The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-08
BEAR HUNTER in CHIEF.
Major Ben LiIIey of the Presidents
Party Has Remarkable Record.

Stamboul, La, Oct S.-President
Roosevelt spent quiet Sunday at his
camp on Texas bayou, six miles west
Of here. and began his bear hunt
Monday. He keenly expects good
sport. All the tribe of bruin in the
canebrakes for miles around has be-
come apprehensive and will be on the
lookout for the distinguished hunter.
Sheriff Will Dunn had a pet bear,
but Mr.. Bear hung himself with the
chain to which he was attached while
attempting to jump over fence to
get away. 1t is said he had been in
formed the president was coming.
Ears Hunting ON Sunday.
The president had no intention of
hunting on Sunday, but even II he
had, Ben Lilley would not accompany
him. Ben is the old guide whom John
H. Parker, one of the president
hosts and New Orleans cotton brok-
er. has secured Texas and Louisiana
to find. He has the reputation, and
justly so, of being the best hunter in
Louisiana. He knows every foot OF
the ground in this section of the coun-
try. Ben is. a poor backwoodsman,
but he is Christian, and his heart p
in the right place. He would not Kill
bear or go hunting on Sunday, not
even for. the president of the United
States.
They say of him, and Jim Pittman,
the second biggest planter in the East
Carroll parish, vouches for it, that Ben
has been known repeatedly to trac <
the bear all day on Saturday up to L 2
o'clock at night and tree him, and
then with the beast in full view, where
a single shot would bring him down.
Ben will quietly sit down on a stump
and watch Mr.. Bear until one minute
after IL Sunday night before he fires
at him Such is Ben's reverence for
the Sabbath. But the president has
no disposition to ask him to break the
fifth commandment.
Ben's Domestic Ties Severed.
Ben Lilley is a character in whom
the president has taken great deal of
interest. Mr.. Parker found him in
Texas a few days ago and arranged to
have him come here to act as guide
for the hunting party. Years ago Ben
had a little farm in West Carroll parish
and tried to raise cattle, but his love
for the woods and hunting led him to
desert Weeks and months at a time
he spends in the wilds. So much has
he been away from home on these long
hunting trips that two wives have pro-
cured divorces from him on the
grounds of deSertion, Still when Ben
is at home he is the kindest and best
Of husbands. but twice have his matri-
monial bonds been severed because he
would rather live in the forest and
hunt than remain by his f1reside.
In the winter time Ben wears no
reason which he assigns for this fash
ion in footwear is that sometimes In
tracking game he is forced to wade
through streams. He argues that if he
wore socks they would keep his feet wet
while without any and with holes in his
boots the water runs off and soon the
natural warmth puts his feet in good
condition and thus he avoids colds and
chills.
Ben brought his faithful old dog, Joe,
with him, and coming on the train the
dog injured a foot and will not be able
to participate in the hunt. This has
been the only setback thus far to the
hunting party.
See Good Chances for Game. =
People herea bouts express confidence
that some bear will be bagged and they
are even more assuring on the subject
of venison. They say the woods are
full of deer of the Virginia variety, but
the disquieting rumor has gone abroad
that many of them are dying of the
disease known as -'black tongue
The party has been augmented by the
addition of Mr.. Metcalf a friend OF
Messrs. McIlhenny and Parker. who es-
corted the negro bear killer, Holt Col
lier, with 81 of his own dogs. There
will be therefore three professional
hunters in the crowd-Colier, Lilley,
and a negro named Brutus Jackson. All
have their own dogs