Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
IN YELLOWSTONE PARK
All Varieties Of Big Game on
the Increase.
THOUSANDS OF ELK
DEER AND BEAR HAVE LOST
THEIR FEAR OF MEN.
A Talk With Maj. John Pitcher-Ef-
forts to Preserve the Buffalo
Fine Fishing.


When you listen to Major John Pitcher
of the 9Th Cavalry, acting superintendent
Of Yellowstone National Park, tell 'big
game" stories, you somehow get reversed
on your equation Of true craftsmanship,
and see the .old scripturaif picture of the
lion and the lamb Tying down together.
Major Pitcher is at the Willard, with Mrs.
Pitcher and their little daughter. He is
on a thirty-day leave Of absence, direct
from Yellowstone National Park. and his
incentive for this leave and long journey
was to dine with the members Of the Boone
and Crockett Club, all of whom are "big
game sports Of the most approved type.
The Boones and Crocketts wanted to hear
directly from Yellowstone. While they
knew that they could not go into this mag
nificent 3.OOO-square-m game reserve with
their guns for the purpose Of doing bust
ness with the bear or elk or deer, they
nevertheless had desire to hear how all
this huge family of big game is getting
along in its immense Enclosure, immune
from the rife ball.
The dinner was spread and the tales were
told, and many a resolve was made by the
Boones and Crocketts to HE themselves
westward, even If it was only with rod
and line, and the prospect of just looking
at herd of elk Of which Major Pitcher
has taken the census to the extent OF
serve the buffalo, and to take frolic with
the tame deer or feed the black and the
brown bear and be followed for half day
for their pains
Where They Are Safe.
.'You know there is no open season III
Yellowstone National Park remarked
Major Pitcher to a Star man. Here all
game is safe from the huntsman, and, al
though this game is as wild as the widest
mountain forest can produce, every species
knows to nicely the boundary Of the re-
serve and keeps well within 1t. The noise
of the gun has terror for even the timid
deer. Look at this snapshot 1 took with
a kodak just before leaving the park Tor
this trip. These are deer, not tame, as
you might suppose from their nearness to
the post houses, but absolutely fearless OF
injury from man. The firing Of the sun
down gun-a -pounder-Will not
cause them to stop munching the bunch
grass which they have kicked up under the
snow. But the hauling down or the nag
will attract their curious attention much
more than the noise of the gun.
This Is the distinctive feature OF Yea
lowstone National Park. 1t is full OF Dig
game. 1t is patrolled by the government
to prevent the shooting of that game. TWO
troops Of cavalry are divided into single
scouts and patrol the 5000 square miles OF
the park constantly, and as the years go by
and this plan is continued the game comes
to know and not to fear its human pro-
tectors. foachers receNe "a" - - annaors
that they are on the reservation 1or tns
purpose OF destroying the game .hey 49,, &c
dealt with IN accoraahce Wiz INC ar,one
laws provided. Pupnc seh.hnen. nNu ING
the residents surrounding the park mas
been awakened, and their sympaehies,
which at first seemed not TO pc Lavoraoie
to the plan Of game preservation havs now
become thoroughly In hafhony win LIZ
intent Of the goveBnment, and the scouts
are aided in every way instead OF ntnue;eu
in their work OF apprehenolhs poachers'
ThousaXds If Elk.
,,..,
Maj. Pitcher related the oetdi4s oi d little
trip he had takenf with his brother, an
army officer whoa had recently returned
80, ~ ph;,;n,,,,4s ~ show him the elk