The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-12-02
THE PARK RANGER
His Work In Guarding Uncle
Sans National Reservations.
he MUST BE A CLEVER SCOUT.

The Indian, Who Is Master Of Wood
craft and Versed In All the Arts Of
Cunning and Caution, Is the Model
He Is Supposed to Initiate.
ITO be able to render the best sery-
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 the climate of
his locality"
Thus spoke Colonel L. NJ. Brett, u.
S. A., superintendent of the. Yellow
stone at national parks conference.
Colonel Brett is one of the most eX-
perienced Indian fighters in the ma
tional 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 a can
vas shelter effective against any
weather, rations ample for the jour-
ney, cooking. utensils, feldglasses, 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 a scout who must Op-
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. He who rides
the trail in perfunctory and aimless
manner is but joke to such men.
'"To 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, fieldglasses to his eyes, and
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
nf ho ~
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
eye must be so trained that even the
bending Of the grass would tell him a
story and would arouse his suspicion.
He should never build a fire by day
light in the country where he has rea-
son to believe the enemy may be lurk-
ing. At night, in some canyon or in
some sheltered spot where the blaze
can be seen but a few feet, he can build
his small fire and cook his food for the
evening and the next day. It is we'll
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 cannot under
stand should be carefully described so
that he may present this to his supe-
rior officer on his return for interpreted
ton When he is called to points re-
mote from his usual patrol route he
should indicate such journey on his
map by use Of his compass. He should
be careful to note the condition OF the
animals and whenever possible to
count those Of the different species for
the information Of headquarters.
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 III any way,
shape, or manner with the natural
fish on the surface of the water is a
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-
scientiously to this work are not COM
mon, and in their training if is Of the
greatest Importance that their facul-
ties of observation be cultivated to the
extreme limit. These men must feel a
pride in the work and strive to have
their section the very best patrolled
one within the park. We will not get
Il force sufficiently educated along the
lines that I have indicated unless We
all unite in systematic work and in.
struction, which cannot be too compre-
hensive nor too painstaking."
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