The state herald., 1914-01-23

splendid youth. who smokes cigarettes while he
apes the manners and costume of his predeces-
sors. but who is often too idle to throw rope,
totally incapable OF riding bad bukjumper or OF
using effectively the revolver which he proudly
displays. In fact. II most OF these modern cow
boys attempted TO draw his gun at old-fash-
toned saloon gathering in 'wde-open" town OF
the west before he could touch the trigger he
would have been as full of lead plum pud-
ding Is full of raisins. For, alas! the glory and
glamour OF the wild west has departed forever.
First came the numbering wagons with their
hardy owners. emlgrants and hunters race OF
men. SCARED and weather beaten, fighting their
way grimly. inch by inch. to open the new Edo
RADIO Foot by foot they drove the Indians and
game before them. and for years barely held their
own In these unknown lands. Then came that
mighty factor. steam. and the steel roads with
their hleh.powered locomotives, today conveying
the settlers tourists In few hours across those
once desoate prairies TO traverse which once took
the old pioneer as many weeks to accomplish
In consequence. he who today sets out In quest
OF sport through such country Wyoming
must be prepared for series of rude shocks II he
hopes TO lind anything approaching the state OF
affairs there about which he has read In the books
OF his youth.
The splendid buffalo is extinct: but a few de.
cAyed bones relies OF n skull the last traces OF
animal which roamed in countless thousands
over the prairies. and were wantonly extermnated
settlers to make way for their cattle The curious
pronghorn antelope also has almost been wiped
out In these district But the saddest OF all. per.
haps, is TO see the present state to which the
finest deer earth the American wapit. has
been reduced This noble beast, which was for.
merly a denEen OF the open country. has been
driven To seek refuge In the densest forests Here
It Is hard indeed for any number OF them to oh.
tain sufficient food. and In consequence the type
and size OF their antlers shows marked depre-
citation In modern years, As every one knows a
harbor OF refuge has been found for them by the
United States government In the Yellowstone
pArk and here the tourist may see, face TO face
grazing In bands the scmi.tame remnants OF tho
once vast herds OF wnpit. Outside this sanctuary.
on every side. M soon ns the season opens. each
valley or pass which leads from the Yellowstone
20 the surrounding country Ia peoped with NO
called Eportmen. or meat-hunters all camped and
waiting for those unwnry animals which may roam
beyond the confines OF their reservation.
In these outlying districts. where few Gun.
ming bands Of whpti still survive, they have en-
trey changed their habits during the early part
Of the season Formerly the herds would be
found grazing. or roaming through tho lowlying
open parks while throughout the day and night
the forests would echo TO that mclodious whiHtling
call OF the bulls, Bu, today. n n hunter seeks the
socnlled American elk" he must pcrforcs look In
different places to those frcquented by the old
time hunters Far up. on tn. very edge OF III.
mountain sheep among steep orags and on the
verge Of snowlin.. we now md the few survivors,
Of IN. splendid animals. And no terrified are they
by the constant presence OF their natural enemy
man. with his innumerablc camp nros and at
tendant noiana that the bulls seldom dare give
utterancs TO their challenging calls SO true In
this that tho writer after spending many weeks
during the past season In the wilds OF Wyoming
only heard n wapiti whistling on two occasions.
and. moreover throughout this period only saw
one head worth shooting at says O. u Radclyne
In Country Life. II In truc this a noble head.
and ono OF tho finest hrough, out OF that country
for some time past but the capture OF this head
enthiled many weeks Of hard work many scores
Of miiea travelling, and many thousands OF feet
hard climbing. in a country which a few yearr ago
was taemins with good heads
In ,he same way the boarn and blghorn sheep
OF the Rocky fnounthina have almost become
thing OF tho past Even the very humorous mule