New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-22
WHOOPING CRANES
The Tale of the Last Ones Killed in Ne
braSka

The last whooping crane in Nebraska killed
on October %. 1902. by Harry Counsman and w
Z. Teetzel. up on the tule fats west OF Three
Spring Lake. just west Of "Arse" New5erry's old
place. north OF Cody. Counsman and Teetzel were
after ducks, and lying in their blind in the
rice and tules awaiting the evening flight bunch
OF greeawnss had Just flashed by. tipping the tops
OF the rice with their specked bellies almost when
COunsuan held up his hand admonitOry sig
nal to his companion, and coming whence the two
silent hunters could not determine was a cry so
wild and strange Yet ringing as the blast OF a
sivery horn that made them peer into each others
faces with much concern Again IL came, q long
drawn, sonorous. grrrrrrroooo, and thinking prob
ably f. might be well 70 prosecute their investi-
cation from secret point Of vantage. the two
duck hunters croUched low among the flags. and
then, between the nterstces. searched the heavens
coT Ia eager f+ eyes The strange sound seemed TO
- Ill oillS~I mere atoFe, Dut u.t
ID. scTuInized every league Of the frrla nent N
Of he a+52 YER they Te"ardsd with the sight
Far in the north AGAINST the overrea ching blue
tneE caught sight Of four wisps Of down like
SIlatches OF snow against the sky. and instnctivey
grrrrrrrroooo emanated Closer the four objects
zaIne. enlarSlng as they came until the languid
res growing nearer and more penetrating, the
s,.L-e species OF rare bird. and simultaneously
they exclaimed. swan again came that far
ne four huge birds set their TSs ana I Inc
o- push . s5ey aEainsJ the SKY drft toward them
I-- Li-lni-r2trg. formed d background. and those
wild tones sounded clearer and more searching,
tney graspec their guns with tighter grip. though
the birds were yet fully mile away.
No other fird has The same pOmu I'D ceremony
about his movements. ard Ths- The four bis while
cranes, instead Of coming down, swept round the
lonely amPhltheatre in miles Of spiral. Counsman
and Teetzei gave up all hope Of getting shot
But closer anG closer each wind brought them in
nearer The tLle blind. and IL evident that the
birds Clrcli1g the lake only precautionary
man0euvre before alightrg. They had certainly
been trained in efficient school. They knew the
danger hidden within rice ..u-l and fules, ana
were Gerergline TO take undue risk. What their
keen eyes failed To note. even from ther LOFTY
aerial pathway uuteEerrluE OF suspicion, when
it came time 10 drop their long. blackish, slate
coored legs and settle in the shallow waters or on
jutrinE point -.
Thoroughly hidden beneath the arching PUSHES the
hunters. while 4 seemed ages had but 2 orleI
time 10 wait and birds drew thrlngly near
-Four monster birds. three times big as the ols-
gc-t Canada goose pouring a food OF the Hosl lat
reaching sound that rolls from living - 80
wheeling and steering above theIIl NiLn -
suns rays glancing from their dagger peaHs 49, 49,,
wildly waving wings. Both gunne.s ne 70 oe e1 -.
nerve 20 the last and at the first crack OF OLo -
those good old shells one came Wn.I ~ ,,.,5
most upon TeetzeTs head and as the hile sPo!.,t
upward from Counsmans gun anotnfi is.t ms w.
mates ana fell the PUSHES as ne oti-sa pal
screan,fn- arfrfghtedly. vanished. facing over GA
Thundsa perg's hOWning bro~-tCi'@~A ""---
EsrSia