davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30
4 Friend of The Elder Roosevelt Tells of
Their Relations During Sons Harvard Days

to ourselves. We certainly spent day
full of keen pleasure and great profit
to myself, especially in regard to dis
cussion of the management of chill
dren, a subject which was then begin
ming to have strong personal interest
to me. 1t was in the course of CON
of the present President of the United
States.
Il have son who is just beginning
his course at Harvard" said Mr.. Roose.
welt, ''in whom | take an interest that
sometimes appears to me almost sin
full. In his early boyhood he was phys.
ically frail ana delicate and every day
of his life gave me, some new reason
for anxiety about him. But | have
seen to it that he should have every
possible encouragement for outdoor
exercise such as would be likely to de-
velop his BODY and have been content
ed to let his brain take care of itself
So he has grown up with some rough
corners, but apparently well equipped
with health, strength and energy In
fact, his energy seems so superabund-
ant that fear it may get the better of
him In one way or another. If he es.
capes that danger | shall hope to see
him do something useful in due time"
The Son.
Unfortunately Mr. Roosevelt's hope
was not merged in realization. He
died in 1878, before his son had reach
ed the end of his collegiate course or
the period of adult age. | never saw
him again. but the memory of our
short determination at Saratoga has
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

enlng Mr.. Roosevelt killed bull elk,
and next day traces of grizzlies were
seen all around the carcass, as we'll as
around the place where the black bear
mad been killed. They followed out
OF forest of pine into ravine which
sloped to the Bighorn river, and final
~ found the long-hoped-for grizzly,
not ten steps off, slowly rising from
ms bed among the young spruces."
Merrifield, who was in advance, drop
ped on one knee, Ibis face fairly
afiame with excitement" but still evil
IDENTIFY too self-possessed to take the
long-coveted first shot from Mr.. Roose-
welt, who ''strode past with rifle at
ready" The bear had seen them, but
was evidently slow in making up his
mind what their intentions were, for,
after rearing up in an attitude of de-
tense, he dropped once more on ali
tours. AS the animal sank down Mr.
Roosevelt raised his rifle, and Seeing
the top of the white head, fairly be-
tween the small glittering evil eyes,"
pulled the trigger. The bear half rose
and then dropped in the death throe,
"the ball having gone into his brain,
striking as fairly between the eyes as
If the distance had been measured by
a carpenters rule"
Mr.. Roosevelt recalls in such con-
nections as this the old Morse maxim
tnat any sword is long enough for
men who close in quickly enough. He
is of the opinion that the secret of
good craftsmanship in hunting bears
is to get close to the bear.
Over in Twenty Seconds.
The whole thing was over in twen-
ty seconds" Merrifield expressed re-
greet that the bear had not been allow
ed time for at least one inning. 81
did not at all share his feelings"
writes Mr.. Roosevelt, but as on this
trip they killed five grizzlies with
only seven bullets, the time came when
courtesy seems to have required that
Merrifield should have the first shot
The bear in this case was IAN old
male which was feeding on an elk car
cass." They crept up to within sixty
feet and Merrifield whispered gleeful-
ly, "1'll break his leg and see what
he'll do" AS Mr.. Roosevelt's veto,
based on objections to being left with
in sixty feet of a three-legged bear
was emphatic, Merrifield, with rather
an injured air." fired, striking the ami
NAL just back of the head. The ball
went through the neck, inflicting
mortal wound, but before dying the
animal "seized his own left wrist in
his teeth and bit through it, complete
ly separating the bones of the paw
and arm" A day or two after this
they came upon an old mother grizzly
with a cub almost full grown, follow
ing her down the bottom of valley.
1t was too far off to shoot and the
bears were making off at rapid
numbering gallop'' when the hunters
gave chase The cub ran faster than
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

