San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-14
Authority on Outdoors Gives
Lost Hunters Some Pointers

head or tail out OF the direction, then
make up your mind that you have some
communing with nature, gather up
plenty of wood, and set the lean-to for a
permanent camp. Better this, of course,
if you are near a spring or where water
will do for drinking. There's one thing
in being lost and frantic and another
in being lost and knowing it-and car
ing not.
For the lack OF the match, the Ca
madam doctor nearly starved to death,
though he had rifle and shells. Should
YOU be caught likewise remember this
little kink. Scrape a handful of lint
from your coat or shirt, then find few
dry leaves and twigs. set these as il to
build a miniature fire, put the lint I'M
derneath, then extract the bullet from
the shell, sprinkle the powder over the
lint, drawing a little off to one side in
n path. Next put the muzzle of the gun
near this powder path, remove the
bullet from another shell, slip this into
the gun and pull the trigger. As the
fire burns, add twigs and small sticks
until the blaze is right, undress the
partridge. brOil it. What on earth
could any man want better than this?
Before going into the woods, provide
yourself with the sort of map that is
supplied by the Director of Geographi-
cal Survey, Washington, ID. c. This
map shows the mountains, swamps,
streams, gullies, roads and trails and
perfectly indicates the lay of the ground.
With such a map it is difficult to 60
anywhere that you can't get out. If you
find such a place, stay out.
Some outdoorsmen travel by the sun,
others by the compass, and some by the
trees. The latter is simplest but not
always so certain. Blaze your way as
you 60, and follow the glaze for the
homeward Journey. Simple, just as sim
pie as getting lost. There are some OF
natures signs that can be followed.
Fallen trees usually lie in the direc-
ton of the prevailing wind, the top
branches of trees have a tendency TO
lean in the direction of the opposite
wind and the bark looks darker in an
even light when one looks down the
wind than in the up wind direction.
Fine dictinction this and it may work
if you can remember it. The writer
tried to twice and made two guesses'
and was wrong both times.
Birds fly south in the fall and north
in the spring. Watch for those flying
high. Geese are the trucst guides OF
the sky. The tendency when lost is TO
walk in a circle. Avoid this by looking
at some distant object, walk to it and
repeat. At least this scheme will take
you from where you were and keep you
going straight ahead. Don't question
your compass. It's always right. Few
men know how to read compass and
all men. when lost, will declare the
durn thing is wrong, anyway. Mark
an \ on the case the scratch In y
means north" Strange how we will
forget this.
Find a running stream. If you can,
and follow it; there viii be civilization
along its course. The widest part Of
river is usually the shallowest, the
inside of bend usually is deep. FOrds
in swift streams are usually found just
above the riffs.
The top branch Of n high hemlOck or
pine points toward the rising sun, lit
tie south Of east.
Never go in the woods without
matches and emergency ratiOns, enough
for a day or two. Parched corn, fine
ly ground, mixed with raisins is sustain
ing.
Sense e direction is a gift. la talent
and the most important thing, that an
outdOorsman can possess.