that county. He had ~
made Of them and also con- hi
lued the offer OF SO to anyone who III
lid get them apart without damaging OF
EN-, but so far no one has succeeded. be