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v* 7 T DEVOTED TO VOL. VII. THE INTERESTS OF THE UNIVERSITY GE 1RGIA. ATHENS, GA., SATURDAY NOV. 19, 1887. A WIN TEH IN THE ROOKIES. Early in the morning we loaded our luggage on the little steamer U. ■ s . Grant, that piys up and down the lake, to carry the necessaries of life to the scattered ranchmen that dwell in the fertile valley of the great Flathead River. The moun tains were on fire, and the stroke had descended into the valley and set tied over the lake, making it impos sible to distinguish objects more than a few hundred feet ahead.— The forest fires are caused by the Indians, who adopt this manner of trimming out the underbrush, so that hunting will not be so difficult. This lake being situated between the two divisions of the Rocky Mountains, the Rocky Mountains proper and the Bitter Root Moun tains, allows the Chinook winds from the Pacific to sweep through valley with terrific force, lashing the lake into.waves of such dimensions that it i« 5 fio?%afe for even the steam boat to encounter them. Fortunate ly the day was calm, and the voyage was made without accident, and with only one interruption. About ten miles out we discovered an object in the water which we made out by the aid of a field glass, to be a bear. The boat was headed towards him, and we all eagerly grasped our guns. The animal soon discovered us, and began making frantic efforts to escape, whining plaintively, but the race was soon decided. When within about 30 feet of the bear, finding that he could not escape by flight, and doubtless exhausted by his long swim in' the ice cold water, turned at bay. As he did so a rifle was fired at him by some one on the boat, and he disappeared. We naturally sup posed that he had been killed, and that he would re appear in a few moments ; but after waiting some while we gave it up and headed on our way. We supposed that the bear dived, and as the smoke ob soured objects unless close by, we were unable to see him. We had the consolation of knowing that he would remember us for some time to come. A few miles further on we passed a large island, almost in the middle of the lake, that is known as “Wild Horse Island.” It derives this name because a few wild horses are found upon it. knows, as from the inhabited low they got there no one lie island is eight miles arest shore. It is also y other animals, bears, deer, moui tain lions, elk &c„ being found in limited number. We passed w thin a few rods of tbe shore, and it was our good fortune to see a bard of elks that had come down to the water’s edge to drink. There werp four in the band, two large onesiand two calves, a family probably. It was a noble sight to see the great bull elk, as with head erect, his nostrils high iu air, and Ids huge horns towering over him, “he sniffed the tainted gale,” with scorn and distrust of the approach ing foes. We had now come in range, aud jwe fired a volley at him. At the report! the cow elk and her little ones hurried up the bank aud out of sight;; but the great bull was made of sterber stuff. He retreated it is true, but slowly and iu good :, v .. 'I 1 ** -iiw.i turning on US as though he longed for the fight. Struck with admiration of his noble behavior, we suffered him to depart unhurt and without further molesta tion. The elk is the noblest animal that roams these northern mountains often attaining to the weight of five hundred pounds. I have seen then- horns that measured seven feet in length. To see a band of these huge creatures stretched out in full flight with their great antlers high in air, is a sight that thrills a true sports man’s breast with anticipation and delight; or better still, to come upon them unperceived, when they are feeding on the lichens that cliug to the rocks, aud watch them in their wild gambols. At head of the Lake where the Flathead river enters into it, we found some Kootenai Indians fishing for trout. They had their little birch bark canoe almost filled with the speckled beauties that they had taken. I had often read of the ex pert manner in which the Indians handle these canoes, and had sup posed that these accounts wereover drawn, but not so. I found that the half had not been written. In their little canoes, weighing not over twenty pounds, they dart here and there, more like swallows on the wing than anything else I can com pare them to; riding the roughest waves with ease and safety, where a less expert person would be certain to be swamped. These canoes are very easily overturned by a “tender foot,” as I found out to my cost, the greatest care being necessary to maintain your equilibrium. Our trip exteuded for twenty miles up Flathead river, when, coming upon a broad plateau that fronted upon the river, we pitched our camp, and began preparing for our work. It would not be of interest to de scribe the six months that we were engaged in surveying, as we had no time to organize huntiog or explor ing parties, except Sundays, aud it was out of the question to think of hunting on the Sabbath. There is one incident that occurred that is worth relating. We had been en gaged in our work all the forenoon, and as we were in the high moun tains, we became very much fatigued and thirsty. We had all stopped to rest, and were reclining on the slope of a timbered ridge, where, several \ hundred feet below us, in the gulch, we could see a fringe of bushy cottonwood trees. Tnese trees are I generally found on the edge ofj streams of water, and two of us cle j cidecl that we would go down and j see if we could get the water that we were so much in need of. Ac cordingly, we commenced our de scent, and reached the bottom of the hill in safety, and approached the cottonwoods. To our delight, we found a crystal stream of water, and eagerly threw ourselves prone on the bank to slake our thirst; but our joy was shortlived, for the water j was strongly impregnated withal-; kali, which renders it unfit for drinking. As we were about to start back up the hill, we heard an old pheasant in the brush near us chat tering aud going on iu a furious manner. Our curiositj'aroused we turned to investigate. We had gone but a few feet, when we heard a mew, mew! that sounded like a bouse cat’s call. The idea struck us at once that a cat had wandered awa}- from some of the ranchmen, and was after the pheasant and her brood. Acting on the impulse ( f the moment, we called out, “ kitty, kitty!” and stepped info a little opening in the bushes; and there, not twenty feet from us, stood, not a house cat, but a cat of quite another description—a mountain lion—with a pheasant under his paw. At sight of us, he raised his great NO. 6 head aud growled menacingly—bis eyes looked like two huge balls of lire as he riveted his gaze upon us. I now realized the power that these animals have to charm birds. I re alized my danger and wanted to (leave, and that badlj’ ; but at the same time there was something that ittracted and held me there. But [the spell was soon broken, for with li.wild scream he launched himself (straight at us, As he made the leap vo recovered the use of legs, but before we could move he lit between is, not three feet from either. With jf.yell that almost equalled his, we Lftok to our heels, my partner taking he way and I the other. As I ran looked back and saw that the bl ast was after Jack. I saw him make another leap, aud again jump fhort, and this was all I did see, for l| : suddenly occurred to me that I las needed at the top of the hill, Aid'so I went. Arrived at the top, i Wrrfrthmy story, and those that had glinsl started to the rescue, but on tbe v ay they met Jack, breathless and almost frightened to death.— The lion had made several springs at him,but each time he had dodged him, until he had finally given it up. So far so good, but we unanimously resolved that the next time we heard a cat in the mountains, he could go to the . “Tinch.” The class of ’88 will hold their Class Tree Exercises on next Wed nesday evening at 4 o’clock. The singing will be conducted by Mr. James C. Mell, who has been ap pointed leader. Miss Ellen Mell has kindly offered her services in teach ing the class how to sing the song, and the Reporter returns thanks to her in behalf of the Senior Class.— Let every friend of the University bo present at the exercises. All are cordially invited to attend. In giving the list of newspaper correspondents in the University in our last, we neglected to state that Mr. B. S. Miller will represent the Columbus Enquirer-Sun here durin" O the current year. Mr. John W. Daniel keeps the Augusta Gazette posted as to tennis clubs and other matters. A correspondent signing himself “Nap” has quite a long communication in the Constitution a few days ago. The nom de plume is quite suggestive.