seen, crept to close range and dis
charged their rifles simultaneously
INTO the bears body. Both bullets
went home, but the bear gave a
groan OF agony, jumped with all four
legs from the ground and charged at
once upon his enemy, snorting with
pain and fury"
Left with unloaded rifles, the two
men took to their heels at once, with
the bear following. They attempted
to gain a steep bluff, probably think
ing it better to leap from it than to
risk e encounter, but before reach
ing it Glass tripped and fell. AS he
rose the bear was upon him. He had
pistol and had presence of mind, as
result of which latter quality the ball
from the pistol entered the bears head
before blow from the animals paw
struk the weapon from his hand. The
blood was streaming from the bears
nose and mouth, but it was still in
its fighting attitude, and as his last
chance, Glass closed in with his
hunting knife, stabbing repeatedly
until a blow from the bears paw tore
the scalp completely from his head
and Frustrated him. His companion,
who, up5to this point, had watched
the conflict" with his rifle still unload
ed, then took to his heels again and
Kept to them until he reached Sub
lettes camp. When a rescue party
returned they found the bear dead and
Glass lying under the animals carcass.
He presented "a horrid spectacle with
the flesh torn in strips from his bones
and limbs and his scalp hanging bleed
ing over his face, which was also lac
Grated in shocking manner" He
was still breathing family, but as the
rescuers concluded that he would die
in a few minutes, they pulled the car
cass of the bear from him and left
him, taking his rifle and his hunting
shirt and moccasins as souvenirs.
They missed his hunting knife, howev-
er, and when Glass came to himself
after being thus deserted in the will
derness. he reached over with the
knife while still too feeble to rise and
cut from the carcass of the bear strips
of flesh which kept him alive until he
was strong enough to crawl to the
river. Finally, he made his way to
the Sublette fort. eighty or ninety
miles distant and reclaimed his rifle
from the friends who had reported to
Sublette that they had given him de-
cent burial.
This is perhaps a bear story of the
kind Mr.. Roosevelt excluded from his
collection, but as it is given on the
authority of Howe, it may serve in
connection with Mr.. Roosevelts own
fully authenticated anecdotes of I'm
Gle Ephraim" to give the snapshot ar
lists and the correspondents some idea
of what may possibly have been go-
ing on in the charmed regions of the
Yellowstone from which they Re ex.
cluded.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

its mother and Merrifield faster than
Roosevelt. When the mother turned
to make an observation of the hunters
the cub, which might otherwise have
escaped, was moved by its filial in
stincts to turn and run back to her.
AT last the two hunters, both much
out OF breath by this time, headed
off" the animals. Roosevelt, pretty
nearly done up" from running, STUN
bled and sprawled full length just as
Merrifield passed over a ridge, out of
sight and into range for the first shot.
AS the bears began laboring up the
steep hillside Mr.. Roosevelt sat I'D
and began shooting at them over Mr..
| Merrifield's head. After several shots
which cut the dust behind the mother
bear. he got the range and sent bull
let through her She lurched and fell,
but recovered herself and entered the
| timber with Merrifield, who had put
on squirt, not far behind"
After the disappearance OF pursuer
and pursued into the timber, Mr..
Roosevelt "toiled up the hill at a trot,
fairly gasping and sobbing for breath. :"
Before reaching the top he heard a
couple of shots and shout" These
meant that the old bear had turned
on Merrifield, who had shot her full
in the chest as she advanced AS she
fell ne fired on the cub, knocking
over that victim of filial feeling,
which SO far recovered itself, howev-
er, on Mr.. Roosevelt's approach as to
spring up and make off through the
timber. AS the timber was too thick
for shot, Mr.. Roosevelt made his
last run" for break in it, through
which he fired as the young bear APP
preached. 1t turned "a dozen somer-
saults down hill, rolling over and over,
and stopping, finally, dead from the
effects of a bullet which had ranged
the whole length of its body" 1t was
a later hunt that Mr.. Roosevelt, at
that time alone, had the experience
already mentioned, which, if he had
had single-shot muzzlelcader in
stead of repeating rifle. would
probably have resulted in different
incumbent in the White House at pre-
sent, even though the first shot cut
the tip of the heart The bear reach
ed him, struck at him in it's first
charge, and it was probably only the
effect of second mortal wound at
close range which prevented the re-
turn charge and the hand-to-hand
struggle.
Hand-to-Hand Struggle.
What hand-to-hand struggle, knife
against claws, means is related in
Howe's Great West" John Glass, a
hunter for Sublette of st. Louis, was
in the Black Hills with companion,
when, after setting their traps, they
came upon a grizzly bear in the thick
ct, peacefully turning over the leaves
in a search for pig nuts" Glass and
his companion, seeing without being
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

