Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-12

live stock in the course of a year valued at
$1,000. The total includes 240 mountain lions,
each capable Of fearful destruction of cattle
and sheep. But the humble prairie dog still
occupies some 100, 100000 acres OF the best
range land in the Rocky Mountain region.
Prairie dogs destroy from ten to seventy-fve
per cent. of the grass in the districts they
if the rodent was cleared out, there would be
saved pasturage enough to support 100000
additional cattle, or 100000 sheep.
Victims of the Killer.
Some of the big animal outlaws tracked to
their doom by the government hunters have
had long and bloody records; One mountain
to have killed $1,000 worth OF I'VE STOCK In a
month. Another was killed which had a record
of slaying seven colts in the spring of one year.
A pair of wolves was shot in Wyoming which
had caused $4,000 damage in a single year.. A
ranch owner in Texas reported that he lost
nearly 800 sheep in a year through the deprada-
tions of six coyotes. Later the whole band was
accounted for by government hunters.
Killing the larger beasts, particularly the
wolves, in some parts of the west is also a
precaution for the protection Of human lie
and health, as they often carry rabies. About
1900 persons are known to have been bitten
by rabid wolves. and half a hundred deaths
are officially vouched for. Herds attacked py
these crazed animals suffer terrific destrucp
ton. ,
Biographies of some of the big beasts killed
by Uncle Sans rifles and traps are stranger
lar than animal fiction. The most recent OF
the well known animal criminals to fall before
these hunters was an enormous black bear killed
near Big Piney, Wyoming. Not only did TINS
DOWertul and crafty animal TdVlSn the uoChS u
sheep with great regularity, but took delight
in soaring the sheep so that in their haste TO
escape the awful fate threatening them they
the fleeing animals behind piling up
on those in front Of them, smothering many to
death. The worst trick OF this outlaw, though.
was destroying camps. Luckily he never reached
any campers, but accounted for many outfits.
tearing up the tents, smashing camp furniture,
and raiding the larders.
H. 2. Williams and Del Dearth, government
hunters, were ~stringing some traps in WYOMING
not long ago when a terrified sheep herder burst
out of the bushes. white with fear, and puhlng
like a locomotive. He paused long enough to
explain that The Bear had chased him out
OF camp, and went his way at high speed
and Dearth reached the camp as
the bear had gone. They trailed the beast, and
ran across a heap Of forest debris, In which
they found a side Of bacon cached by .Ihe
the only title the beast had. There were
no other bears to the Big Piney herders and
campers, just the one big outlaw.
The hunters went along the trail a little TAR
her. and suddenly the big killer charged them.
Three bullets were placed behind the bears ear
one hunter, and the other sent a shot
but a few yards of reaching them when he
collapsed. The animal was extraordinarily
large 70: his species, weighing $50 pounds, was
six rect two inches long, and his hind loot
liz by 6 inches. He was terribly
torn by a recent fight. evidently a conflict with
grizzly seen in the vicinity not long before.
Another recent animal outlaw to meet the
same fate was "Old White" notorious and
leader Of a pack of wolves that Tor
years caused terrlnc damage TO the uocho
around Bear Springs Mesa, Colorado. The
accounted for "Old Whites mate early
in tho year, and another wolf OF the pack was
hot, but the crafty leader kept out of sight
and stepped lucky in avoiding traps. But
finally a blind set of four traps proved too much
for him, and his twelve years of cattle murder
ended.
The mcst dramatic death was that OF THE
Custer Wolf" The most adroitly concealed
trap seemed as clear as daylight to him. He
would kill in one spot one night, and be reported
fifty miles away the next. Dead shots missed
him clean time and again. The supersutlous
him with a charmed life. He was sup
posed by the credulous to be not merely a won,
hut a monstrosity, half wolf and half mountain
opinion credited him with all the qualities OF
werewolf of ancient legends.
In the nine years of his outlawry around Gus,
stock valued at $4,000. The bounty on his
head was raised from $500 to $500. Pro
fessional hunters sough. him for gain. Sports.
Danger, and continued his career or CRIME I'M
The ranchmea tried 3 big roundup
too, and Williams, the government hunter. was
in to do the job, with instructions to
stick to it until the wolf was dead.
Williams located the wolf around some old
dens in the Pelgar Mountains. He scented up
the soles of his shoes. and started strlnging his
traps. He got his first sight OF the Won a11 hr
two coyotes. ranging from 100 to zoo yards on
side of him. These beasts he tolerated,
but would not let them come near HlLH. AHey
were welcome to his kills after he had eaten
fill.
Williams shot these bodyguards, and still the
big prize was too elusive. Twice the Won
stepped on the jaws of traps, and one night
rolled or fell into one, but pulled away, leaving
only hair to show that he had been there.
Once he cornered the beast in a canyon after
he had killed several cattle and eaten his MI,
two horsemen riding up gave the wolf the
alarm, and he escaped again Finally, after
another successful escape from a trap which
held part of his foot, the Custer Wolf" got
a trap last October which held him fast.
He broke the swivel and ran away with the
rap on his foot. Williams trailed him three
miles, got a chance at him with his rifle and
brought him down. |