The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-08-14
OUR NIMROD ABROAD
Mr.. Coburn Gives Good Account
of Himself.
1dron. Nebraska. August 4, Isl

,ent in this higher altitude, and es
1ping the humidity and malaria o.
}le over flowed lands of Iowa, find {
hnost gratifying return to norma
(condition of health. On my way here
l was obliged to stop over at Norfolk
Junction some seven hours for train
1t was warm and grove south oil
town presented cooling attractions fol
one, which proceeded to utilize. With
my usual good luck, found myself al
the home of Mr.. e. L. Lowe, a promi
nent sheepman, who welcomed and en-
tertained me for the afternoon most
Hospitality. He has lived there some
thirteen years and has fed as high as
$4,000 sheep during the winter. What
| learned about sheep could not pos
sibly be crowded into an edition of the
Evening Herald He remained with
me all the afternoon, except for few
minutes while overseeing his men. We
broke bread together at dinner and
supper, and what l had feared would
be tedious wait proved a happy meet
ing.
At California Junction, sign which
read; &c. B. Wise, General Merchan.
disc" caused ripple of merriment to
run through the car as we caught the
egotism of the proprietors.
A gentleman in the chair car seeing
my enfeebled condition, kindly vacat-
ed his seat for me, and on my arrival
here was met at the station by my son
with a carriage, closing up quite a
restful trip.
Elaborate preparations had been
made for celebrating the National
anniversary which included some
unique features, among them a morn
ing and evening parade of floats com.
iprising young girls representing the
states, the G. A. R., the varied bust
ness interests, automobile and bicy-
cles, ending with Indians from the
agency mounted on ponies.
The Gun Club gave a two days
shoot; the Rapids City band furnished
music. A ball team, from Fort Robin
son colorei troops played a picked
nine of agency Indians, which proved
that the Indians couldn't play ball ga
little Bit. Score IA to 8. During the
game the usual amphitheatre col
lapsed, but none was hurt The In
dams had the race course to them
selves. They appeared in varied cos
tunes, including pajamas, and rode
their ponies like centaurs. In the
squaw race saddle race a-saddle-girth
broke and the rider fell from her
pony like pumpkin. 1t was a
part of the show, with all of its har-
rowing effects, but no harm done. The
evening parade closed with an Indian
dance and fireworks. What seemed
strange is where the people all came
from. The suburbs were covered with
tepees, and the prairie dog towns
must have furnished their full quota.
The week following the Fourth oc-
Cured the Northwestern Soldiers and
Sailors reunion. 1t is held in a de-
iightful grove on Little Bordeau
creek, eleven miles east of Chadron.
The association rents tents to families
and 1t is made an occasion for a gath
ering of the pioneers of this country
Tor an Interchange of interests,
social, hospitable and patriotic, not
easily otherwise attained Over 200
were pitched on the grounds, which
are nicely policed There was nothing
OF military discipline observed in
camp, and the soldier element was
vastly IN the minority, peaceful avo-
cations predominating.
Two weeks ago, accompanied by my
son, | went 40 miles west into White
river canon after trout. We remained
from Wednesday until Friday. Had
trout at each meal for the three days,
sent nice string home by the route
agent on the train Thursday night,
and brought a peach basket full. all
dressed and packed in ice, with us on
our return Friday. Our friends had
trout but missed the pleasure of catch
ing them. We had no means of weigh
ing our tish, but my son caught rain
DOW that measured 16 inches, while |
captured a speckled beauty of 10 inch
es, that made my reel fairly scream as
l played him to exhaustion, breaking
one strand of my leade in landing him.
III you ever made a double on canvas
back ducks, If you ever scored a home
run batting a ball in the presence of
thousands, then, and only then, can
you have any conception of the exauis-
lite joy that trills the anatomy of the
fisherman who conquers a battling fon-
tanalis of huge proportions. Total
DO OF which 81 succumed to my seduc-
tive arts, while Louis took 29. There
was not much difference in the two
strlngs. as his would average larger,
ne covering more ground, while I re-
turned a number below the limit (S
inches)
Last week comrade, T. j. Wilson,
living on Bardeaux creek, took me TO
MS home, where l remained two
nights. He has section of land mart.
ly under irrigation. He was lust emf.
ting his wheat, some so acres. that is
good Tor 30 bushels to the acre, has
me orchard of young trees, and a gar
den OF 10 acres, from which he is now
supplying Chadron people with yege-
tables. He has well of the purest
water in the world, with living springs
along the Bardeaux. And right here
is where more trout were taken. Nine
pretty speckled fellows. One that
weighed two and one-half pounds
gave me the play of my life.
find the wilderness of this country
very refreshing. ] believe of were to
1--we here any length of time, that with
the climate, pure water, ozone in the
air, and altitude, / should soon become
as beligerent as a Sioux. These NAV
account for the number of men who
nave died with their boots on. One
grave yard in Cherry county claims IL
such victims. Coytes often drive the
dogs into the carrals on the ranches.
l saw the kangaroo rat while fishing
IN the canon, so delightfully."- describ-
ed by Seton-Thompson. This wilder.
ness seems to pervade and invalidate
dlscipllne Tfe school and home as
well. Respectfully,
ALBERT A. CoBURN.