ever since been among my most cher
ished recollections; and since the APP
pointment of his son on the New York
board of police commissioners in 1885,
have watched the meteoric career of
the younger man with closer inter-
est than would have been given to
that of another with whose early life
had acquired no personal contem-
porary acquaintance.
But the Presidents public life has
been singularly remarkable, in respect
to its own intrinsic character, and pro-
badly unparalleled 'in the altogether"
in the previous history of the world.
His present position is unique in our
own national history, in that he is
the only vice president who has sue
ceeded his deceased predecessor in
the presidency, at the head of his par
ty. In the Review of Reviews for
September, 1896, he himself, without
thought ever occupying the posi-
ton Of vice president, published an
article on the vice presidential candi.
dates of that year, in which allusion
was made to the common occurrence
of candidate for president holding
one position on matters of public poll
cy, while the candidate for vice presi-
dent would hold a very different posi-
ton.
He cited the instance of Tyler, '..who
proceeded to oppose all the measures
of the immense majority of those who
elected him.; that of Andrew Johnson,
who tried to reverse the policy of the
party which had put him in Office and
that of Arthur, who made very good
president, but the bitterness caused
by his succession to power nearly tore
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

the party in twain" The succession
of Fillmore to President Tyler is not
mentioned, although it might have
helped fill out the list of illustrations
OF the point particularly dwelt upon in
the article and condensed into the fol
lowing pithy and semi-prophetic SEN
fences: There is always chance
that he may become president AS this
is only chance it seems quite impos-
sible to persuade politicians to give it
proper weight. This certainly does
not seem right The vice president
should, SO far as possible, represent
the same views and principles which
have secured the nomination and cleo
ton of the president, and he should be
man standing well in the councils
of the party, trusted by his fellow par
ty leaders, and able in event of any
accident to his chief to take up the
work of the latter where it was left"
Platt's Work.
1t is not in the least likely that SEN
ator Platt had any idea of following
these suggestions when he insisted up
on the nomination of the younger
Theodore Roosevelt to the vice presi-
dency in order to get him out of the
way in the field of New York politics.
But Plat builded wiser than he knew,
and far wiser than he would have done
if he had known. In shelving an OBJ
iectionable opponent in the vice presi-
dental position, ne gave the country
an eventual president with more varied
elements of popularity than has been
in the possession of any of his prede--
cessors.
A democratic member of congress
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

the call of the sandhill crane, which,
when heard at distance, has music of
its own. He has found something of
beauty in the far-off call of the bull
lock. Near at hand, the call is a bel
low. nothing else, but across a valley,
with the sound softened by the dis
lance, there is something that is pleas
ing in the utterance of this dweller in
the wilds.
Mr.. Roosevelt notes every bird
which crosses the sky or darts into
the shrubhery. He knows all the
birds by name, and he knows their
characteristics. re don't agree on
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

says of him: "He has done more
things and done them well than any
other republican in the country. He is
somewhat of an orator; he is a good
deal of soldier; he is a great deal of
a litterateur, having written about a
dozen books, and he prides himself on
being an athlete. AS Senator Bailey
says of him, he has Dutch name and
an Irish disposition, combination hard
to beat The people who come in
contact with him like him. He is the
strongest character that was ever pres
ident. 1t is my honest conviction that
the democrats like him better than the
republicans. The two things which he
has done that contributed most to his
question and his letter about large
families He has good sized family
himself, and when his record in that
regard is compared with the average
Harvard record, it appeals strongly to
the American people"
BaiIey's Characterization.
This tribute from Champ Clark of
Missouri is praise from Sir Hubert
Stanley, and it is so evidently not ov-
erdrawn in any respect that it counts
for more than anything in the way of
adulation from republican would
do. President Roosevelt is intelligent,
capable, honest and wonderful to add,
he is also immensely popular, and
barring accidents he will succeed him
self in an Office which he evidently en-
joys, and in which, as his lamented
father hoped, he has done and will do
something useful" 7. w. H.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

