Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-19
Braves Hard.hips ofLong 7rip IN Japan
Mountains to Hunt Ducks Above Clouds

Mr.. Iowa Duck Hunter. how woui'
you like to have the ,tallards cominH
In ut a rate OF sixty TO eighty miles al
hour above the clouds. to lead them
from eight to twelve feet, and kno"
that " they weren't shot at certain
point above YOU they would fall hun.
dreds OF feet into the lake below ano
YOU wculd never get them?
| Well, just this experience has fallen
to the lot Of one Marshalltown man
w II. Gilbert. fo-r1er president OF ths
Marshalltown Club. who. since last
June, has been In Japan in the inter-
ests OF the American International Cor
poration of New York City.
Mr. Gilbert writes very Interestingly
of a New Years duck >hunt above the
| clouds in the Japanese mountains "
| letters TO Mrs. Gilbert. and received
! within recent days. His description OF
the flight and scenic environment OF
the hunting trip, together with the
| hardships undergone in reaching the
hunting grounds. makes a most alb
| sorbing narrative. Z
"Soms Trip" to &c. Shooting.
Local hunters who think that they
are undergoing hardships and incon-
veniences in seeking the sand hill
country of western Nebraska for their
annual fail duck hunts or those who
pillow thru the mud in an automobile
for a day in order TO reach a northern
Iowa pass, will have to take back
seat when they read of Gilbert's trip.
AS all Japan takes a holiday from
Jan. l to 4. Mr.. Gilbert considered that
an opportune time TO realize his long
cherished desire for n Japanese duck
hunt, Mr.. Binder. secretary TO the
president OF the Edison Electric Com
pany in Japan, had told Gilbert of a
beautiful spot off the main Travelled
road, about $50 miles from Yokohama,
where there were three or four lakes
! that afforded feeding ground for many
ducks, and where excellent quail and
pheasant shooting also could be secur-
ed. Mr.. Binder offered to make up
party. which was composed of himself
Gilbert, Mr.. and Mrs. Wallerich. Of
San Francisco; Mr.. Moilliet, Swiss
electrical engineer: Mr.. Treichler, a
Swiss silk importer. and Mr.. Lind. a
Yokohama banker.
At $50 New Years morning the
party started from Yokohama by rail-
for Otuski. which was reached at 3: 30.
\ tiny horse car was chartered at that
point for Oshida. fifteen miles up the
foothills toward the mountains. AT
80 tine party reached Oshida where
two coolies, TO Gerry the luggage. and
a horse were secured, the latter for
Mrs. Wallerich.
Storm Makes Things Interesting.
Without some variety duck hum
is not worth much. and this trip was
destined TO provide enough diversity
for a dozen hunts. No sooner had the
male members of the party left Oshida
afoot, than terrific wind storm be.
gan to sweep down the mountains. The
regular ira il led across three lakes, but
the guides determined that in the face
OF the severe wind it would be fook-
hardy to attempt to cross the lakes
by row boat. This necessitated
twelve-miIe walk over a roun dabout
trail. covered with snow and ice, and
much OF il steep and rocky.
Rain set in TO add, to the dlscom-
fort, and finally darkness made the
u Sill diiIOSL INV SSpSNiuNg "sANt
IL led over rocks and step places
covered with ice. The last lake finally
was reached, but the wind was still
high and the guides refused to take
chances in the use of a boat. Four
miles more than were necessary. ana
around the lake the footsore and al
most exhausted hunters trudged thru
the darkness.
Then, to make matters worse. Mrs
Wallerich's mount slipped and fell,
| throwing its rider down into rayine.
II was 50 dark that il was difficult to
| find the woman. who was unconscious
! from a blow on her head Finally
| locating the rider and restoring her
| to consciousness. the party continued
its journey. The only way the members
could keep together was to call one
anothers name as they followed in the
| darkness. Then the jaded horse took
another plunge. this time throwing
| its rider downward and landing her
in the branches Of tree growing on
the side OF the ravine. Then the man
who led the horse became unconscious
! from sheer exhaustion and had to be
cared for BY the coolies. The guide in
advance Of the party finally reached
| the hotel, but fell in a faint as he
entered the door and was unable t9
tell the hotel people where the other
members OF his party were. At g.: 80 the
hunters reached the hotel at Shot,
their deStination-almost exhausted
after theiP long tramp, and too tired
even TO partake Of the dinner offered
them.
Make Up For II Next Day.
But the next day the Americans
made up for the lack OLA New Years
| dinner When one remembers Mr..
! Gilbert writes, that most Of the food
has to be carried on coolies back
for eighteen miles, and up 1900 feet
! over pass. and then down 1000 and
| up 1000 feet again. the meals and
luxuries seem the more Wonderful.
Il won't attempt to tell you just
what we had to eat, but remember
roast wild duck and pheasant, roast
beef. soup, tai fish, mashed potatoes,
string beans, green peas, Libby's Cali
fornia asparagus, Snider's catsup, white
bread, coffee, apple pie and cheese.
apples, oranges, English .walnut.s figs
and raisins Roast beef is the only
thing l didn't order on the list.
Imagine my surprise TO find piano
there. 1t, was carried ION mems backs
and was in tune. A tuner from Yoka-
hama travelled $50 miles, which took
him two days last summer. to tune it.
am sure there is not a home in