The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-11-23
The PARK RANGER
His Work In Guarding Uncle
Sans Ma .lOnal Reservations.
HE MUST GE a CLEVER SCOUT.
The Indian, Who Is a Master OF Wood
craft and Vcrsed In All the Arts Of
Cunning and Caution, 10 the Model
He Is Supposed to Initiate.

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 the climate of
his locality
Thus spoke Colonel L. NJ. Brett, U.
8. a., superintendent of the Yellow
stone at national parks conference
Colonel Brett Is one of the most ex-
perienced Indian lighters 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 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 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 a 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 al hour with his head against
a bush, fieldglasses 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
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
eye must be so trained that even the
bending of the grass would tell him a
story and would arouse his suspicion.
HE shouldAnever 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 stoT
to cook.
In his moments of leisure wheI
resting he should make careful notes
of all that he sees and anything ou
of the ordinary that he cannot under
stand should be carefully described 81
that he may present this TO his supe
rior officer on his return for interpreta
ton. When he is called to points re
r mote from his usual patrol route b.
3 should indicate such journey on hi
7 map by use of his compass. He shoul'
] be careful to note the condition of tn
e animals and whenever possible +
count those of the different species 70
the information of headquarters.
ANY indication of sickness anon
r the animals is of the greatest impol
g lance and should be reported at once
because epidemics are almost as FRI
y quent among animals as among hr
man beings Interference in any wa,
n shape. or manner with the nature
o formations should be reported Dea
n fish on the surface of the water Is
dangerous symptom and would ind
cate fishing by use Of explosives. an
generally speaking any indication this
nature or any of her creatures hf
been disturbed should be given Il
'e closest scrutiny and reported to ii
4 officer in charge.
Ell MEN who will lend themselves co
scientiously to this work are not COZ
r mon. and in their training 1t Is of Il
n greatest Importance that their facl
ties of observation be cultivated to d
extreme limit These men must feel
pride In the work and strive to ha
n, their section the very best patroll
Of one within the park. We will not g
IN force sufficiently educated along
ID lines that | have indicated unless
all unite in systematic work and
struction. which cannot be too comp
hensive nor too painstaking.
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