The following article was published by Field & Stream, June,1902

 Murder in the Marsh

Of all the revolting instances of game slaughter that has ever been brought to our attention, the following, if true, is the worst. The crime took place on Lake Bistineau, Louisiana, on March 6 and 7, 1902. The details are to be read in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of March 9. Some excerpts are given, with our comments:

"Probably the record for the greatest number of ducks bagged by three men on one short hunt-certainly the highest record capable of proof by affidavit (some men can swear to their own disgrace) belongs to a merchant of Haughton, La., an official of Shreveport, and a man from Bossier City." In hope that these offenders will see the error of their ways we omit their names.

Forty-eight hours saw 1,372 dead ducks--pray how many cripples? These merciful creatures had no time to gather cripples, of course; the paper expressly states " the scores stood only for bagged ducks. . . The game. . . made a pile nearly as high as a man's head, and many feet in circumference at the base." We are told further that " The battue is interesting also as a test of endurance . . .All of them were sick and retched violently." Was this his conscience or collywobbles? "They suffered from intense headaches and occasional spells of weak eyes." No wonder; human eyes usually recoil from such sights. "The gun shoulder of each man, and the right arm halfway to the elbow, was black."

These comments do not voice our sentiments alone, based on a chance view of the paper. In fact, the indignation is widespread, since the clipping was sent to us from faraway Indian Territory.

Field & Stream, June,1902