davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

to Inconvenience him much. He was
vigorously barking and jumping
around a lot of loose boulders, among
which the leopard had evidently taken
refuge. I could not, however, induce
him to go in, and although l have
had several good terriers for this kind
of shooting none of them cared to go
to ground after such game. I began
to fear l should have to give him up,
but got together a lot of the driest
heritage / could find, and making q
couple OF sQuibs by extracting the
powder from two cartridges, I went
to work to try and make him bolt,
as his cover was not very large. Cut
ting as long a stick as I could find,
/ took page out of my pocket diary
and rolled the sQuibs in it, binding
them to the thin end of the stick,
which I bandaged thickly round with
dry grass and leaves for a yard or
more, and then pushed it in where the
leopard had entered and ignited it
we'll all around, also heaping more
dry stun about the opening SO as to
make as much smother as possible.
The smoke soon began to escape from
the crevices, though the leopard did not
appear to take any notice of it; but
as soon as the fuses began to nzz and
sputter, 1t was more than he could
stand, and out he dashed. almost up
setting me In his rush. l had, how
ever, picked up my carbine and fired
at him, just as he was disappearing
into the cover. l distinctly heard the
pat of the bullet and WAS about to
follow, when l saw that the poor dog
demanded my attention, so picked him
up. The scratches we're ugly ones,
tend to them at once / might lose
him; I therefore carried him back to
camp and washed, stitched, and
dressed his wounds. returned after
wards, to try and follow the leopard,
but could not find any further trace
of him, except blood marks. ] there
fore went and skinned the other two,
and made up my mind to leave the
cub l had wounded until the morrow,
I tracked him up next day and found
him dead, about a quarter of q mile
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Getting the Cubs.

But this time the two cubs had re-
covered from their surprise, and as
the old leopard appeared to be done
for | gave one of them bullet in
the chest, the other turning tail and
scampering off into the bush with
Snap" (who had got loose) at his
heels, whilst l stepped into the open
and let the one | had wounded have
another ball, catching him in the orr
flee of the ear and killing him in
stantly. AS l approached them the
old one rolled over, and | was about
to fire at her again, when l noticed
that her eye was already glazed. and
it would only be wasting ammunition.
After a hasty glance of admiration |
left them as they lay and hurried after
the yelping terrier, who from the
sound appeared to have come to
halt, though l could hear 10 snarling
Before, however, | could catch up, the
leopard must have made another start
The scrub was thick just here, and the
everlasting "wait-a-bit'' thorns retard-
ed my progress considerably, besides
Furnishing me not little. Still
pushed on into the open veldt Just
in time to see the two making across
for the timber on the other side of the
bend in the river. l was beginning to
feet bit winded, and was not sorry
when further angry yelps and growl-
ing showed that the cub had again
been brought to bay. Getting up as
quickly as possible. l found that the
dog had been having a rough time Of
it. He was scored badly down the
side, and instead of being white
terrier was a CHASTITY red one, though
for the time being it did not appear
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
First Shot Brings Him Down.

Once or twice l raised my weapon,
only to lower it, feeling it was safer
to wait. On a sudden he raised his
head, as if some sound at a distance
had arrested his attention, for he
gazed right away into space. This was
my opportunity-no a very fine one
certainly, for there was quite net
work of small branches Intervening
but l got a pretty fair sight and let
him have it. Down he came almost
before l could jump to one side, with
a thump that would have stunned him,
one would imagine, even if the bullet
had not smashed his jaw and gone out
through the top of his head, bursting
an eye in its course. He was as dead
as a door nail, and a beautifully
marked full-grOwn young male, his
teeth being perfect. AS | was only
about mile from camp, got his skin
off at once, and taking the skull went
back and dressed the skin there and
then, before it should get covered
with f1yblows.
l lost no time, however, in getting
back to the spot where | had killed
him, for it struck me there might be
something more than l knew about in
his having had his attention diverted
from myself and the dog. So l cast
about once more, still going along the
river, letting Snap" who was we'll up
to the work, do the hunting, whilst
now and again l added a brilliant
beetle to my collecting box. Passing
two or three gullies without making
anything further out, began to think
that it must have been the whistle
of an antelope that had attracted the
leopard's notice. He showed, how
ever, the same intentness of gaze as
remembered in jaguar l once killed
| under somewhat similar circum-
stances, and whose dying roar brought
a second one on my track in less than
no time, giving me a stifish scuffle. 1t
| is in cases such as these that the sci
i ence of woodcraft comes in handy,
| careful notice of surrounding signs
| and actions usually enabling one to
| come to a correct conclusion. | had
| been keeping fairly close to the river
/ hank, for / held TO my theory that
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Blinded by a Sand Storm.

