The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29

ceeded his father as head of the estate.
gives the following interesting and enter
tanning account of the shooting and fishing
now enjoyed on the great preserve, and OF
the habits and condition of the various
game and animals as they exist in their SO
TO speak, semidomestic state:
In 1889 fifteen wild boar. imported from
the Black Forest IN Germany, We're turned
loose in the preserve These animals have
bred well. and it Is now estimated thar
there are about 800 of these fierce creatures
on the range.
Hunting the wild boar is generally con-
sidered the most exciting sport the Blue
Mountain forest affords. They are at az
times difficult TO get sight of, and are or
to their haunts and dens at the slightest un-
usual noise or sight of dogs and men. ihey
are surprisingly fleet of foot, and II gwen
a fair start in an open field can maintain n
pace almost equal to the fastest horse OF
hound for from fifteen to twenty minutes;
When brought to bay they are savage anu
dangerous to encounter. as they charge di-
rectly at a horse. often cutting its shanks
to the bone with their keen tusks. and II 4
turn is not quickly made the result may be
disastrous not only to the morse, Dut TO the
rider as well.
HUNTING WILD BOAR.
"As an instance Of their ferocty. young
male boar was placed in a small inclousure
and young great Dane was led IN to prac
tice on It. Ghe boar was fast killing the
dog when the keeper. entering, fired at the
boar. but missed his aim and killed the dog.
The enraged animal then rushed at the
he Law hors de combat They are left to
care for themsevse the year round. eScep.
that in the winter time corn is Distributed
from time to time from bins scattered over
the mountain sides.
"As a matter of fact. the country is en-
tirey too rough to hunt them with horses
and dogs. and the still hunting INDUCED IN
now is much preferred to the other method.
These animals are certainly about the
toughest and earnest creatures one , TGu'd 7
shot one last summer. breaking his fore
legs. and although so badly wounded |
TRACKED him for three miles by the ,g Treae
coming mp with him Although he had l9st
almost every drop of blood from his BODY,
he still had the strength and courage 10
him. my companion narrowly escaping serl-
Gus injury from his. spearlike, tusks.
herd Of seventeen. which now Plumbers 135
head. At first we had considerable trouble
with the calves many of which died. this.
We found later, being due to the TACT ina.
in quality. poor milk being the result.
Now, however, We have regular natural
increase each year. and all are IN PEREZ.
have all survived. In fact, they thrive.
and are treated. like ordinary domestic cat
tie, being turned out to craze on the noun u,
the winter season. Fifteen OF the bunaloes
we sold to various geological parks. a
to Van Cortland Park, all died of dis
ease, something akin to tuberculosis, am
told, caused by drinking stagnant water.
1T Is estimated that there are now about
500 foxes in the park. Formerly frequent
excursions were made through the park
for the sole purpose of establishing by force
of arms a more fitting percentage of foxes
to game birds. and on such occasions the
local sportsmen were frequently afforded
opportunities for the enjoyment OF fox
hunt LYNX are seen now and then In
the park. ana occasionally there iS seen
& puma or mountain lion.
1.-The beaver which were introduced in
one of the streams have departed. leaving
the ruins of their dam behind them. Beaver
are rather shy of the presence of men. and
it is thought that the near proximity OF
away. At all events they dug their way
out under the fence, and are now enjoying
life in Il stream in a neighboring township,
where they are protected by the authorities.
There are several ponds within the park
well stocked with bass, which have multi
piled wonderfully, and about fifty miles OF
trout brooks, the latter running out at diff
ferent points along the boundary. afording
those who NAV not be privileged to fish in
side the confines admirable opportunities to
catch the speckled beauties as they venture
forth from their asylum home.
1.-The moose on the estate have increased
but slowly. on account. 1t Is thought, of the
terribly severe winters, In the beginning
twenty were turned loose In the preserve.
and 1t is now estimated by the keepers that
there are about seventy-five OF these ami
mails ut large. They live high up on the
mountain sides and are seldom seen. but
Senator Proctor succeeded in killing one.
Starting with only $50 elk at first they
mated that they were about LOCO in num-
bers The severity of the winter of that
year. however, killed off about nine-tenths
of them by starvation, only about 100 sur