Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-11-20
TIE BEAR HUNT ENDS
President Roosevelt Leaves Smedse
for Memphis.
DID Not Get 4 SHOT At 4 BEAR.
The President PhilosophIcally Attributes
His nl.Fortuns to the Traditional Hunt
er's Luck and Says Next Time He VIII
Stay TIL the Luck Changes.

Smedes, Miss, Nov. 19.-President
Roosevelts bear hunt in Mississippi
is ended and he has not had even .
shot at a bear. The last day of the
chase was simply repetition of the
three preceding days so far as his
luck was concerned. Try as the
hunters would, they could not get-a
bear within range of the presidents
rifle. The dogs got fresh trail yes
terday morning and the president
and Holt Collier followed it half
dozen miles to the Big Sunfower
river. The bear crossed q mile be-
low the ford they went to and, be-
lieving it was making for the cane
brake on the other side, they en-
deayored to head it off. When they
got into the brake, however, they
were disguised to find that the bear
had doubled on his track and crossed
the river still further down. 1t was
then one o'clock and, as arrange
ments had been made to break camp
at $3.50, the president was reluctant
ly compelled to abandon further pur.
suit Of the elusive quarry.
While the president was out after
bear Maj. Helm, DR.. Lung and Secre-
tary Cortelyou had more success
full deer drive on this side Of the
great SunAower river. They jumped
up a buck and doe. Maj. Helm killed
the latter from his horse at about 40
yards.
Although the president has failed
| to kill bear on this expedition hs
has enjoyed his outing and speaks
in high praise Of the hospitality that
has been accorded him. He philo.
sophically attributed his ill-fortune
to the traditional hunters luck and
says the next time he goes after
bear he will arrange to stay long
enough for the luck to change.
The breaking up of camp yesterday
was an interesting proceeding. The
camp outfit was loaded into six
mule wagons, the beds and sides OF
which were formed Of the boards
used for the table and tent floors.
The deer killed yesterday and the
bear killed Monday were loaded and
will be taken to Washington on the
special train. Old Remus, the great
est dog in the pack, whose last hunt
was ahead Of the president OF the
United States, was badly used up and
with several Of the wounded dogs
was put in one of the wagons.
When all was in readiness the
president and the members of the
party mounted their horses and rode
into Smedes, leaving the wagons to
follow. The president is hard rider
and the pace was rapid in spite OF
the bad trails. The distance, which
is fully 70 miles, was covered in less
than an hour. Upon the presidents
arrival here he found fully 500 peo'
pie, practically all the negroes from
the surrounding plantations, assem-
bled to greet him. He thanked them
for their demonstrations, but made
no speech. They waited around hla
car on the siding until dark, hoping
he would make a speech.
Mr.. Fish at night gave dinner II
his private car to. the president an6
members Of Ills party. At 9'5J tne
special train started for Memphis,
having added the record of presl.
dental bear hunt to the fame OF
smedes, which first became known to
the outside world through the story
that here the experiment of teach
ing monkeys to pick cotton was to be