AS the sun rose it speedily dissi-
pated the river mist, and a little way
out on the veldt and beyond the tim
Der, it was as sultry as ever. l could
spy some small specks away to the
southwark, and as fresh bit of veni-
son would be an agreeable change,
/ started after what l knew would
furnish me Herewith, If | could man
age to circumvent them. This was not
particularly difficult, for | could keep
myself covered by one ant-hill or an
other, and I got my buck all right,
sending the rest bounding away with
tremendous jumps. The om1nous
darkening of the horizon had not es-
capped my notice, but almost before L
was aware of it the hot sand came
singing like so much small shot
against my face. In such cases, the
ONLY thing to be done is to throw
yourself fat on your chest and hold
YOUR breath till the hot blast has
blown over. The sand storm did not
last many minutes, but the thunder
storm Immediately burst in such
way as it only does in South Africa,
and | speak from experience both OF
this. as we'll as other parts of the
world. 1t was over almost as soon as
it came. and for a short space the
sandy veldt looked like a sheet OF
water, which, however, was sucked up
in no time, the sun bursting forth
in all it's splendor and drying me,
drenched as | was, before | could get
my buck back to camp.
After skinning my buck and making
the hind portions into ham, and get
ting a meal of fresh meat, l set out
along the bank of Ae river to see II
| could hit upon any leopard spoor. |
had not gone far before | came to the
remnants of a porcupine. Leopards
appear to have great partlallty for
the flesh of these animals, and as
they are common enough along the
Orange river, it doubtless accounts
for the presence of their prosecutors.
l hunted for the rest of the day with
out finding any more signs, although
| felt satisfied that there were some
Ieopards in the neighborhood, so
could only postpone my search until
the morrow. In the morning | got
afoat once more, and dropped about
four miles down to the place | had
turned back from the day before
This did not occupy long, and l was
soon fast again in a kind of back
water, with my traps once more on
dry land. | was eager to follow uT
the leopard which I was confident
had gone down, not up, the river; in
deed, had hardly proceeded quar-
ter of a mile before | found pug
marks, and quite fresh ones, too
where he had gone down to drink
This time the heavy rains had no
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

there was another leopard not far
from where shot the last; SO I turned
about, after a couple of miles, and
bush, near the veldt. carefully beat
ing any likely-looking spots. Half way
or so back was a dense mass of thorns
with lot OF rock and boulders, look
ing a very likely place to hold such
game l went to the veldt side to
reconnoitre, and there Immediately
found fresh pug-marks, not only of
one, but Of three, leopards; evidently
those Of an old one and her cubs.
This at once accounted for the de-
meanor of the one l had got, and as
. leopard with young, or for the mat
ter of that any animal almost in such
circumstances, requires extra care in
tackling, 1 called the dog to heel,
whilst I cogitated a bit what course
to pursue. Examining the tracks, l
put the cubs down as half grown.
also made a detour Of the clump of
bush and satisfied myself that the
game was at home. Returning to the
spot where I had first marked them,
/ followed them in slowly, Snap" be-
ing taken up with a piece of string.
He soon commenced to get very ex-
cited, and / could myself smell the
faint which always hangs around the
lair of the carnivora, be they birds
or beasts. The spoor was easy enough
to keep, as the path had been used
many times, and the leopard, dragging
her prey along, had beaten it down. I
had my carbine ready for rapid shot,
for I felt sure we were coming close
to, and had hard work to keep the
dog from breaking away. Luckily the
wind was IN my favor, and all at once
l came right In sight Of the leopards,
the old one and two cubs, almost as
large as she was, basking IN the sun
in an open space In the glade. l don't
think she saw me, as from where l
stood l was completely hidden in
dense foliage, but she stared hard in
my direction, half rising to her feet,
the tip of her tail twitching from side
to side, or, more correctly speaking.
beating the ground. 1t was as pretty
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
SOME OF THE MANY CURIOUS
Some of the Many Curious Adventures
That BefaIl Travellers in Dark
Continent.