about one or two nature writer's that
! think do not make all their writings
spell truth. The President has point
ed out to me one or two places where
he said he thought was skating on
thin ice. The ice might break, he
thought, where l spoke of instinct as
being the prime thing in making ami
mails fear man, He tells me that
when he went west to the ranch life
in the early SOS the grizzlies were
comparatively tame. but that now
they fear man. He holds that they
have been taught to fear him, and
that If instinct had all to do with it
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

the bear would have held their fear in
the old days.
He is right in part and am right
In part, think | may say. A man
strokes a dog and then puts his hand,
with the odor of the dog clinging to it,
near some kittens that never saw a
dog. kittens just born, in fact. In an
instant the odor caught, their backs
are up and they are splitting like wild
cats facing an enemy.
We went into the wilds, there to
study and to get that keen enjoyment
which comes from close communion
with nature in all her moods
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

eyes brighten. breakfasted with him
and all our talk was of the wild life of
the fields. Some one in the newspa-
pers said that was to go with the
President to give him information
touching big game and its preserva-
ton. He needs no instructions in those
lines / expect to learn from him. He
is certainly able to teach.
He spoke one morning of Sprague's
lark, which we hope to hear singing in
the west. Yes, it is the Missouri sky
lark, many people call it. The Presi-
dent spoke of its singing as it takes it's
zenith fight early in the morning. He
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

the mocling bird. He rates it much
higher as singer than do. We both
heard and studied the bird in Florida.
He told me recently of hearing the
hermit thrush in the west. The song
appealed to him as no other bird song
ever dld. OF course, the hermit is an
eastern bird also No man can hear
that song and deny its transcendant
beauty.
criticises Burroughs Theory.
"Mr. Roosevelt was kind enough to
read an article of mine in the Atlantic
recently. had some things to say
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30

knew the bird and loved it when he
was on the ranch in the west twenty
years ago.
We had discussion over the song
OF the western meadow lark. He spoke
OF the notes of the bird as forming a
complete song. differed with him, for
my impression is that the song is not
rounded out in completion. We will
hear it together, | hope, and the lark
shall decide between us.
Call of the sandhIl Crane.
"Mr, Roosevelfs ear is attuned to
all the sounds of nature. He spoke OF
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-27
PHIL CAMPBELL THERE.
New Third District Congress
man in Washington.

Washington Feb. 27.-PhiI P. Camp
bell, epresentative-electf from the Third
Kansas district, is in Washington He
VIII not be sworn in IS the successor to
Representative Jackson until March 4,
miliar with his surroundings and gain
ing a practical knowledge Of how things
are done at the capital. He has spent
several days on the floor of the house
this week. meeting some Of the men
congress. He has made favorable i'm
preston among them already and the
indications are that he IS going TO be a
mixer and makes friends rapidly, and
here. and help him TO be Of value to his
district and the state
After he is sworn in on March the
Third district patronage VIII. Of course.
be turned over To him Tt has been IN the
hands Of Senator Burton ever since the
latter was elected to the senate. ewing
to tle fact that Congressman Jackson IS
a Democrat and IS given no voice in the
distribution of patronage IN his district
Mr.. Campbell much for while. Senator
Burton has looked after that matter pref
ty closely and all of the appointments
which are due have been made by him.
The first place Of any Importance winch
will be filed by Mr.. Campbell II the post
gage his attention until next Deem be-.
however. as the term Of the present IN
Cumbent VIII not expire until that time.
OF course there VIII he a number OF minor
postmasrers to appoint
Mr.. Campbell IS living at the DriscO4-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-27
CRACKERS FOR SQUIRRELS.
Snow Makes the Gray Fellows II
Prospect Park Unusually Tame.

