The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-14
into A WILDERNESS
The President and His Party
Plunge in Search of
Bruin,
(By the Associated Press

Clarksdale, Miss, Nov. 13.-President
Roosevelt was Joined at Memphis by the
members of the hunting party, President
Stuyvesant Fish. of the Illinois Central;
General Counsel Dickinson, of the same
road; 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 three latter are Mississippi plant
ers and well-known bear hunters in this
country. Mr.. Foote is conidered one OF
the best shots in the State. Mr.. Par
ker has had charge of the preparation
for the hunt and the President appears
to be greatly pleased with the arrange>
ments. The camp is located fifteen miles
east of Smedes. on the banks of tho
Little Sunflower river, in a practically
unbroken wilderness. There are no set
tiers for miles in any direction. The
oak, ash, and cypress forest is choked
with underground. A trail has been cut,
the camp and horses have been provided
for the members of the party. The
camp, itself, consists of three sleeping
tents and one cook tent. Hoke Collier, a
negro who was a scout in the Confederate
army during the Civil War and who af-
terward acted as guide for General Wade
Hampton, has charge of the pack OF
hounds.
Collier, one of the hounds belonging
to Mr.. Foote, Mr. Parker said, was credi-
ted with having been in at the death of
1000 bears. He is said to have killed
nearly $50 in a single season.
''It will be rough work." said Mr.. Par
ker.
"That is exactly what 1 want" replied
President Roosevelt.
Mr. Mangum and Hoke Collier are to
act as the Presidents guides. heavily
wooded ridge beyond the Little Sunfower
where there is a chance for panther as
we'll as bear, is to be tried first Later
the hounds will be Ioosed in the cane
brakes in the swamps on this side of the
river. Mr.. Parker seems absolutely GER
tain that the President will bet a bear.
An expedient has been adopted to keep
the curious away from the camp. The
country for miles around its location is
owned by the Illinois Central road, but.
of course, there would be no legal way OF
preventing the invasion by onlookers. 1t
would be, however practically impossible
for anyone to reach camp on foot and
arrangements have been made to prevent
anyone from obtaining a horse or mule
at Smedes without permit In this way,
the managers of the hunt believe that
privacy has been assured.
The President has with him the hunt
ing outfit used by him for many years In
his hunting trips after big game in the
neighborhood of his ranch on the Little
Missouri in Dakota, and in the mountains
Of Idaho, Montana and Colorado. 1t in
cludes a fringed bucksldn, such as was
worn by the old wilderness hunter, and
his favorite Winchester 1890. With this
weapon he has killed many of his hunt
ing trophies 1t bears the interesting
scars of one of his battle with a cougar,
or mountain lion, in Colorado. In closing
with a wounded cat the President thrust
the stock into his mouth. 1t shows the
teeth marks OF the enraged animal, anc
the place where a small piece was liter
ally bitten away.