Curious adventures befall explorers
in southern Liberia, as one of them
writes: when we entered this coun-
try In 1906 we fired star shell to
try to communicate with the column
marching from Okla. This was seen
by the natives for miles around, and
it's effect was extraordinary. The
Ahiaras, Onichas and their warlike
friends, who had spent years building
the most marvellous trenches and
stockades to guard every possible ap-
proach to their country, told US after
ward that they had meant to give us
a very warm time, but that the star
shell was too much for them. Any
one who could do this must be super
natural, and they fed into the bush
and kept up a guerrilla warfare for
months, never daring to show them
selves.
I'm January, 1906, when a small col
umn was operating in the Ohonhon
country, northwest of Bande, it had q
lot of trouble with a town called ONO
Oga Ngolori, the reason given being
that when the Long Juju of Arochuku
was destroyed in 1902, it was brought
to this place as being out of reach Of
the government, and the AFRO priests
tried to re-establish it here and carry
on their former customs. At any rate,
it was reported to be a most power
full Juju, and meant certain death to
any one who entered it's hiding place.
We made visit to it.
"All round were sticks stuck in the
ground supporting skulls, eggs and
bones, while blood was splashed over
the walls; on the Fright of the entrance
was a large basin of water about IL
inches deep, hewn out of the rock, In
which water trickled through from the
roof, and in which few fish glided
about
While examining this, one of tbs
officers made some remark, setting
I'D a series of echoes, which resound-
ed from the walls of the cave. lie GER
tainly was most queer, and was al
together too much for the few soldiers
and others who out of curiosity had
followed US in, for they dropped their
carbine sand fed out"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

the Transvaai Beers, whose filtbustering
raids across the border were getting
worse and worse.
To cut my story short, however, and
get down to q fast series of single
handed leopard kills, after following
the Dragons up as far as Mafeking
TO no purpose, | returned to Kimber-
ley and the Orange river. I conceived
the idea OF constructing a raft and
thus transporting my few necessary
effects, camping on the banks as in
clination led me, or, as l fancied the
locality favored sport. I had had too
much experience among floating logs
whilst numbering In America not to
feel at home at this kind Of work;
and all in all, though / did not travel
far, l spent one of the most exciting
trips / ever had. All along either
side of this fine river is a wide belt
OF "wait.a-bit" tk0rns and bush tim
Der, on which lovely green beetles
played in great profusion. caught
numbers, every one of which brought
me in Sd in Cape Town, for jewelry
purposes. l had seen beetles set up
in a similar fashion in Rio de Janeiro
and so had an eye to possible bust
ness: as also, we used to get alligators
teeth down in Alabama and Florida,
bus these creatures have got so scarce
now that it hardly pays to hunt them.
Having got everything fixed on my
raft, and as the river hereabouts was
familiar to me, | had no difficulty in
making a landing, as | had proposed
some 20 miles further down, passing
the ford to Hope Town on my way.
Among other things | had with me
hammock and poncho which | had
used out in the Banda Orientale, both
of which, besides being of the greatest
use, went into very small compass.
After taking a cup of coffee without
milk and a snack or two of spring-bok
| literally turned in, with my carbine
beside me and my dog curled up at
my feet, to be lulled to sleep by sounds
as familiar as those heard on sum-
pler day at home,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Attacked by the Savage Beast.

