Evening star., 1938-05-15
The Gray Owl Is Dead
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Woo AOSClAIly ldlO W Ills luldt TcSC. 90 xdS
passed one of the most picturesque fig
ures OF North America. His burial place
is some go miles from any settled coun-
try. but an a region which he knew as
man knows the palm Of his hand.
The passing of the Gray Owl is espe-
cially interesting to the people of the
United States at this time because of the
intensive campaign of wild life conserva-
tion now being carried on with the aid
of substantial subsidies, not only from
the Federal Government but from a
number of the States. Some years ago
the Gray Owl began similar work all
alone, with no help from any govern
ment, but he died as chief conservation
officer of the Prince Albert National
Park, a jurisdiction of 10000 square
miles.
From an obscure Indian hunter and
trapper he attained position in which
and loaded with honors. He became a
writer and lecturer of note, as well as a
popular hero known as the Ambassador
of the Wild.
\ *
Gray Owl is the Anglicized version Of
his Indian name, which was Wa-Sha-
q ildult WHICH, also CdIl De
translated as "he who moves by night"
This curious creature of the wilds was
born As years ago in Arizona. the second
son of an American named MacNeill and
an Apache woman. NacNeill had been
an Indian scout in the old days of the
American border or frontier Indian wars.
MacNeill was killed in brawl and Gray
Owls elder brother avenged his death
and had to flee to Canada.
The Gray Owl was left half orphan
thus at IL years of age. Usually, it is
held, half-breed acquires the vices
rather than the virtues of the two races
that mingle in his blood but the reverse
seems to have been true in the Gray
Owls case. 1t seems that MacNeill had
been friend of Col. William F. Cody's,
known by almost every American as
Buffalo Bill. Hearing of MacNeill's
death, Buffalo Bill assumed charge of
the boy, and, finding him alert and
learned in Indian lore, gave him a place
in his Wild West show. He toured all
over the United States and even went to
London with the show.
Even as a lad, it is recalled, he was
grave and dignified. The show was a
living to him, but he always longed for
the Wilds rather than for the clatter of
showmanship. He disliked crowds. He
felt, however, strong sense of loyalty
to Buffalo Bill, the friend of his father,
and remained with him until his death.
Then, with an Ojibway woman, he went
to Canada, where he afterward lived.
Perhaps the United States had grown
too crowded, too civilized for him.
During the years from 1907 to 1914 he
spent his time in the wilds of Northern
Ontario. There he hunted and trapped
and. during the seasons, acted as canoe
man and guide for hunting parties. So
familiar did he become with the lore of
the great woods, so we'll did he know the
manners and customs of the wild life of
the country, that he achieved some repu-
tation as guide.
Then, in 1914, came the outbreak of
the European war. Although born in
the United States and having early asso-
Citations here, it appears that he had
transferred his loyalties to the Maple
Leaf and to the British flag, so he imme-
diately Joined the 18th Montreal Bat
talon. AS Gray Owl did not look
very regular on the muster books, he
assumed, offhand, the name of Delaney,
which was the married name of an aunt.
There seems to be no very full record
OF his personal war experiences. Al
though he wrote an autobiography his
interests are revealed as not being con-
nected with the war, but with the wilds
OF Canada. The war was an incident to
be passed over as soon as possible. But
the records show clearly that he was
under arms in France from 1915 to 1917.
Twice he was wounded and each time
returned to his command. Then he was
so seriously gassed that, after a period
in an English hospital, he was invalided
out of the army.
Returning to Canada, he resumed his
occupation of hunter. trapper and guide.
He married Anahareo, a full -blooded
1roquois maiden, and this marriage
marked vital turning point in his entire
career. 1t is probable that had it not
been for her he would be forgotten or
remembered for only few years by some
of his friends.
Not long after his marriage he caught
in one OF his beaver traps a fine female
specimen. His wife found the nest or
house of the beaver and discovered that
a litter of beaver cubs had been left to
starve. She insisted that her husband
bottle-feed these orphaned beavers and
raise them. He did so and, in the
process, turned from a hunter and trap
per, slayer of wild things, to a con-
server OF wild life. From that time on
all his efforts and most of his earnings
were devoted to wild life conservation.
He gave especial attention to beavers
and induced the Canadian and provincial
governments to assist in their protec-
ton. The place where he is buried over
looks colony of beavers which exists
unmolested by hunters and trappers due
to his efforts.
The details of how he obtained his
education are sketchy. Chiefly he was
self-educated. but he wrote in a forth
right style all his own and so intimately
did he know his subject that his work
had charm and sincerity which no art
could counterfeit. His first book was
Pilgrims OF the Wild" which took the
English reading public by surprise.
He was invited to England and pre-
sented at Buckingham Palace to King
George v and Queen Mary His presen-
tation was in suit of deerskin, his long,
black hair plated with leather thongs,
his usual forest garb Standing 6 feet 2
inches tall he made an impressive figure.
At the request of the King. he showed
at the palace motion picture he had
taken in the Canadian woods, showing
the wild creatures in which he had de-
Veloped such a strange, reversed interest.
X
He was invited to go on lecture tours.
which he did and met with great SIR