The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-14
THE PRESIDENT
LEAVES FOR CAMP
Bear and Panther the Game
Sought In Unbroksn WiIdnass.
TO KEEP VISITORS AWAY
Evsy Effort Being Made 10 Ensure Tho
Privacy Of the Party-HaIi the
0sgs Run Away.

Roosevelt and his party arrived here
shortly before 4 o'clock yesterday after
noon, and In their hunting toys started
tie sunfiower river. As the distance In
about IL miles. and ths trail IL rough and
bad, the chances are that It was after
dark before they reached tho camp.
6msdes Ia siding on the Yazoo and
Mississippi Valley railway. whore cotton
In loaded from the big Smedes plantation.
Work on the neighboring plantations was
suspended yesterday afternoon and sew
eral hundred negroes were at the siding
when the train stopped. Most OF the men
sat on the cotton bales, but the black
mammies and the pickaninies stood along
the track.
They showed their white teeth in broad
grins, but made no other demonstrations
He was clad In hunting costume. rifsng
trousers. heavy leather lsgsangs, blue
flannel shirt, corduroy coat and wore
brown slouch hat: around his waist was
buckled his cartridge belt, and ut his side
hung his ivory handled hunting knife
The president was Joined At Memphis
by the members OF the hunting party.
President Stuyvessnt Fish OF the Illinois
Central, General Counsel Dickinson OF
the same road. John III. Parker of New
Orleans. John McElhenny, formerly heu-
tenant OF the Rough Riders; Maj. q. IL.
Helm and H. L. Foote.
OLD BEAR HUNTERS.
The two latter are Mississippi planters
and well known bear hunters. The camp
is located is miles eaet OF smedes. on the
banks OF the Little Sunfiower river, In a
practically unbroken wilderness. The
camp itself consists OF ..-ree sleeping
tents and one cook tent
Hoke Collier. a negro who was a scout
In the Confederate army during the Civil
war, and who afterward acted as guide
for General Wade Hampton, has charge
OF the pack Of hounds, which has been
at the camp for q week Among them is
the most celebrated bear dog in this coun
try.
'It will be rough work" said Mr.. Par
ker
THAT is exactly what want" replied
President Roosevelt.
Hugh Foote and Hoke Coiiter are to
act as the presidents guides. heavily
wooded ridge beyond the Little Suna,wer.
where there Is chance for panther as
well as bear. Il to be tried nrst Later the
hounds will be ioosened In the cane b, AXE
and In the swamps on this side of the
river. Mr. Parker seems Absolutely GER
tHfn that tho president will ret n bear.
When we strike the trail" said ke
IT,"
That IL the kind Of talk ,ikc to hear"
replied the president. The pceAfoot ard
the members Of the party donned their
hunting clothes aboard the train In ord''r
to be ready for the horseba ~ r'de to the
camp immediately upon arriving at
Smcdes.
PRIVACY ENSURED.
An expedient has been adopted to keep
the curious away from the camp. The
owned by the Illinois Central railroad,
but, OF course, there would be no legal
way Of preventing the invasion OF on
1t would be, however, practically inn
possible for anyone TO reach camp on
Root. and arrangements have been made
to prevent anyone from obtaining q morse
or mule at Smedes without permit. In
this way the managers OF the hunt be-
neye that privacy. has been assured
wore hunting suits. When ali was in
readiness the members OF the party, ex-
cept Mr.; Fish and Mr.: Dickinson, mount,
ed small. wiry. tough-looking horses and
dashed away for the camp at break
neck canter. Mr.. Fish and Mr. Dickin,,
son followed the others In a blackboard
Two disappointments met the president;
the first one was that Mr.. Mansun who
had much 10 do with arranging the hunt.
was too Ill TO proceed 10 camp tonight
and the other was the story which came
back from camp that IN trying the pack
OF hounds today half of the dogs had
while Hoke Collier was on the trail OF
a bear As there are only 20 dogs In the
pack the split Is very disquieting.
In place OF Mr.. Mangum u was ar
ranged that Hugh Foote will hunt with
the president. They started out at day.
light this morning The president and
his guides will follow thu hounds through
the underground In order to be at hand
II bear IL brought TO bay
Mr. Mangum says the black bears here
abouts weigh 900 10 COO pounds. The
signs OF bears In the vicinity Of the camp
are plentiful and Mr.. Parker promises
the president a shot before this evening,
The presidents train is on the side
track here and telegraph station has
been rigged up In a box car on the siding.