The tame squirrels in Prospect Park
in Brooklyn had a great time in the
snow last week The red fellows who
live in and about the Quaker cemetery
have retained the DrOvldenr habits OF
their kind and store un for winter use
the nuts and acorns that litter the
ground in the fall but the big gray
ones that make their homes in the trees
about the long meadow are so aecus-
toned TO finding plenty Of crumbs scat
tered by the children at luncheon there
abOuts that they have forgotten fhc
instinct Of their tribe and never lay In
a supply of food for the days when the
children stay away from the park Ineg
are so tame ordinarily that they VIII
frisk about within a few yards of visl-
tors. their big. bushy tails hung over
their backs, picking UP pieces OF food
which they carry away or eat rIgnL
where they find them
The snow OF last week kept the chlt-
dren away and the gray squirrels loo2ed
IN vain for their usual supply OF 1000
Hunger made them bold and they FOL
lowed anxiously and at short distance
pedestrians who used the walk that Dor
ders the meadow. One big fellow was
the bOidest of them all. and he Jared me
best on the second day of the snow
a number of young women have been
accustomed to feed the gray sdulrrels
through the winter. standing on the
walk and throwing mOrsels OF food tc
the frisky animals. last Wednesday
one young woman SlC4u LlttE ana l4lttf
oyster crackers to the squirrels
Each would grab a cracker and
scanDer off TO a tree and eat his prize
The biggest OF them all seemed to be
getting less than his due proportion,
either because he was too old to conf
pete or was less ambitious than his fel-
lows. But he came gradually nearer to
the young woman and a last sat on his
launches within a yard of where she
stood. apparently begging for something
to eat
The young woman stopped very slowly
and extended her hand with a era clzer jill
it, The big squirrel hesitated a moment
and then approached tine cracker. took il
IN his paws and probably being roo nl7a-
CRY to wait Until he could scamper to the
nearest tree. squatted right where he was
and nibbled the cracker until it was al
gone
Then ne looked for more He took. five
/ crackers from the young woman s hand
before he had enough. Then. with wlish
/ of his tail. he shot away chatrering- &c
I waiting companions as he skipped Up q
tree
He may have tried to tell them that
there was no danger. but. # he told their
that. they either did not believe him or did
not have the courage OF their convictions
/ for they failed TO respond TO the niand1sl-
ments of their friend and she was Obliged
to throw what she had left to those which
/ would come nearest--New York sun
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-27
THE CAR INTERVIEWS.
Takes a Hand IN Relieving Distress
Of the Firms

St. Petersburg Feb 21.-The car has
personally interviewed in behalf of the
famine stricken Firms and has ordered
that extensive relief works be started
without delay Besides the immediate
construction of the proposed Idensami-
kayana railroad. which viii cost 100000
he has sanctioned the expenditure Of
100000 on the I-leaborg-T ornea line
voted by the senate. bur hitherto unaD-
proved, the raising Of q S2.000000 loan
for other railroad construction, the es-
Enlistment of d bank With a Capital Of
$500 000 which sum is to be used in
making loans to peasant farmers, and
has approved an appropriation Of Sl4e,-
900 for public works, principally the
drainage of sseaTauss The Firms attrl3-
ute TIE cars action to the steps taken
istiug In Finland and to Ambassador
NcCormick's inquiries on the subject
IT Il believed that the proposed relief
works viii employ the majority Of the
able bodied and that consequently the
voluntary committees possibilities
viii be Iighteued and the necessities OF
the people VIII be satisfied without outside
aid. which the Films gratefully accepted
although they have never solicited It.
Louis Kl0psch of New York says ne
viii begin tour of the famine district
shortly Re adds that he has already
forwarded $4,000 Of the American con-
tributions to the relief committees and
that he will deliver an additional $4,000
a HeIzingf0rs Immediately. Mr. KlOpsch
also saws the American fund totals $50,
coo and he expects so, 600 more
Prof. Abram y ". Jackson of Col
umbia college. n Y, has arrived here