On another occasion, it is recorded that the prong-horned antelope herd of the Mammoth Hot Springs wandered across the line into Gardiner, and quickly met a savage attack of gunners with rifles.  A number of those rare and valuable animals were killed, and others fled back into the Park with broken legs dangling in the air.

In the interest of public decency, and for the protection of the reputation of American citizenship, one of two things should be done.  The northern boundary of the Park should be extended northward beyond Gardiner, or else the deathtrap should be moved elsewhere.  The case of the town of Gardiner is referred to the legislature of Montana for treatment.

Beyond question, the highest sentiments of humanity are those that are stirred by the misfortunes of killable game.  During the past thirty years, I have noticed some interesting manifestations of the increased sympathy for wild creatures that steadily is growing in a large section of the public mind.  Thirty years ago, the appearance of a deer or moose in the streets of any eastern village nearly always was in itself a signal for a grand chase of the unfortunate creature, and its speedy slaughter.  Today, in the eastern states, the general feeling is quite different.  The appearance of a deer in the Hudson River itself, or a moose in a Maine village is a signal, not for a wild chase and cruel slaughter, but for a general effort to save the animal from being hurt, or killed.  I know this through ocular proof, at least half a dozen lost and bewildered deer having been carefully driven into yards, or barns, and humanely kept and cared for until they could be shipped to us.  Several have been caught while swimming in the Hudson, bewildered and panic-stricken.  The latest capture occurred in New York City itself.

A puma that escaped (about 1902) from the Zoological Park, instead of being shot was captured by sensible people in the hamlet of Bronxdale, alive and unhurt, and safely returned to us.

In some portions of the east, though not all, the day of the hue and cry over “a wild animal in town” seems to be about over.  On Long Island some humane persons found an injured turkey vulture, and took it in and cared for it,—­only to be persecuted by ill-advised game wardens, because they had a forbidden wild bird “in their possession!” There are times when it is the highest (moral) duty of a game warden to follow the advice of Private Mulvaney to the “orficer boy,” and “Shut yer oye to the rigulations, sorr!”

Such occurrences as these are becoming more and more common. The desire of “the great silent majority” is to SAVE the wild creatures; and it is in response to that sentiment that thousands of people are today in the field against the Army of Destruction.

It is the duty of every sportsman to assist in promoting the passage of a law like our New York law which empowers the State Game Commission to throw extra protection around any species that has been slaughtered too much by snow or by firearms, by closing the open season as long as may be necessary.  Can there be in all America even one thinking, reasoning being who can not see the justice and also the imperative necessity of this measure?  It seems impossible.