Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-27
CAMPING IN THE WILDs,
No Danger From Beast or Reptile IL
They Are Lot Alone.

L
They Are Lot Alone.
That wild animals prefer to let man
alone II man first let's them alone is
the conclusion of two authorities. who
have come In personal contact with the
denizens Of the wild.
1t so happened that when Harriet
Chalmers Adams, the intrepid explorer
Of South America, gave an interview a
short time ago, Herkimer L. Adams,
related to her was passing through
New York on his way back to his Ari-
zona mines. 1t 80 happened too, that
Mrs. Adams conclusion concerning the
fear that wild beasts have Of men and
the safety Of men in their haunts, when
not meaning to harm the wild crea-
lures, were also Mr.. Adams conclusion,
and he desired to give testimony to the
same effect.
Harriet Chalmers Adams bases her
statement on her own experience rath-
er than upon the records Of hunters
and the knowledge Of writer's. Mr..
Adams is also guided by his expert
ences in describing the tendencies Of
the reptiles in the Arizona desert and
savage beasts in the Rocky Mountains
of the early days.
| Mr.. Adams spent great many years
as a mining prospector before he be-
came a mine owner. This is what he
said about his observations in the un-
peopled country:
when I went down to Arizona
twenty-five years ago was quite ac-
customed to the thought that there was
no danger to a man anywhere that
was not frequented by men. I had no
apprehension Of wild beasts, because
had been sleeping five years in the
high places of Colorado, and had felt
perfectly comfortable after the first
few months that I slept out in my
blankets.
AT first I used to build barricades,
sometimes almost stockade, to pro-
| tect me over night, when was on my
way back into the hills, but this got to
be a grievous burden Of labor. After a
while when I found that my security
was never questioned by bears or noun
tain lions, which hunters since then
have spent much time in running
down, 1 began to lessen precautions
until finally simply threw my blanket
on the ground, rolled up in another one
and went to sleep for the night with
out a thought Of danger.
mo danger came to me. I used to
feel 1t near at times, when I became
accustomed to my surroundings, and I
have seen the shadow, even the eyes,
Of bear in the night. I also found
evidence Of his presence when awoke
in the morning, but I got 80 that
really felt sense Of security all the
time. Naturally, felt little uneasy
when I felt something was moving in
the thicket close to me, and sometimes
got up and moved about or waited
awhile to get an assurance that I was
again alone, but in a little while the
nervousness would wear off and I would
drop peacefully to sleep once more.
This may sound peculiar, but it
was not at all peculiar out there in
those days. All the old prospectors did
the same thing and presume they are
all doing It yet in the unbroken wilds
which they are exploring.
81. started to speak Of Arizona, par
ticularly, and I just gave that glimpse
Of my previous life to show you that I
was quite hardened to the outdoors and
to the idea of putting my trust In ma
ture. I could not, however, reconcile
the thought to reptiles which the feel
ing within me suggested were covering
the alkali desert like flies on a table.
Il had a sort of friendly feeling for
wild animals. I never harmed one as
one never attempted to harm me, but l
lost my nerve in the presence Of rat
tlesnakes, tarantulas, centipedes, scor-
pions and Gila monsters. was certain
my life was in my hands, and had to
guard 1t every minute with those things
about.
"V hen 1 first started back from the
ella river kept my eye on the ground
and constantly side-stepped. I expect
ed something to come out Of every hole
and I thought that a centipede or a
tarantula was lurking behind every
stone. I would have been afraid to
kick pebble in my walk, 80 I careful
ly chose my steps.
Il was surprised on my first day out
not to have caught sight Of q living
thing, not even coyote. I felt no
greater assurance for that when night
came and built my little fire, prepara-
tory to getting supper and making
camp for the night. I thought those
poisonous things were surely waiting
for me to get settled before coming to
the attack. I reasoned that they must
lie dormant all day, and that their ac-
tivity must continue through the night
and that hence would be surrounded
by goodness knows what number and
how many different kinds. I always
/ ldu DCflCNSup dhds hoSS ido bSSA
told that the desert was alive with
reptiles, and 1 thought that was he
roically Drawing a great and never
ending peril.
II had come prepared by carrying
the biggest pack that ever 1 carried. I
had fairly groaned under the load all
that day in the burning sun. A shrewd
Yankee trader at the Indian station
back of the river had fitted me out for
desert travel, and no tenderfoot from
the effete east was an easier victim for
him. I had the snake fear and he ca
| tered to 1t.
Among other things in my pack
was hair rope, and had enough Of 1t
to move house. This was to be spread
in curl around my camp, and the
limited area was to occupy was to be
inspected carefully before I lay down
my blankets. I had been instructed
about this. was to avoid animal holes.
snake holes, and above all, to keep a
| d;otopoa FROM, tho wo FOR hoIaa harause