The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-03-27
EARLY HISTORY
The LOST RIVER COUNTRY
Story of rapper during the indian Story of Mack
McCunlsey written by j. w Powell. five chapters.

high cliff of rocks, where large herd
of big horn (mountain Sheep were
quartered. So one day we paid them
an early morning call and found them
at home. We started for the tallest
peak in the range, the north side of
the mountain was covered with green
frs, but the south side was barren
rock. We saw several fine deer in the
timber but did not modest them, as
we could get that kind of meat nearer
camp. Finally we saw some old big
horn tracks, but they were several
weeks old and from the number of
tracks, there must have been an aw-
full large band of them that had
Ipassed the winter on the peak Here
we separated, Henry taking the side
to the west, while followed the east
ern slope of the hill About noon
struck about twenty fresh tracks
leading toward the south side of the
mountain.
| now acted with great caution, as
it is necessary to approach big horn
from above, otherwise you are liable
to scare him off and it is very much
harder to sneak up to him the second
time, so you had better do bust
ness with him the first time you meet.
Keeping this thing we'll in mind, /
advanced with great care. Finally
was rewarded by seeing big ram
about two hundred yards away, feed
ling quietly around, now the real fun
began. 1t took at least an hour for
me to crawl up to within one humid
red yards. Two or three were posted
up in the rocks as sentinels and their
vigilance was remarkable. OF course
could have killed several when
first saw them, but l wanted only
j those that had big horns. In few
minutes had picked out nice pair of
horns. He seemed to be the patriarch
of the bunch. At last l grew tired of
watching and prepared to start the
sport. AS he turned broad side on,
II drew a swift bead just back
of his fore leg and let her whistle.
He made about three jumps and
fell over backwards. BY this time
about fifty sheep were jumping "a
mong the rocks in all direc-
tons. l kept my eye peeled for one
with big horns. At last | saw him,
he was running along high ridge of
rocks at about one hundred and fifty
yards, and l fired twice before
fetched him, but big horn, with a
full head of steam on and working on
full time is about the hardest thing
to drop lead into that / ever saw.
He is not SO large, but he is geared
high. 1t is easier to shoot indians
on dark night with the fire out.
In few minutes the whole bunch
was out Of sight and could hear
them Gathering among the slide rock
as they raced around the mountain.
Going up to the one that l had shot
at first found that I had shot him
square through the heart. His horns
measured 20 inches around at the
but. The next one had flesh wound
through the brisket and a broken
neck, his horns measured 10 inches.
While looking at him l heard Henry's
artillery begin to roar, and in about
i've minutes the whole herd passed
me going for the other side of the
mountain. Whew, what chance for
the pot hunter, but as l saw no more
with large horns, let them go with
out firing shot.
In about an hour after l had
secured my horns in shape to pack
them, Henry came along with another
fine pair as large as any Of mine.
On our way to camp in passing over
a high ridge We saw big bull outfit
on the freight road across Lost river
and as we had been out of -four for
some time and had not seen potato
since the summer before, we decided
to go to their camp after some.
The only vegetable that grows wild
In this country is onions, and mos
quitoes. The wild onion is the first
green thing to be seen in the spring.
1t took us until midnight to get the
sheep heads in shape to suit us, as
We intended to ship them with our
furs and wanted them to be in first
class shape. Next morning we visited
the bull outfit and hunted up the
boss" We dickered for sack of
potatoes, for which he charged us
$14; we. also paid him $12 for 100
pounds Of -four. This boss was a
queer fellow. On account Of some
great affection he was obliged to
feed himself through tube, which
was inserted in his neck.
Editors Note:
Tho Ecpouo Joa SLoItou