The Washington herald., 1907-10-09

Stamboul, La, Oct. S.-Bad weather in
terfered with the Presidents plans for
hunting to-day, and he was forced TO
abandon the sport until tomorrow.
He was out of bed and ready for
breakfast at $50 O'Clock, but a heavy
rain was falling. and produced conditions
which would have made 1t impossible for
the dogs TO follow the scent.
Thus far the President has not had an
opportunity TO fire at a bear Yesterday,
shortly after the party started out Ben
Lilley and his hounds struck a trail, the
horn was sounded for the President, but
before he could enter into the chase the
rain began to fall in torrents and the
dogs lost the scent
This obliged the party to return to camp
without any game. The prospects are
good for an ideal day at the sport to-
morrow, as the ground is in such condi-
ton as 10 make bear tracks easily dis
tinguishable, and the dogs viii have no
difficulty in picking Up a lead. The Presi-
dent spent the day reading and lounging
about camp, listening TO tales of Ben
Lilley's experiences. as told by himself in
his modest, uuassuming way.
"Ben" Killed 100 Bears.
Representative Ramsdeu. who knows
every man, including the negroes, by his
first name, and all of the individuals his
tory OF each. declares that to his knowl-
edge Ben" Lilley has killed over lOJ
bears.
Ben" is fifty-two years old, and has
other accomplishments besides being the
best bear hunter in the South He is an
artist as well. and with a rough piece of
chalk draws pictures Of wild animals so
true 20 life that even a nature faker
could not deny OF mistake them; he goes
through the woods and carves his name
in fine scrolls and also cuts out animals
upon the trees.
Another accomplishment which dis
tinguishes @Ben" among the country folk
in this region is.his ability to jump back
ward into a barrel and then. apparently,
without excrtion jump out backward.
They tell great stories about "Old Ben
IiIey in this nick-of- -the-w0Ods. and IL
II is a concerted plan TO make the outside
world believe these wonderful perform
ances OF their famous fellow -woodsman
the plan works admirably, for every man
in Lake Providence tells the same yarns
about Ben" LilIey.
There Is "Wm" Bunn the sheriff, who
narrates the barrel-jumping story: Jim
Pittsman the wealthy planter, who tells
Of "Ben's" reverence for the Sabbath;
Congressman Ramsdel who testified rs
70 the amount Of game ben" has killed
and scores of others each verifying the
others story. and himself telling a new
and, If possible. more remarkable one
about the Old hunter.
Ben" wears long. white whislers
They grow all over his face. and he
never puts razor 10 them.
Keeps Mosquitoes Away.
They keep the mosquitoes from biting
his face, for he sleeps more on the
ground IN the woods. with his coat and
his gun for a pillow, than he does sbed
When he arrived at TalIulah Friday
night, instead OF waiting for a train 10
carry him north 10 the point where the
President was to leave his train and start
for the camp. Ben" struck of for the
canebrakes on foot and walked twenty
miles through the woods Just for exer-
else" The President is much interested
In him and his dogs
Altogether the party has about forty
five dogs some of them hounds. others
wire-haired fox terriers. which are good
for nagging the bear but the majority
are mongrels. The hounds are the best
10 hike up the scent The Metcalf broth
ers, of GTeeHville, Miss. friends Of John
NJ. Parker, the Presidents host. have
ioincd the hunting party.