Before l reached the top, the dog
began barking and l hurried on, as
we'll as l could, over the loose stones,
for | did not want to lose my only
remaining dog. He, however, came
yelping back, just as l gained the top
of the bank, and at the same time |
caught sight of the leopard, which was
making across the open for patch
of thorns a couple of hundred yards
distant. | was somewhat out Of
breath from scrambling over the IN
even ground, but, taking as careful
aim as l could, | fired. l knew had
hit him all right, even if he had net
stopped and bitten at the wound, but
the shot was too far back as well as
too low AT the same instant he
caught sight of me, whilst l, not relish
ing his looks, hastily pushed in an
other cartridge. ] had net my trusty
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

sight as had ever seen, these beau
tiful cats, but l had not time for such
thoughts. One of the cubs attempted
to play with the bobbing tail, and
this seemed to irritate her, for she
turned and gave the offending young
ster tap with her paw that sent him
sprawling. In doing so she gave me
a fine broadside and l fired, dropping
her at once, though she scrambled to
her fore feet in an intsant. l could
see that her hind parts were para
lyzed; she was shot through the spine;
and as she turned to gnaw the wound
1 quickly got another cartridge in and
hit her through the neck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
|9Ql!(yf 31;llllI!l;
POST OFFICE INFORMATION ]

once open from a. m. to D. N. week
days. Windows open Sundays from II 100 to
loo p. m.
Holidays, window open from too am.
Carriers will make no trip on holidays
MAILS CLOSE AS FOLLOWS:
Going north on G. NJ. &c ST. Paul a. m and
5 p. NJ Except Sunday
Going South on G. M. &c St Paul12 LOOM and
8 p. m. Except Sunday
Going West on G. b. &. W. $50 a. m. Except
Sunday.
Sunday.)
Going North on G. &c N. W.1pm.
Going South c. &c NJ w. at Up. m:
Mail closes Sundays as follows:
Going North on c. NJ. &c ST. Paul at 10 :5Oa m
Going South on c. M. &c st. Paul att coop. m
stage for Saratoga, New Rome, Vanories-
sen, Munroe Center, leaves at a. m.
Mail for Saratoga. New Rome. Vandriessen
closes at $50 a. m.
Rural carriers leave at 1870 a. m.
Mail closes for Rural Delivery at $50 a. m
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

from wnere I had fired at him, my
lucky shot having gone through his
heart.
This reminds me of an escapade l
had with one of these creatures some
time previously, further south. AS
is so frequently the case, | had been
much disturbed during the night by
proving animals, which | found out
were leopards. l was eXasperated by
the loss of my best dog, and made
up my mind, if possible, to get fine
skin and avenge his death at one and
the same time; so making a hurried
breakfast, and leaving my two Kaffir
boys in charge of the skerm, | set
out with the only dog l now had left.
The spoor, which was plain enough
in the sand, led right away towards
the river, which on either side is Dor
dered for a quarter of a mile or so
with "wait-a-bit thorns and under
brush. After going a mile or more my
dog showed special eagerness, and
pulled up at tree, the bark of which
was all scored by the claws Of leOp-
ards and was evidently used by them
continually for stretching their talons.
A lot of porcupine quilts also lay
around, showing that the leopard had
recently made meal, of which | was
glad, for l thought l should be more
likely to find him lazy and lying up,
and hence easier to manage. A little
further on | came to a Bloof or ravine,
which | had to descend and ascend.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Russia stronq Financially

Russia's finance minister states that
the stability of the Russian finances
is as great as before the war. The
gold reserve is given as about $780,
100000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

If you want to read all the lat
est news subscribe for the Daily
Reporter. You can get it for $500
per year by paying in advance. De-
livered by carrier. If
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

but had to give up the idea, for l could
not get sight of him at all, so re-
turned to the ground.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

