The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-18

Smedes, Miss, November 3.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his party arrived
here shortly before 4 o'clock this after
noon and in their hunting costumes
started soon afterward for the camp on
Little Sunf1ower river. AS the distance
is about fifteen miles and the trail is
rough and bad, the chances are hat it
was after dark before they reached the
camp. Smedes is on the Yazoo and
Mississippi Valley railway, where cot
ton is loaded from the Smedes plan
tations. A plantation store and the
residence of one of the managers are
the only structures except negro cabins
in sight.
Work on the neighboring plantations
was suspended his afternoon and sew
eral hundred negroes were at the sid
ing when the train stopped. Most of
the men sat on the cotton bales, but
the black mammies and the picka-
ninnies stood along the track. They
showed their white teeth in broad
grins, but made no other demOnstra-
ions as the president stepped from
the train. He was clad in hunting cos
tune, riding trousers, heavy leather
Ieggings, blue flannel shirt, corduroy
coat and wore q brown SLOUGH hat;
around his waist was buckled a car
fridge belt and at his side hung his
ivory handled hunting knife. The 9TH
er members of the party also wore
hunting suits. While the guns, blank
cts n other small baggage, were be-
= - 60, ~o,,lo nc orr Tho
president chatted with the manager OF
a1e SmedeS estate and two ladies who
Via come especially to greet him.
When all was in readiness, the MEM
bers of the party except Mr.. Fish and
Mr.. Dickinson, moUnted small why,
tOugh-lOoking horses and dashed away
for the woods Al a brisk neck canter.
The presidents mount was a black
horse. He did rot look spirited, but it
was explained hat he was just the
sort of animal -aeded to force a way
through the dense underground. Mr..
Fish and Mr.. Dickinson followed the
Others in a buck board drawn by w
mules
MIR. Mingum says the black bears
hereabouts weigh from 800 to 600
pounds. we have a set of scales az
the camp" said he, and the beasts
will be weighed when they are brought
IN"
The signs Of bears in the vicinity Of
the camp are plentiful and Mr.. Parker
promises the president a shot before
tomorrow evening. In one water hole
Hoke Collier. on Monday, found the
foot prints of nine.
The president 5 train is on the side
track here AMI a telegraph station
has been rugged up in a box car on the
siding.
The arrangements made here to pre-
vent a crowd Of curious people from
spelling the presidents fun were adj
mirabIy carried OFT. The people Of
Vicksburg wanted u run an excursion
up here this afternoon to allow them
to see the president start on his hunt,
but President Fish of the Illinois Cen
trail railroad company would not per-
NIT it.
C~Iarksdale. Miss, November 13.-Pres-
ident Roosevelt was Joined at Memphis
by the members of the hunting party,
President ~Stuyvesant Fish of the ll1-
nois Central: General Dickinson of the
same road and John NJ. Parker. of New
Orleans, John McElhenny, formerly
lieutenant in the Rough Riders. Major
G. NJ. Helm, W. w. Mangum and II. l..
Foote. The latter three are Mississippi
planters and we'll known bear hunters
in this county. Mr.. Foote is considered
Yone of the best shots in he state. Mr..
Parker has had charge Of the prepara~
ton for the hunt and the president APP
pears to be greatly pleased with the ar
engagements.
The camp is located fifteen miles east
of Smeeds. on the banks of the Little
Sunf1ower river, in a practically un-
broken Wilderness There aJe no set
tiers for miles in any direction. The
OAK. ash and cypress forest is choked
with an underground Of bud vines and
areSthick. Mr.. Parker said as the hair
on a dogs back. \ trail has been cut
the camp and horses hav been provid-
ed for the members of the party. The
ramp itself consists of three sleeping
tents and one cook tent.
HokeC Collier, a negro who was Il scout
in the onfederat 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 a week. Among them
is the most celebrated Lear dog in this
country. He is the property OF Mr.
Foote. This is his last hunt. Mr.. Parker
told the president, as he is cd and de-
crepit, though he has n mere aunt in
him, and when he pei his mouth it
means bear.
Collier. Mr.. Parker sail. WAS credited
with having been in at the death OF
sixteen hundred bears. He is said TO
have killed nearly $50 in a single season.
1T will be rough work. sal Mr.
Parker.
That is exactly what l want" replied
President Roosevelt.
But we will have bear meat for Sun
day dinner added Mr.. Parker.
Let us get the bear before We ar
range for the dinner responded the
president laughing heartily.
Mr.. Mangum n Hok Collier are to
act as the presidents guides. A heavily
wooded ridge beyond the little river,
where there is a chance for panther as
we'll as bear, is to be tried first. Later
the hounds will be loosed in the cane
brakes in the swamps Oh this side of the