The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-15

Hunting Trip.
 Very few people know that King Ed ward VII, when he visited this country in 1860, had most narrow escape from death, and that he probably owes his life to the quickness and presence of mind of an Indian guide. The incident was not made public at the time, owing to the expressed Wish of the prince, who feared that the liberty he was en- toying might be curtailed.
 The King of England holds amongst his most cherished recollections his trip to the States" as this country is gen orally denominated by the Briton. There are several reasons for this. It was the first trip he had ever taken where he was free from maternal and paternal supervision. True, the young prince royal was accompanied by very respectable member of the nobility, who had been his governor for eight or nine years, and above all who held the purse during this tour, But the Prince, once he had got away from home rule, took the bit in his own teeth, and went very much as he pleased.
 It was always a matter of regret to him that he had mot gone further South , than Richmond Particularly did he J want to visit New Orleans. But it was in the autumn that he was here, and in 1860 New Orleans had it's usual Vls- itation of yellow fever. not severe one at all, but sufficiently virulent to make it extremely risky for wholly unacclimated British lad to make visit there of that season of the year
 During his Western visit the Prince had heard much of the Western grouse shooting-prairie chickens we call them. So when he got out to St. Louis nothing would do but that he must have a turn" as he called it, at the prairie chicken, or pinnated grouse. So it was determined to send him out to Fort Riley, Kansas, then frontier out post, occupied by two troops of the Sec ond Regiment of the United States Cavalry-now the Fifth-with BreVet Major Earl Van Dorm in command
 The young prince could not have been consigned to a more charming post Ma Jor an Dorn was then little over fof- ty years of age, but five feet eight in stature of a slender but remarkably graceful well-set-up military figure He was the most accomplished cavalry officer in the United States Army, and far and away it's most distinguished Indian fighter. In close hand-to- hand fights. with Comanches ArapahoeS and Cheyennes, the most redoubtable war riors of the great Southwestern prairies Major Van Dorn never hesitated thought the odds were usually two to one. and he always came out victor. This had given him an eClat and re- nown that extended all over the United States. With a charm of manner that 7, was absolutely irresistible, when he ], chose to exercise it, and most grace full, handsome person, no better host could have been found for England's prince royal than Major Earl Van Dorn.
 was an extremely youthful sub" at that time, kinsman of Major Van Dorn. who had me under his espe- cial tutelage. Not having a great deal ' te do. I was detailed to go chicken shooting with the prince and to see that he did not get into any danger or trouble This summer was not without reason for the tribes above mentioned were extremely angry at the establish ment of the Southern overland wagon road through their territory to Western Kansas California, Colorado and New Mexico, and hung around the smaller frontier posts ready to swoop down up- on any small party of whites that it ap- peared safe to attack
 The post commanded by Van Dorn was in less danger than any of the others It's garrison was nearly 200 strong rank and file, besides a strong contingent of white and Indian and half breeds scouts, who patrolled the country for ten miles around and guarded the herds of horses and cattle that were pastured on the abundant and nutritious buffalo grass that grew all around.
 Not a handsome man until he passed the half-century mark, the Prince of Wales was in outward appearance the very embodiment of the average British youth of that age. He was 19 years old, tall, lathy and his face, owing probably to a total change of methods of living, and above all, of different water from that he had been accustomed to, was literally covered with small pimples. He also had two or three boils that de- manded the attention of the post sur geon.
 Knowing the best prairie chicken ground better than any one at the post, because I did more shooting than the older men, was detailed to go with the Prince and point out the best positions, etc Birds-prairie chickens-there were by the millions. They would des- cend at break of day upon the little patch of ''sodcarte" corn that had been planted right after the rich sod of the prairie had been turned over, and al lowed to take it's chances It was never worked and usually produced a corn stalk about five feet high. which would have one or two small ears, or "nub- bins" of corn, if either the deer, the prairie chickens, or somebody's cattle did not eat it up in the meantime.
 A trooper was detailed to go with us, and a negro who had two five gallon jugs slung across mule, each full of water--one for the dogs, the other for us. The Prince had his man" too, besides 8 negro slave loaned by Van Dorn, who, about lunch time, would gather us enough buffalo chips to make our coffee, and that, with good bread, Southern "sado biscuit" and cold ham, some eggs which we either boiled or fried, cold broied prairie chicken. and other things suitable to q Well-arranged lunch were spread on q