The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-09

. Tree anu DCSdl investigating ILL
ground.
THE entire park was as full Of elk
tracks as a barnyard is Of cattle
tracks. Seeing where tree had been
freshly turned over | investigated and
found unmistakable evidences Of a
big elk planting his hoofs in the soft
ground and bowling the tree over by
main strength, planning its fall so
that it would dam up little thread
of water and form a pool that would
give him a wallow. The tree was sew
eral inches in diameter. It did not
fall as the old bull wanted it to, and
the tracks in the mud showed where
he had attempted to roll it into place,
but he was not heavy enough to do so.
"The tracks told an interesting
story and were proof positive that the
elk Of the Madison county mountains
can reason. This wise old bull had
taken bee line to another park close
by and summoned a number Of other
elk to help him, and upon my word
you could see the horn prints OF at
least five other bulls in the soft
ground where they had assisted III
roofing that tree around so that 1t
would jam the stream and afford
wallow which he could enjoy in COM
fort.
"But this old bull was crafty an
imal. He wanted the wallow all to
himself. A desperate fight ensued
and the big bull came off champion,
IS trails of elk going at big gallop
from the battle ground in all direc-
tions showed how they had been put
to flight.
"Naturally I surveyed the ground
with interest, trying to decide which
elk would follow in an attempt to
get some meat. The tracks were the
freshest I had seen for days and
showed that the battle royal had oc-
Cured only few hours before. While
I was studying l heard a noise Of an
animal trotting through the woods
and Immediately threw my rifle in
readiness.
"Scarcely had I done so when the
biggest elk I ever saw, came trOttlng
out into the opening, snortlng DELI
ance and wanting more fight. It was
the old bull, returning from chasing
from the scene the last Of the dispu-
tants to the right Of the wallow. He
had his fighting blood up, thought he
could whip anything that walked and
he Immediately charged ME. Luckily
I made a centre shot and true hit
and sent a bullet into his body near
the heart. I was careful to shoot so |
would not spoil his head, which was
the finest ever saw. The shot [ gave
him would have stopped a running
grizzly, but this old elk would not
quit. Then the shell stuck IN my
gun, and after frantically trying to
work the lever for a few seconds l
turned and ran to the shelter OF big
pine tree. behind which took refuge
and which I tried to climb.
1.-THE climbing was desperate at
tempt and naturally a failure. Then
the cold sweat broke out all over me
and thought I was meat for that old
bull elk. Just then a change came in
his attitude. His eyes became CLASSY
and his head dropped, while his stur-
dy legs began to weaken. Just as l
could feel his hot breath against my
body as I still attempted to climb the
tree the big brute crumpled up IN
bunch and died.
"It was the biggest elk ever killed
in Montana. The carcass weighed
more than 900 pounds, including the
head and horns. We had to haul it
out on travois specially constructed,
and we were three days getting it to
a point where We could load him up
on a wagon. It was really a shame to
kill this brute, but have never heard
Of an elk Of such intelligence that he
could make his own wallow and rea-
lize that numbers meant strength
when it comes to moving big tree
and that to the animal with brains to
plan a job belong the spoils.'