The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-11
SOLDIERS HA We SOME
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES
THEY MODES7L Y RELATE

der, his secret, tasteless and odor-
less. Then he emerged to await
results. Long and patiently he.
with the shipyard officials and the
assembled and curious crowd, wait
ed and watched until ready to pro-
claim another failure. Wait a mo-
ment! A squeal! Another instant
great rodent hoary with age,
came out. No one molested him.
Of he moved. followed by another
and another-faster and faster
For four days and nights incessant-
ly the rats poured out and march
ed away in single file. Whittier
they went no one knew. At last
the long procession ceased. A mo-
ment more, a little scratching
then emerged two young rats with
straw in their mouths, leading an
old blind rat between them. Never
again was a rat seen in the yard.
The tramp vanished and with him
his secret.
But back to the tall timber; it
seemed to inspire him: @
Standing in the midst of some
magnificent pines in the Wind Riv-
er country reminded him of being
in southern Russia with his father
who had become a trustee and
highly esteemed forester in the en-
ploy of the car. There had just
been felled a superb walnut From
| it a log over 100 feet in length,
without a knot or twig, had just
been cut. So perfect was the tree
that the log was the same diam
eter at the top that it was at the
bottom. But his father was deeply
chagrined that in telling it silver
was sprung out at the base of the
trunk. He thought to break it out,
but so straight was the grain that
the silver ran on and on clear to
the top, and there it lay, perfectly
square and exactly four inches on
each side through its entire length
He was a Nimrod, too. Shortly
after joining the army he was hunt
ing in Indian Territory: his army
carbine was his weapon. Wild tur-
key were the game. But none could
he sight Discouraged and disgust
ed, he mounted his horse, fired all
his ammunition away TO amuse
himself by shooting larks on the
wing as he rode along toward
camp. Just as the sun was sink
ing a rustling caused him to look
back, and following, not so yards
in the rear, was a huge gobbler
followed by dozen or more hens,
all apparently mocking him in his
helplessness. Oh, for cartridge!
A hasty search of belt, box and
pockets! Only single blank
cartridge. But an idea, "I'll try
shooting my ramrod." Instantly
the act followed the thought, and,
said he, Quickly, but carefully l
aimed at the gobbler's throat, and
will you believe it,, strung II
birds on that ramrod and took them
into camp
At one time he was stationed at
small, isolated post in Wyoming.
Said he: There was little to do
and | was in command and l slept
late. / never care for early break
fast. My quarters stood alone. My
bedroom was on the ground floor
in an l. Just out the window on
one side ran beautiful brook
clear and cold. Quite as near on
the other side was one of natures
curiosities-a boiling spring. How
the two existed SO close one to an
other will ever be a mystery to
me. But | took advantage of the
situation. / kept in my room my
fish rods and flies. For my break
| fast it was my custom to cast out
into the brook and pull in a trout;
without removing it from the hook,
toss it out the other window, boil
it in the spring and then sprinkle
it with salt and pepper, which |