Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-25
WHISKY rHRoraH A sTRAw.

tongues swelled until we could scarcely
talk.
WHISKY THROUGH A STRAW.
After we had passed the dangerous
! place We came upon an emlgrant VINO
had barrel Of whisky In the tail of his
wagon. There was no spigot In II ana
he refused to put one in, but after a
! long wordy contest he agreed that he
would bore a glmet hole in the bar
! rel, each man should select a straw, and
! for two bits he could suck all the whls-
! Ky he wanted without drawing a
breath They selected straws very
carefully and | remember how each
man held on until he was blue In the
face before admitting that his drink
| was done.
KILLING HIS FIRST ELK.
"On entering South Pass we camped
al the Pacific Springs and made our
selves comfortable as there was no
| longer fear with the Indians, and our
| animals needed rest and grass The
spring covered a space Of 4Ox33O feet.
and the water dubbed up cold and
clear as crystal and ran towards the
| Paciilc-hence its name. few doves
or Wild pigeons were feeding about the
camp, The guide bet me that | could
not KIN one with my rife, and
this led to my Killing my
fret elk, was anxious to win the bet.
and was following the bird as II flew
about on the trees to make sure Of
fair shot. In this way | wandered off
from the trail into the thick cover on
the side OF the pass, and was about TO
fire at the pigeon when ! heard the
breaking of twlgs near me, hlt above
me on the mountains. Nv first i7el
was Indians and, standing perfectly
still In my tracks, | took a quiet look.
Within thirty yards OF me was a mag
nhcent animal looking straight at me.
his head and antcrs only showing
through the thick cover. | raised the
gun to my shoulder very quietly. and,
taking good aim at spot between his
eyes, fred. He made a great hound
down the side of the mountain In my
direction and at the same moment !
started for camp as fast ne my legs
could carry me, and did not stcp until
/ got there. Bromley asked me II |
had Killed the bird, to which I replied
that I had not but ! believed that |
had killed the father Of all der, Up 10
that time | had never seen an elk,
When we reached the spot we fount a
beautiful specimen with grand ant'ers,
with n bullet fairly through his brain,
! had killed him stone dead ana he had
slid almost to where | stood when |
fired. The bet was called Off. and re-
moving the head we Skinned the game
and the entire party had all the meat
they wanted for several days
"Afterward we saw immense herds Of
elk many thousands in herd, and we
had no trouble in killing them whom
ever we chose We also saw and 6ile
a number Of mountain sheep a very
curious animal with enormously large
horns. The guide told marvellous stories
Of their jumping down great distances.
landing on their horns. which MIGHT for
all | know have been true; but | never
saw one Of them do H. They We're wary
and hard 20 get at az compared with
other kinds Of game. and I never saw
much Of them. only moment before |
fired and then the sheen was either
dead or out Of sight like a Hash.
MoRMoNs AND SALT LAKE.
after leaving South Pass we fell in
with a Mormon train, consisting
mostly Of women from Wales, bound for
salt Lake City These people, who
seemed decent lot. had few large
wagons. but appeared to depend for
TRANSPORTATION on species OF mana
carts, which contained their belongings
aud were pushed along by the women
A few wagons carried the provisions,
and these were looked after by the doz-
en- or so men Of the party.
CURIOUS BEAVER DAMS
"In the forenoon OF a beautiful day
we had our first view Of Salt Lake
city as we slowly wound our way down
Echo canyon. The mountains rose 10
a great height on either side, and were
SIN surmountpd by the low stone breast
thrown up by the "Mormons' TO oppose
the entry Of United states troops two
years before Through the canyon ran
a small but swift stream and upon TINS
the beavers We're industriousy building
their dams, some Of which were really
works OF art These curious beasts were
10 be seen IN hundreds-some cutting
the logs for the dams, and others USING
their curious fat tails as trowels 10
cement the face Of the dam with mud.
Many OF the dams had been cut in or
dor 10 make the road available out
when left TO themselves, the beavers
soon had them repaired The beavers
have disappeared. as have the huttalo
and other large game Of the West put
In their case the excuse can be maze
that the fur was used to some good pur-
nose, I'm the case Of the big game no
spch excuse can be offered; II was IN
prAat measure simply senseless, brutal
Mlling for the sake Of killing
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
"Mv first impressions Of the city and
Sail Lake valley. with the Great SAT-
lake lying blue in the distance, We're
very pleasing, and closer Inspection
ala not change them. The city was
beautifully laid out and the houses
we're generally OF character TO lndl-
cate comfort and often wealth an9 re-
hnement. The water from a rushlng
mountain stream had been introduced
md besides answering for household
nurposes. Il ran through the cutters on
10th sides Of the principal streets thus
insuring cleanliness and goou sever
gee. Many Of the houses had garoehs
about them filled with vegetables ana
the most delicious small Hulls' ne
,ssidenres Of Brigham Y0ung-he had
,vnNwere beautifully constructed and
s,,rro,,nded by elaborate flower gai
dens which were kept In the most per-
feet order
LIVED WITH HOOPER FAMILY.
81 made my home while In the city
with Inc family Of Mr. Hooper, who
was a Mormon, though not poly
ramlst They, as well as the people
whom | met, were kindly and cohrte-
Gus. and did al in their power to MAKE
my stay among them agreeable Mrs,
Hooper was worried for fear that
might be converted to Morinonlshi
without the Knowledge or consent oI
my parents. but | assured heI tnat i
1oi, rovself strong enough 20 stand any
- - q ..,,,,.,a ti,t, IN that line and |