The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-07-08
The PARK RANGER
Me Work In Guarding Uncle
Sans National Reservations.
he MUST &c 4 CLEVER SCOUT.

cunnins and Caution. is the Moes
Ne 10 Supposed 70 initiate.
''TO lie able to render the l,cst scrv
Ice In patrolling the park RINGER must
be properly armed. mounted and cloth
ed He must feel that his weapons are
superior to those In the hands Of amy
outlaw to whom he may be OpIWssed
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. N. Brett, U.
8. A.. superintendent Of the Yellow
stone at a national parks conference.
Colonel Brett u one OF the most OK
perienced Indian fighters In the VA
tional service.
IA PARK ranger about to start on his
Journey, in addition to his arms. horse
and equipment, should have piece Of
canvas with which he can make can
vas shelter effective against any
weather. rations ample for the Jour
ney, cooking utensils. 1eldglasses, a
map Of his park and contiguous terri
tory, compass, notebook and pencil. nx.
first aid packet and telephone tester.
As soon - he leaves the ranger stat
ton he becomes . scout who must op
pose his wits and energy against those
whose life IL 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 b but . joke to such mem
ITO cope with such people lie must
learn from the Indian. who avails him
self Of every sign and indication TINT
nature or wild life can give. The In
dian never places himself upon the sky
line until he is thoroughly satisfied that
there b nothing within the range Of
vision to detect him. He will lie some
times for an hour with his head against
q bush. fieldglasses to his eyes. and
scan the country. and then again scan
Il 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
else-his enemy would not be there
but he Il 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
eye must Be 70 trained that even the
bending Of the grass would tell him
story and would arouse his suspicion.
"He should never build nre by day
son to believe tho enemy may be Turk
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. 1t Is well
for him to have enough food cooked
ahead 30 That he can remain on the
trail OF, In pursuit Of an enemy for for.
ty-eight hours without having to stop
to cook.
In 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 80
that he may present this to his supe.
rior officer on his return for interpreta-
iion. When he II called to points re-
mote from his usual patrol route he
should indicate such a 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 rs fire.
quent among animals as among hui
man beings. Interference In any way.
shape. or manner with the natural
formations should be reported. Dead
Dish 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
onicer in charge.
men who win lend themselves con-
eientiously to this work are not com
mon. and In their training 1t is Of the
greatest importance that their facul-
ties Of observation be cultivated to the
extreme limit These men must feel q
pride in the work and strive to have
their section the very best patrolled
one within the park. We will not get
a 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."
He HISS ons, Tee.
what do you think7 Her husband