Win some Q1mCulCy, TOT L did not
want him to come to an untimely end,
which might not be improbable II
was unable to keep him back some
where within bounds
Following the leopard's Spoor.
The spoor led along the bank for
some distance close to the river, at
which the leopard had occasionally
halted, either to drink, or to watch
for a stray fish; for these latter they
will scoop out with the dexterity of
a raccoon, as I myself once saw. In
fact, they will eat almost anything
that moves-young birds, and for the
matter Of that old ones. too, when
they can surprise them A cat which
has run wild at home is a fair exam
pie of what the leopard LIS on q very
much larger scale.
The dog now came to point at the
foot of tree, and after some search,
for the foliage was very iuxuriant. /
could distinguish the leopard lying full
length along a branch, his head be-
tween his paws, his eyes being just
discernible, and that was all. I could
not get good shot at him, the angle
was too acute to fire with safety at
his head, and unless I got directly
under him l could not see him at ell,
whilst the limb he was stretched out
upon practically protected him at ali
vital points. Now and again he would
just crane over a little and then draw
back before I could get a proper
sight, making all the time a snarling,
purring noise. Under the circum-
stances 1t would have been risky to
have attempted shot, so was COM
PEELED to wait until he gave me some
sort of chance. To have had him
come tumbling down wounded was not
bit to my fancy. In the meantime
looked about to see IL there were
another tree near by which l could
climb, and | actually did ascend one.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Time Tables of
Passenger Service
Chicago s. Northwestern RY.

GoING NORTHWEST.
No 423 leaves Milwaukee ................ $50 d.
No 423 arrives Fond du Lac. On a.
No 423 arrives Grand Rapids. I:5 D.
No. 40y leaves 4:55 p.
No. 400 arrives Fond du 6:45
No. 4Gy arrives Grand 1910 y. 10
No 400 arrives Marshfeld. ...........10:50 p. m
GOING oOUTHEAsT
No 410leaves Marshfield ........... 500 q. m
No. 4iU leeves GRAND IA
No 40 arrives Fond du Lac.......... s:5Ua.
No 4l0 arrives As n
No 416 leaves Grand Rapids. 1876 pm
No. 416 arrives Fond du Lac 5000. ...... 5 90 Pm
NEKOOSA BRANCH,
SOUTH BOUND.
Leave Grand Rapids. p. m. 800 p. m
Arrive NcEoOsa..............-l2:30p p. N. $40 p.
NORTH hound.
Leave Nekoosa ................1 240p m, $50 p. m
Arris res Grand Rapids. LOS p. N. 4:30 D. m
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul.

GOING NORTH
No. 15passenger daily except Sunday 1852 N
No. passenger, daily except Sunday ZAP p n
No. % passenger Sunday only.......u 10 a n
GOING SOUTH
No. passenger. daily except Sunday 9:25 N
No.6passenger, daily except Sunday l2:35 p m
No. 20 passenger, Sunday only. ......9:25 NJ
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26
Leopard
Hunting
Alone in
BeChu-
analand
By Percy SeI0uS

)ME years ago, l
I o u n d m y S e ] t
stranded in Bech-
uanaland, where I
had followed q force
Of irregular cavalry,
raised by Col. Me-
thuen, for operat-
ing, should the ext
gency arise. against
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-26

away, and my dog was able to pick
1t up easily. Seeing that my carbine
was all right and everything in it,
place to nay hand, I followed Snap"
with some difficulty, for I did not
want him to come to an untimely end,
which might not be improbable IL I
was unable to keep him back some
where within bounds
Rock Island Argus., 1909-05-25
ISLANDERS IDLE
FOR FIRST time
Forced to Postpone Game with
BloOmingtOn-BigA Attendance
Expected at Davenport.

Rain made it necessary to postpone
this afternoons game with Blooming
ton and the Islanders are idle for the
first day since the season opened.
They have played 10 games without a
miss.
If the weather man smiles on us
Saturday, Sunday and Monday, side
boards will have to be put on the parks
in this city and in Davenport in ord er
to hold the crowds which will want
to see the Islanders and the ProdigaIs
clash for the first games since the
schedule opened From the way both
cities are drawing. it is more than
likely that new record will be set
on the three days games Memorial
day, there will be two games here, one
in the morning and the other in the
afternoon