The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-11-30
The PARK RANGER
His Work In Guarding Uncle
Sans National Reservations.
HE MUST BE A CLEVER SCOUT.
The Indian, Who Is a Master of Wood
craft and Versod In All the Arts OF
Cunning and Caution, Is the Model
He Is Supposed to initiate.

Cunning and Caution, Is the Model
He is Supposed to initiate.
ITO be able TO render the best serv-
ice in patrolling the park ranger must
be properly armed, mounted and cloth
ed. He must feel that his weapons are
superior to those in the hands of any
outlaw TO whom he may be opposed
His mount must be swifter and his
clothing adequate to protect him
against the rigors Of 90 climate Of
his locality"
Thus spoke Colonel L. NJ. Brett, u.
s. A., superintendent of the Yellow
stone at a national parks conference.
Colonel Rrett is one OF the most ex-
perienced Indian fighters in the IA.
tlonal service.
"a park ranger about to start on his
Journey, in addition to his arms, horse
and equipment, should have a piece of
canvas with which he can make can
vas shelter effective against any
weather, rations ample for the jour
ney, cooking utensils. fieldglasses, a
map of his park and contiguous terri
tory, compass, notebook and pencil. ak,
first aid packet and telephone tester.
AS soon as he leaves the ranger stat
ton he becomes scout who must OPP
pose his wits and energy against those
whose life is spent in the open among
the wild animals and who have taken
from these animals those character
istics that we know are possessed by
the fox, the coyote, the timber wolf
and the mountain lion. lie who rides
the trail in perfunctory and aimless
manner is but joke to such men.
ITO cope with such people he must
learn from the Indian, who avails him
self OF every sign and indication that
nature or wild life can give. The In
dian never places himself upon the sky
line until he is thoroughly satisfied that
there is nothing within the range of
vision to detect him. He will lie some
times for an hour with his head against
a bush, feldglasses to his eyes, and
scan the country, and then again scan
1t for any sign of human life or for
any movement among the wild animals
which indicates the stranger in their
midst.
'The scout does not remain on the
trail that has been beaten by somebody
else-his enemy would not be there
but he is taking advantage Of every in
equality OF the ground. Of swale and
the coulees, the branches Of trees along
the stream banks and the shady side
OF every ridge, observing carefully for
indications OF trails. fresh signs of
horse or any imprint of the foot. His
eve must be so trained that even the
bending of the grass would tell him
story and would arouse his suspicion.
HE should never build fire by day.
light in the country where he has rea-
son TO believe the enemy may be Turk
ing AT night. in some canyon or in
some sheltered spot where the blaze
can be seen but few feet, he can build
his small fire and cook his food for the
evening and the next day. 1t is well
for him To have enough food cooked
ahead so that he can remain on the
trail or in pursuit of an enemy for for
ty-eight hours without having to stop
to cook.
I'm his moments OF leisure when
resting he should make careful notes
of all that he sees and anything out
of the ordinary that he Slnnot under
stand should be carefully described so
that he may present this 10 his supe-
rior officer on his return for interpreta-
ton. When lie is called TO points re-
mote from his usual patrol route he
should indicate such n journey on his
map by use of his compass. He should
be careful to note the condition of the
and whenever possible to
count those Of the different species for 4
the information of headquarters. 4
ANY Indication of sickness among
the animals is of the greatest impor-
lance and should be reported ut once,
because epidemics are almost as fire.
quent among animals as among hui
man beings, Interference in any way,
shape. or manner with the natural
should be reported. Dead
fish on the surface of the water is
dangerous symptom and would indi-
cate fishing by use OF explosives. and
generally speaking any indication that
nature or any of her creatures has
been disturbed should be given the
closest scrutiny and reported to the
officer in charge.
Men who will lend themselves con-
to this work are not COM
mon, and in their training it is of the
greatest Importance that their facul-
les of observation be cultivated TO the
extreme limit. These men must feel a
bride In the work and strive to have |
heir section the very best patrolled !
me within the park. We will not get !
| force sufficiently educated along the
ines that | have indicated unless we
Ill unite in systematic work and In |
which cannot be too compre- |
lensive nor too painstaking."
He Has One, Too,