Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-14
HUNT FOR BIG GAME.
Woman Braves Dangers Of Lower
California In Search For Big Horn


California In Search For Big Horn
Sheep.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard S. Reed, in
their recent two months trip in lower
California, shot more big horn sheep
than ever before were secured by one
hunting party, and this means much,
for the successful stalking of sheep on
the peninsula is regarded as one Of
the most difficult Of accomplishments.
The Reeds nineteen victims were not
only excellent specimens but included
! big horns Of all ages.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reed, who were accom-
panied by Elbridge D. Rand, went
down the west coast in a schooner and
landed at a village not far from Mag
dalena bay. They had three guides and
packers, a pack train Of eight mules
and three more animals on which they
rode.
The Reeds gradually worked their
way $50 miles inland, reaching a re-
gion seldom invaded by white sports
men. The scarcity of water was a
very serious matter. 1t had sometimes
to be packed for thirty miles and was
seldom of good quality. The water
holes when found proved to be more or
less contaminated. The country Is as
wild and rocky as parts Of Wyoming.
Before the trip was ended nearly all
the footwear was torn to pieces. 1t
was almost impossible to keep shoes
on the mules.
| Unquestionably the success Of the
Reeds on the recent trip for big horn
sheep was due to the fact that Mr.. Reed
has been a close student Of sheep in
every range from northern Alaska to
the point furthest south where they
are to be found
The big horn sheep, like the antelope,
is growing very rare, and even in low
er California it taxes the ingenuity Of
a hunter to get shot at one. Mr..
Reed was anxious to secure specimens
Of all ages for preservation in some
museum Every animal shot was care
fully measured, samples Of shrubs or
| OlIl6E lOOu oIl WIllSIl IL iiciy nave pCCii
feeding gathered, and a photograph
| taken. For the establishment Of a
museum Of natural history in Califor-
MIA Mr.. Reed has contributed money
as we'll as his personal efforts, and his
hope will probably be realized in the
near future.
Mrs. Reed has often taken her life
in her hands. She can skin and pre-
serve big bame like a professional,
knows woodcraft thoroughly and is a
dead shot with the rife. Fatigue seems
unknown to her She and her husband
are in perfect harmony in their love
of the wilds. When in the field she
wears a short khaki skirt, flannel shirt,
khaki hat and elkskin shoes and leg
gings. In Alaska she carried .405
Winchester and in the south .351
Remington, the weapon that shoots
through steel.
Mrs. Reed is the only white woman
who has ever had the courage to pen
citrate the wilderness Of lower Cali
fornia. She bagged two sheep, one
fine eve and ram. She also did her
own skinning, and the old Indian guide
did a war dance when he saw her
skill with the hunting knife. The eve
killed had a lamb and this the hunt
ress decided to raise.
The killing of a famous ram was one
of the exciting incidents of the trip.
Mr.. Reed had heard stories Of the mon
ster, and wished eagerly for shot.
For years big game hunters had chased
1t in vain. Some had even come over
from England, lured by romantic tales
Of the gigantic sheep, but until Mr..
Reeds arrival it had escaped leaden
pills. The monarch Of the peninsula
led a solitary life, keeping apart from
the band and generally taking up a
position on some almost inaccessible
crag, where he could see approaching
enemies.
The Reeds followed the trail eagerly,
but it was a week or more before their
opportunity came. Near sundown the
| big ram was seen on a distant crag,
silhouetted against the glowing skies.
He had already seen the hunting party
and evidently was curious about the
mules.
| Leaving his companions, Mr. Reed
began crawling on his hands and knees
toward the animal, and when within
seventy-five yards fired straight and
true for the sleeps shoulder. The
horns measure II ga inches at the
base-Los Angeles Times.