The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-03
BACK HOME AGAIN
That Topeka Hunting Party
to Texas.
What Became Of Deer Hide on
BOxcar3


In this case there is something out |
Of the ordinary. At least 3. r. Barber
Of Topeka lays claim to the fact ana
lon and NJ. A. Low and William X.
Smith and w. A. l. Thompson ana Roy |
Thompson and r. w. Blair-au honor |
able men. /
The nat car probably is out in Cal
ifornia by this time. Tackled in its kid
mapping bed 4 q beautiful specimen OF |
q deer slkin-one of the finest ever col- |
lected in the famous Fowlerton country |
Of Texas. In fact, to the above mem
toned well known Topekans. 1t u the
prize deer skin Of the twenty-th1rd an
nual pilgrimage to the land Of wild and
tactful game.
This is the way it happened:
william r. Smith, NJ. A. Low, II. p.
Dillon, w. A. L. Thompson. 9. y. Bar
Der. ct al, have just returned from
two weeks tramp over various and sun
dry parts of southern Texas They
went down there in a special car. armed
with special weapons and ammunition
equipped with the pride OF American
gunsmiths. supplied with all the neces-
stiles that go toward a mertted hunt
ing trip.
Barber Kills Deer.
Their first stop was on the Gulf OF
Mexico near Rockport where they
crawled on their well fed and shapely
stomachs. For three days they pep
pered away at wild ducks and filled
their bags with the beauties OF the
feathered stock.
Then they journeyed to Fowlerton.
about rs miles southwest OF San An
tonic. Here among the cactus. mud be-
meath and dismal, rainy, foggy at
mosphere above. they began q weeks
campaign in search OF quail. The free
dom of zoe. 900 acre ranch was given
them. The best horses in Texas were
saddled for their benefit.
Now comes the fiat car episode.
One day while roaming over the coun-
try for quail. S. E. Barber gave chase
to deer-a wonderful specimen.
Bang! The proud animal leaped into
the air and fell-a victim Of the true
aim of the Topeka insurance man. The
dignified party, representing legal tai
emit Of three transcontinental railway
systems, a capital city, and the leading
business interests of Kansas, all gath
cred around the distinguished head OF
the Cervidae family, and watched the
massive antlers sink into the wet soil
as the animal gave out it's dying breath.
In all probability, a thousand colors
Of envy pierced the hearts OF the six
Topekans, whose bullets did not bring
down the most priced of Texas game.
In the heart of one Topekan. glory and
haughtiness- possibly arrogance-held
forth. The deer was picked up, brought
back to camp, skinned. and 8. T. Bar
Der. erstwhile insurance official, then a
second Theodore Roosevelt In valor ana
reputation, swung on to the private car
that night with head held high and gun
thrown. military style. over the right
Tucked Skin ON q Car.
The next morning when the party
arose from the berths Of that Santa Fe
car-think of NJ. A. Low and r. w.
Blair sojourning in a Santa Fee car!
Ror Unn1dnsf Ira
Barber sound more Leather Stockings
Tales like missed his breakfast in or
der to tack to the bed of an adjoining
fiat car. the skin of that wonderful
animal.
The rest of the day was taken up in
q long tramp over the surrounding
country after quail. That evening,
again Trapper Barber stepped boomer
brakeman style over the couplings to
the bed Of that flat car and smoOthed
out the wrinkles in the skin of his prize
game. Not until midnight could he
invite slumber to his berth, despite the
WEAKNESS of the days hunt for quail.
Another Texas dawn broke through
the shutters Of the car and Trapper
Barber jumped from his bed. slipped
on his clothes in order to fondle and
pet the big capture of the twenty-third
annual trip Of the Topeka huntsmen-
Ye gods!
The flat car was gone! Leaping
from the steps of the coach, Barber
pranced back and forth over the yards
Of the little Texas town. Still no fiat
car In fact, not a flat car was In
sight He awakened William r. Smith.
who is solicitor for Kansas OF the santa
Fe railway. Judge Smith couldn't ex-
pain the disappearance of the car.
What should an attorney know Of the
actions OF switchmen and brakemen
and freight crews and the routing OF
maynard fiat cars?
The agent at the station volunteered
the information that q freight train
had picked the car up that night. But
he didn't know the number OF the car
or it's destination. Neither did Trapper
Barber, nor Judge Smith. nor ~. A.
Low. nor w. A. L. Thompson, nor r.
w. Blair, nor n. p. Dillon-nor Roy,
Yale's prize matinee idol
Proof of Deed Is Lacking.
All agreed that the car was gone
There was no dissenting opinion over
the assertion that the deer skin. also
was gone. And no minority committee
report was offered when it was suggest
ed that in all probability. both the car
and skin had disappeared
Here it is a week or SO after that
fatal neutrality-suspicious. mornfng-and
still the flat car with the unknown des-
tination and the unknown number IS q
mystery. 1t may be out in California
It may be in Colorado. 1t may be In
Chicago. It may be right here in the
Topeka yards for all anyone is able to
tell.
The worst feature Of the story is
that 8. E. Barber says he killed that
deer His friends on that trip-W. A.
L. Thompson, H. P. Dillon, M. A. Low.
r. W. Blair, William r. Smith and Roy
Thompson-they also say that said s.
E. Barber killed that deer. But Trap
per Barber doesn't have even photo
graph to prove it-and oh how mysteri-
ous is hunting story without proof!
Meanwhile, it might be mentioned
that the hunting trip was success.
Lots of game was found-ducks and
quail The party enjoyed wonderful
| outing. 1t was the twenty-third an