Rock Island Argus., 1902-11-01
PRESIDENT SNExTHUNT
by" Goff Will Again Be Roose-
velt'S Guide.
THEY SLEW LIONS TOGETHER.

second Ir1p In the W1lds OF CO4o~
| radO to Scene of Former Adven-
lures Is Now Planned-RoOseve1t's
Desperate Encounter with a Huge
Lion.
1t has been officially announced that
President Roosevelt is preparing for
second hunting trip in the wilds of the
White river country in Colorado, says
special dispatch from Evansville,
Ind, to the st. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1t
has also been officially announced that
by" Goff. or. better, John Golf. a ma
tive of Indiana, is to be his guide.
One year ago, when the vice presi-
dent of the nation landed in Colorado
in quest of wild game, BY Goff was
pointed out to him as the best guide
of the region and was forthwith ell
| gagged to locate the formidable noun
tain lion for the benefit of the famous
soldier-hunter.
All during the memorable chase, with
almost every incident of which the pub
lie at large Is acquainted, by" Goff
and the vice president camped together
on the hunt. They chased the wary
goats, they slew the canny wildcats,
tlrey 'Iit' grizzlies and they climbed
trees to got out of reach of the fero-
cious mountain lions.
Their adventures were many and
hair raising in the extreme. On two
separate occasions Con, at the risk Of
his own life, saved that of his COM
rade And in n few cases both the
president and his guide were forced to
flee from that which they pursued. Mr..
Roosevelt appreciated Goff's services,
as n check for $4,000 made out to BY
Goff teStitieS.
\ remarkable incident in the ColOra-
do hunt is almost identical with an eX
perience of Goff's while a resident OF
Indiana number of years ago.
One day, after almost Il week of un-
successful pursuit of game, Golf, the
guide. located a den of lions far up the
side of an almost inaccessible canyon.
Posting Mr.. Roosevelt in a safe and
at the same time advantageous posi-
tion. Goff. with his dogs. proceeded to
engage the attention of the beasts.
This action took place some little dis
tance from the spot where Mr.. Roose-
welt lay concealed.
Mr. Roosevelt waited fifteen minutes
"a half hour. He began to grow impa-
tient All this time the baying of the
hounds and now and then a shot told
him that the animals were located and
that Goff at least was having some
sport. But no member of the ferociOuS
feline species made its appearance in
his locality, and instead of the sounds
of combat growing louder. as if near
ing his stand, they were becoming
fainter and fainter. Even the baying
of the dogs could hardly be distin-
guished.
Another fifteen minutes dragged into
a half hour. Roosevelt could stand the
suspense no longer, SO, leaving his place
of security. he ventured slowly in the
direction taken by his guide. Hardly
had he taken a dozen steps before a
huge mountain lion sprang from
neighboring bowlder where it had lain
concealed and, striking his arm in its
passage through the air, Knocked his
rifle into the bushes almost twenty feet
away. Like a flash the intrepid soldier
drew his long hunting knife and turned
to meet the second spring of the great
cat.
To describe the encounter of these
two masters of the fight one would
have to draw upon the magination en-
tirely, as the only one near, Goff, ar
rived too late to see the action, and
the president is so modest that in tell
ing the story he invariably ends it
after this fashion,: THE beast and
met on the second jump, and killed
it."
When Goff arrived upon the scene,
this is the picture that met his aston
ished gaze:
On a low rock sat Roosevelt calmly
wiping the blood from off his hands
and face. His clothes were torn al
most into shreds and on one barred
shoulder were noticeable several long,
deep scratches from which the blood
was freely flowing. Otherwise he
seemed none the worse for his severe
fight. Indeed there was a look CT
pleasure upon his countenance. He
was smoking a short pipe.
At his feet lay the mangled and
bloody body of large mountain lion.
The ground for radius of fifteen or
twenty feet was torn up, showing signs
Of desperate struggle.
'Why didn't you shoot him? was the
exclamation from Goff.
''Not exciting enough" slowly re-
sponded Roosevelt.
The experience of GOff several years
before is greatly similar to the one just
narrated.