Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-29
JONES AND THE JUNGLE.
Promises to Put the Lions Reputatio

Promises to Put the Lions Reputation
on the Blink.
What's the matter with this Buff
falo Jones person, anyway? He's
grabbing a perfectly good African
game-one that has kept space writer's
in cakes for years-not to speak Of
one eminent person who has been
burning up words at a dollar per
holocaust for some months past 1t
isn't chubby in Jones to go cheering
through the jungles, roping lions,
running the BJ brand on them, and
then turning them loose to lick the
hot spot. 1t not only puts the repu-
tation Of the king of beasts on the
blink. showing him to be a harmless
brute who can be tied up as easily
as a 81 calf, but 1t destroys a tradi-
ton. The next mighty hunter who
goes after the Tumbo record will
have to tell it to a phonogra phi. No
other audience would stand hitched.
There may and there may not be a
moving picture end to Buffalo Jones's
jungle exploits. A perverse and suspi-
cious generation Is apt to suspect
something Of the sort. But even If
there Is the facts are not to be dis
d
years. whoes life has been spent in
the hardest Of all occupations-that
Of cattle ranching in the west-who
can barely eat 81 or SIS worth Of food
at meal, and can hardly stick on
horse more than thirtysix hours at
a stretch-going into the African
jungle. and roping, tying, and brand
ing all sorts of wild beasts with the
same uncOncern that he would show
in venturing into the milking pen at
home. The chances are that when
he gets back it will be discovered that
he hasn't had occasion to crack a cap
at ferocious animal during his trip.
Lion hunting will be displayed by
him as a milk mild and sedentary oc-
cupation, to be recommended for in
valids and children.
That's Jones's point Of view, any
how. He used to be warden Of the
Yellowstone Park, and found that the
grizzly bears-protected by law in the
park-were annoying tourists by re-
fusing to pose for photographs. So
Jones took a large elm club and went
out and chastised the bears. He had
to tie them up to trees for the opera
ton, not because they were dangerous
to Jones-but because he hated to
chase bears on foot, every now and
then reaching a retreating rump with
a wallop. And when any one sent In
an order for a mountain lion, Mr..
Jones went out and got the lion with
a string. Just threw moose around
his neck, kicked him in the Stats
few times, and rode the lion back to
camp. All his life he has dealt with
wild animals in preference to tame.
There is more fun in it-fOr Jones'
not the animal.
A fine. breezy person is this master
of the rope. Born in New England,
he left for the west as soon as he con-
veniently could. In 1885 he got an
idea that some one should preserve
what was left Of the buffalo. In one
days ride he roped and tied eight
calves. As the wolves were following
him looking for a light lunch, he left
an article Of apparel with each calf,
knowing that the followers would sus-
pect a trap. He would have caught
nine calves. except that he couldn't
pry loose his earring. That was the
only garment he had left. He has
a ranch down on the Colorado river
where he raises buffaloes. lions, and
sandstorms in equal proportion. Now
and then he sells cattalO, too-the
product of a cross between the do
meStic cattle and the butfalo. When
he went into the business buffaloes
were a drug at 500 each. Now they
are worth $1.50O-and he has corner
ed the market
He isn't happy out Of the saddle.
He is all tanned leather and struc-
tural steel. He isn't a Snowman or
poet or a faunal naturalist or four
flush. He is just a cow-puncher with
a bug on catching bad beasts with
string. He doesn't like to kill, for he
believes that all animals fear death
and. anyhow. it's more fun to catch
'em alive. If he had any business
faculty he would long ago have been
at the head of some sort of Il wOoZy
west show with a box office annex.
He has the show as it is, but he fur
nishes his own audience. Now and
then some dyspeptic millionaire visits
him In the sand. and lives on grub
that would choke hash machine. and
come back tanned and hearty to tell
what wonders Jones accomplishes.
Some one else has to tell, for Jones
won't. He has fine vocabulary. but
he rarely uses it. Arizona is hot
enough. anyhow. 1t is not that he Is
coy or shrinking. He just doesn't
choose to talk.
He won't visit the Methodist church.
either. when he comes back. For a
different reason-New York Globe.