Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1908 — PAIR OF ELK SOLD TO LOGANSPORT MAN. [ARTICLE]

PAIR OF ELK SOLD TO LOGANSPORT MAN.

Wilson Searight of Logansport concluded the purchase of a pair of elk from Emmet Pullin of Bark* tp., this county, last Monday. The male was only a calf, weighing 175 or 200 pounds, and the cow a yearling heifer weighing about 300 to 350 pounds. The price paid was S7O for the pair. Mr. Searight is a farmer and keeps a collection of wild animals and birds, and so does Mr. Pullin, having a pair of elk left, the male having been purchased from Lincoln Park, Chicago, and the cow is one he got with the herd purchased from Nelson Morris some years ago. He also has some deer of the variety that at one time were numerous in a wild state In this county. In addition to these he has three wild turkeys—the pure quill—but from the original pair has not succeeded in raising but one on account of their wild nature, and the fact that they steal their nests away and the crows get the eggs. Some wild geese complete his menagerie. One of his deer is at large now and no doubt can not be caught until winter comes on. In fact at this time its whereabouts is not known. There are probably very few persons raising turkeys for market who know the history of these birds. They are raised in all parts of the civilized world, but were originally found in North America only. When the white nunfcame to this country they discovered the wild turkey among the first things that was to supply them food. There were three varieties. From the Virginias north there was one kind—different in plumage—while in what is now Central America there was yet another variety. Those from Mexico were taken to Spain by the returning Spaniards and from there were returned to this country in a semidomesticated state, and the cross between these and the Virginia variety is the bronze turkey so common to-day in this country. The blacks, whites, yellow and other colored varieties are only Inbred, producing these various colors as a result of this Inbreeding.