East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-02-10

The rabbit shoot given by the Bla-
lock Fruit company Is now a matter
OF history. The event passed off
without any casualties and was en-
joyed to the utmost by those present,
and while they did not succeed in en-
tirely exterminating all of the pests
on the island, their number is very
materially reduced and their ranks
decimated by scores.
The squad from Pendleton left on
the delayed train at 1870 a. m. Fri
day morning and arrived at the bon
fire, two and a half miles above CO.
vote siding at about 3 a m. Here
they were met by wagons and at
tendants who cared for their guns
and baggage and after but short
walk to the river. boarded the Island
Queen" owned by the Blalock Fruit
company. for the trip to the island,
where they arrived at a m.
DIR. n. G. Blalock was waiting to
receive them and in his hospitable
and affable manner, known all over
the northwest, welcomed them and
himself conducted them to the Sleep
ing quarters prepared
Many hunters and spectators had
already arrived and the Island Queen
was kept busy all night long In trans
porting the different delegations from
the mainland to the island as fast as
their trains deposited them at the
bonfire. Those who arrived early I'm
the night took advantage of the Sleep
ing accommodations to secure few
hours rest, but the late corners per-
haps, deciding that they were out for
a time refused to lose so much as an
hour in such an idle manner as sleep.
About 6:l5 a. m. ON Friday morn
ing all hands were called to break
fast and then the business of organ
izing for the days shoot was taken
up.
Sixty Picked Shooters.
None but those versed in the use of
a shotgun were allowed in the ranks
as the danger from ineXperience and
carelessness was too great 1t was
finally narrowed down to about 60
men and these were divided into
three companies, commanded by j.
II. Pedigo of Wala Walla, captain
of Co. 4. James Il. Blalock of Ar
lington, captain of Co. b, and Judd
Fish of The Dalles, captain of Co. c.
These so men were further subdi-
vided into squads of about Z each, to
insure better and more thorough
organization and one which could be
more easily handled.
The Pendleton boys We're command
ed by C. ]. Ferguson. f. F. Humeson
of Weston acted as another lieutenant
of Co. c.
Rules and regulations were adopt
ed governing the actions OF those on
the firing line and all We're obliged to
agree to obey their officers before
the hunt commenced.
Two mounted field marshals di-
rected the course of the hunt and DR..
n. @. Blalock with his ambulance
corps of two nurses and emergency
cases followed in wagon. Three
other wagons followed the line to
pick up the dead rabbits, while those
not on the firing line came along in
the rear.
After deploying the line of skir-
mishers, with n distance of about ~
feet between each man, the word was
given to advance and commence mr.
ING At first the occasional crack or
the single gun was heard, but ms
soon swelled into roar as the rab-
bits commenced to appear.
"Don't get up in front of the line;
keep back" was at first the cry OF
the busy officers as they endeavored
10 restrain their now excited hunts
men.
Not an Accident Took Place.
Commands not found In any manu-
al of arms, such as Here, you feliow
with the blue pants; don't shoot IN