Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1911-03-16

Qeep green OF JQe pines ana CeudTS,
making magnificent landscape. AS
we ascended the mountains we came
upon a camp of Siwash Indians, and
Judging from the number of buck In
dians with them 1t appeared certain
that they would kill all the game in
the hills, or drive 1t so far up to the
summit of the mountains that a white
man would not be able to get a shot.
We made up our minds to go after
the goats at the earliest moment, after
reaching camp, which we intended to-
establish at high elevation, because
the mountain goat inhabits the least
accessible solitudes.
The North Fork of the White River
runs through the camp ground max
ing narrow and deep canon of sew
eral hundred feet with the most exqui-
site scenery, consisting Of waterfalls
dashing over the cliffs, and through a
small meadow of stream grass and
rushes. Looking up through the
canon we could see the glacier peaks
from the foot of which springs the
White river.
Our guides, Bill and John, began
gathering wood for the night, and pre-
pairing supper, while Neil, Ross, and
myself, attended to the erection of
the tents, and a general investigation
OF our surroundings. Ross and |
climbed up a dizzy summit that hid
our camp from the main hill, to see If
we could discern any game. On
reaching the top OF the cliff we did not
see the sign of goat, but stood scan
ming the hills for half an hour. Pres
entity we saw white spot leap across
narrow opening between two clumps
of bushes, about half mile from us,
and we'll up on the range to our right.
Then we saw another, and still an
other, and then the fourth goat. While
we were watching these, a herd of
eight goats passed the opening, and
made their way leisurely down to a
slide, where they stopped and began
feeding. We saw that it was up to us
to plan our strategy to gain a posi-
ton above them where we could begin
operations.
The mountain goat is extremely eau
tious and observing, and when pur-
sued will never go down hill unless
when wounded, when they will often
hide in clump of bushes, or in the
crevices of rocks, rather than expose
themselves to punishment.
| have often watched a goat try sew
eral times to get from one cliff to an
other, that were separated by a small
chasm, which 1t could easily leap
across, but rather than take chance,
It would walk for half mile out of its
way so as to reach the other side in
safety. When hard pressed by hunt
ers it will, Of course, take leaps that
1t would not otherwise do in It's mo-
ments OF leisure. A goat, when pur-
sued, will climb along shelves of rock
on the walls of precipices, with appar-
ent unconcern, walking in places that
would completely shatter the nerves
of any one who attempted to follow it,
We had breakfast about four o'clock
the next morning, and packed our
lunches, loaded up with ammunition,
arranged our gunnysacks and ropes
on our pack straps, and started for
the hills. We agreed that myself,
with Bill, the guide, should work our
way among the crags on the other
side of the sheep and secure an ad-
vantageous position above them, while
Ross, Neil and John should get below
them and drive them up past the posi-
ton l would occupy Bill and | climb
ed to an almost inaccessible position
among the crags, overlooking the
canon, where ws could see both the
herd and our companions.
With John leading the way and
Ross and Neil following, they made a
detour and got below the goats, and
here they began to shout The herd
of five broke uD into two sections, two
Of the animals heading for the canon
that I commanded, and the other
three broke off in westerly direc-
ton, heading for a thicket Of alder and
willow, which offered them for the
time being complete SECURITY.
At this moment Bill, the guide, with
Ross, made a bee line for the thicket
the sheep We're heading for, in the
hope Of intercepting them, while Neil
fred his gun at the two sheep that
were rapidly approaching my posi-.
tion. The animals were socl within
range and, OF course had no duspicion
that l was located right above them
Taking careful aim, | singled out the
leading goat and fired. / knocked him
down and he fell on his side, kicking
furiously. The other goat was wound
ed by Neil who was in hot pursuit
and after falling to the ground, got
on it's feet again, and kept nn heading
!or the top of the canon. Signalling
20 Neil to 90 after the goat that was
lying on the ground, | took another
shot at my quarry and succeeded II
keeling him over, AS soon as Nei
got up to the goat had disabled, hc
put bullet through it's head, killing
the animal completely. 1t required
three more shots from my rife to xii
the hardy animal that was working It's
way into safety. | signalled to Nei
70 gu back and rojoin Ross and the