The "pirates and bummers" left some $35,000 in good greenbacks right among the most needy of these people. Many were enabled to buy a team, others to clear more land, more to increase their crops, and all to lay in provisions and clothing to meet the bitter winter we are now passing through, and this money did more to open up Emmett County than years of ordinary work. It put scores of honest, hard-working homesteaders on their feet; it increased trade, and, if sent by a special act of Providence, could not have done more good. Such being the case, can any blame be given an Emmett County jury if they required evidence direct and to the point before convicting? And in no case that came to trial was direct evidence given. So the four true "sportsmen" there in behalf of justice and humanity, had such a cold reception from all, that they concluded strategy beat that kind of work all to death, pulled up stakes and hurried home, and worked up the poisoned berry business. * * * * * Now, about the merciless slaughter. Prof. Roney estimates 1,500,000 dead and 80,000 live birds as the shipments, and then goes on to say that _one billion_ birds have been destroyed! What logic. I have official figures before me, and they show that the shipments from Petoskey and Boyne Falls were: Petoskey, dead, by express 490,000 Petoskey, alive, by express 86,400 Boyne Falls, dead 47,100 Boyne Falls, alive 42,696 Petoskey, dead, by boat, estimated 110,000 Petoskey, alive, by boat, estimated 33,640 Cheboygan, dead, by boat, estimated 108,300 Cheboygan, alive, by boat, estimated 89,730 Other points, dead and alive, estimated 100,000 --------- Total 1,107,866 This may be set down as accurate or nearly so, and 1,500,000 will cover the total destruction of birds by net, gun and Indians. The total number of nesting squabs taken by the Indians would not reach 100,000 and not over fifty barrels of these ever reached a market, the Indians smoking the remainder for winter use. No one knows how many birds 1,500,000 are until they see them, and handle a few. As an illustration: To buy and sell 125,000 birds in four months, it took myself, two men and a boy all our time, working from daylight until after dark every day.