The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-07
BULL ELK.
Held Ms Own Against All Corners At
the Hotel.

From Mammoth hot springs, in the
Yellowstone National park, comes a
story relating to the doings of a bull
elk which is out of the ordinary and
we'll worthy of repetition. Incidentally,
Robert Edgar, better known to the
whites as "Geyser Bob" and to the
Indians as big Nose." had an oppor-
tunity to "get even" with certain at
taches at the post.
|. There were three feet of snow on
the ground, and Edgar was completing
his task of digging out path. Just
as he reached the hotel he noticed a
large bull elk coming over the brow
of the hill. Running to the corral he
seized an arnful of hay and returned
just as the elk reached the foot of the
hill. The hay was deposited On the
porch at the front door of the hotel.
The elk, not too proud to tickle his
throat with government hav, fell to.
1t was about $50 in the afternoon, and
three of Uncle SANS trained and tried
Philippine heroes came over to chat
and spend an hour.
AS they approached the elk he toss
ed his twelve points, took a few steps
forward, and the soldiers, seeing that
he meant business, Immediately made
for the barracks.
Assistant Superintendent Joseph
DeBar was the next to approach the
hotel, it being his dinner hour. For
10 years Joe had not travelled afoot
at a faster gait than walk. He
struggled along through the snow,
head down, until Providence babe him
look up. He did SO, and his eyes in
stantly told him that the elk was
about ready to make charge and
b that he was evidently the intended
victim. Joe. however, charged first,
and plowed madly through the snow,
barely beating the animal to the rear
door. The others underwent the same
experience.
Uncle john" the Waterman, was
the next to appear. Come right
along, ,John,'' said DeBar from the
half-opened door. III keep him busy
until you get in With this Joe
stepped forth and began a lombard
nent with bottles. stove wood and
pieces of COAL The second throw
landed, and the elk, thoroughly en-
ragged, sprang forward. Joe, for the
second time in 10 years, Travelled at
a faster gait than 4 walk, and again
managed to escape.
A travelling salesman staying at the
hotel thought perhaps he could do
something with a lantern, and along
about $3.50 he gave the. elk the signal
to back up" But the elk had been
in the mountains so long that lie was
perhaps a trifie rusty on train sig
nails, and he refused to bulge. Like
wise the go ahead" signal was ig-
nored. Then the traveller tried cooling
and coaXing, and finally cursing, but
with no good result.
All night long the elk walked the
porch. and occasionally, just to assert
his authority, he broke pane or two
of glass in the windows. at the break
of day the elk withdrew to the rear
of the building, but, finding all tracks
leading inward, started for the porch
again. On the return journey the ami
NAL fell into small geyser hole and
broke his leg. At S:15 soldier put
him out of misery with shot, ending
the reign of the tyrant. While the
''coroner's jury" was assembled in the
Office to determine how the teeth
should be divided soldier from the
fort approached the carcass. seized the
teeth and made away on his skis.
The Joseph DeBar referred to as
the first victim of the elk is we'll
known resident of Helena. 1t was he
who, year ago. drove President
Roosevelt ON his winter trip through
the park.