The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-05
WILLIAMS GOT THE WOLF.
Long Hunt for a Cattle Killer of Re.
markabie Sagacify.

TO THE NEW YoaK HERALD: You had
an editorial article on October 10 re-
ferring somewhat caustIcally to the eff
forts of II. p. Williams. one Of the
trained hunters of the United States De-
partment OF Agriculture, TO kill the Gus
ter wolf. an animal that has ravaged the
ranches for a hundred miles around Gus
ter, s. D.. for tho past seven years and
has killed not less than $4,000 worth of
live stock
You may be interested In knowing that
before you raised your voice the Custer
wolf had raised his for the last time.
Williams, acting on the order from the
Biological Survey 10 'get that wolf got
him, Tic news was sent to the Survey
on October IS. twonty-four hours before
your editorial article appeared.
The fact IS that II was not Department
OF Agriculture hunters VINO had been
fooled by this wolf for seven years. 1t
was ranchers who had been brought up
in the wolf country, sportsmen who
hunted wolves as pastime and bounty
cookers who wanted the money.
The live stock raisers had kept stand
ing for years a reward of 800 for the
through Ell that region tried to get him
for the .,ory of 1t and other men
sought him for profit They and the
ranchers gave Il up; said there was
nothing to do but board the wolf for
the rest OF his natural life. That was
when Williams. one OF the most skilful
hunters employed by the Bureau of Bio
logical Survey. was put on the job
1t was, perhaps. the toughest case OF
the kind that the Department Of Agri-
culture ever had TO handle. This wolf
had been hunted for seven years and
was wise beyond belief. His matc was
killed three years ago by Department
hunter named Bonnie Baker. Since that
time the old outlaw had not hanpered
himself with the care OF family.
When tho hunters got hot on his trail
ne left the country but returned when
conditions wore again comparatively
safe When williams went on the job
the woif was making kill every night,
but In different localities. Only twice
did Williams catch sight of him and
then so far away and in such thick tim
Der that he could not shoot.
on two nights when Williams had 10
be away from the ranch at which he
made headquarters the wolf visited it
and Killed cattle. ! mention that as an
iilustra ton OF the brute's sagacity and
just plain luck, and l do not labe! it fc-
tion, because il is vouched for as fact by
reliable men.
have no idea that Williams ever
tried the scheme you refer To Of hunting
the wolf to the leeward OF his apparent
trail. because, on trail that is likely
TO be a hundred miles long and to bend
in any direction. there are rather too
many points of possible concealmcnt for
one man, or a regiment of men, TO
watch. But Williams did follow at least
g part of your suggestion. lie out
guessed the wolf.
In this case. as in practically all 9TH
ers, the animal thought worthy of O
Government hunters attention was
more destructive than hundred Of the
kind ordinarily killed by bounty hunt
ers and sportsrnen. For the most part,
they get the pups and comparatively
inorrensive older ones. The Government
hunters get the desperadoes that have
defed. the countryside. In the same dis
trict, Wyoming, few days ago. Gov
eminent hunter killed Silver Tip, des-
perado bear that had destroyed thou
sands of dollars worth of live stock.
That is why the methods OF the De-
partinent OF Agriculture in discriminating
predatory wild animals have the support
of live stock men all over the West. Not
less than 100000 a year is saved
The live stock Industry by the work of
hunters. trappers and poisoners EN-
ployed by the Department OF Agriculture
and IT. cooperators.
/ think you commented on this thing
because you believed that the Depart
ment OF Agriculture is wasting money In
sending out hunters to kill predatory
animals. arm sure that in the same
spirit OF service to the country. you will
give the facts to your readers.
DIXON MERRITT.
u S. Department Of Agriculture, AS
sistant in Charge OF Press Service.
WASHINGTON. November 4.