Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-02
COLORADO COYOTES
The Round Up Resorted To as the Best Means of Exterminat-
 ing the Pests.

l ing the Pests.
 l A coyote round-up recently held near Denver in which 500 horsemen participated, resulting in the slaugh- 1 yer of about 20 coyotes, shows how earnestly the ranchmen and cattlemen Of the west are striving to rid them selves of this old-time pest of the prairies, says the New York Tribune. These round-ups are held regularly in Colorado and other western states, but in spite of the slaughter of coyotes the animals continue to increase. kill ing calves, robbing hen roosts and committing other depredations. Wy ! oming spends $40 O00 a year in wolf and coyote bounties, and yet 1t has just been announced that despite the tremendous slaughter of the animals in that state both wolves and coyotes are actually on the increase
 The roundup is probably the most effective means of killing the coyotes. l The animal is so wary that, it can rarely be brought within rifle shot by the individual hunter, and 1t will sel- dom touch meat that has been poi soned, because it's remarkable sense Of smell betrays the presence of man, and consequently the only effective way of killing it is to form a huge circle, many miles in circumference, and gradually close in, penning ths animals in the center, and killing them with clubs
 The annual coyote roundup near Denver this year was probably the most spectacular affair of its kind ever held. Besides the 800 horsemen who took active part in it there were 20 women riders. A small army of sight seers in carriages and farm wagons of every description was on hand, ranch CTS for miles around having made the occasion a holiday, and special trains 1 being run from Denver and other points to carry the crowds Huge "chuck wagons" borrowed from the cattle outfits, were taken along, load ed with coffee and sandwiches and ] other eatables. After the chase was over bonfires were lighted on the l plains and around these the hunters and spectators gathered and recounted l the events of the day.
 The preparations for the roundup
 began the night before. The captain 1 of the hunt directed the crews to
 ranchhouses forming an immense cir cle 30 miles in diameter. By SIX o'clock in the morning those crews
 had left their respective ranchhouses
 and had arranged themselves in circle. More than two hours was spent i in looking after horses and strength
 ening weak places in the long line. | TI, 4-< x5, 1 the circle quickly began to contract
 The riders, as they advanced, would I beat the sagebrush and now and then
 8 coyote would be startled out of his l hiding place and would be driven by I horsemen and dogs toward the center
 Owing to the fieetness and adroitnesss l of the coyotes many of them managed 1 to get through the line but at noon, when the big circle had drawn within
 g mile of the ravine where white flag on a tall pole indicated the cen- ter of the grounds, it was estimated ! that fifty coyotes had been rounded
 up. These coyotes were all fresh and 1 full of fight. Now and then one would make a break through the lines, with
 dogs in hot pursuit, and race would result, testing the running and staying qualities of the hounds. After several
 coyotes had been run down in this
 manner, the captain waved white flag and the lines closed in for the final struggle.
 Owing to the danger of using fire arms at such close quarters, no rifles, revolvers or shotguns were carried by the hunters. Stout clubs were wield- 1 0H foot the snarling coyotes in the cen- ter of the circle were to be clubbed to death The death struggle was sharp and decisive. The clubs in the hands ] of the husky ranchers wrought speedy execution, and about half of the coy- otes fell victims either to the bludg- cons of the hunters or the teeth of the I dogs. This is large percentage of killed, as generally not more than one- 1 quarter of the coyotes in the final i circle lose their scalps.
 | Several accidents took place in the l course of the hunt. One hunters horse fell with him, the rider sustain 1 ing a broken shoulder blade and tha horses leg being broken. That horse l was shot, as were two others that were injured by stepping in badger ] holes while their riders were urging them after fleeing coyotes. Another l horse broke his neck in q bad fall and 1 the rider was thrown into barb-wire fence, luckily escaping with nothing i but few scratches At two o'clock, 1 after the roundup was ended and the scalps were counted, the hunters gath cred about the fires and partook of the ls Dn9r dN1 frN fHA l finest horsewoman in the chase and also to the owner of the finest grey- hounds. The women who took part 1 in the roundup were keenly alive to 1 the excitement of the day and gave daring exhibition of horsewomanship
 Factory. EmploYes in Japan.