b"THE OLD STORYTELLERMemories of Tonto RimZane Grey and the Bear HunterBy Hank Sheffer, The Old Storyteller and Billy White Bird HaughtTHE DAY WAS SEPTEMBER 14, 1918. It was a very special day and turned out to be one of the most pleasing and gratifying times in the life of Granddad and all the Haught family. I t shouldnt take more than two or three hours to getThat night after the camp was set up they all rode into over to the main road. I hope Mr. Grey gets heretown. Zane Grey was not a man after gloryall he had todaythe waiting is killing me. I want to get homein mind was reaching the Tonto Rim and peace. It was as soon as I can to start planning some real trips forfor that reason that Granddad and Mr. Grey did not those people. They are coming a long way over roughstay in town long. They returned to camp. These two country just to get here, though I must admit, not nearmen were becoming harder and faster friends with as rough as whats coming up in the future. Granddadevery word that passed between them. As the two men chuckled to himself. reached camp they looked back towards town. They could see the dim flickering kerosene lamp coming from Granddad told the family the night before, We arethe Piper Saloon. The voices of the men talking broke going to cross over the Highline Trail tomorrow. the silence of the otherwise quiet evening. I imagine my This was the trail blazed by General Cook along thebunch will be up quite a while tonight. There hasnt been base of the Tonto Rim to Verde Valley. Zane Grey andtoo much time to playweve been working hard to get his party were coming into Flagstaff from the railroadready for this trip, said Zane Grey.down over the rim by way of Mormon Lake and then dropping off the mountain at Strawberry, just north ofGranddad explained they would get supplies Pine. So early that morning, the boys and Granddadin the morning and be ready to pull out said their goodbyes and headed off down the trail. before noon. The new road up to the rim was a lot quicker than it used to be. Down the trail, a little ways Uncle Edd mentioned thatHe continued that when he had come he hoped this Mr. Grey was as tough as some of theto this country the road was nothing characters in his books, cause the country damnedmore than a trail, just wide enough for sure aint for no faint-hearted, tender-footed people.a wagon and team to get through. He Granddad nodded in agreement. They decided to stopAbove: Grey with son, Romer. also said that George and Edd would at East Verde Creek and eat. Once they arrived, EddRight: Grey's wife, Dolly. be along directly as they werent much said, Dern, what a place this is! The area was nicefor bar rooms. Grey mentioned that and flat. You could hear the water rushing over thehair on an egg. He advised me thathe had wanted to bring his young son rocks making a gurgling kind of sound. After the mealunless you had a stomach lined withRomer but that hed been sick and his was over, Uncle George washed all the tin plates (andstove lids it was just best left alone. mother wouldnt think of him making whatever else needed cleaning) and set them all on athe trip . . . maybe next time. Where rock to dry in the warm sunlight.Everybody settled in waiting for the Greysare you planning to take us when we go to arrive.However, it wasnt until lateon our first hunt, Haught? Granddad said Then somebody suggested that we just spend the nightthat afternoon, along about five oclock thathe had run upon several locations where a in this place. It wasnt far from the road coming in fromUncle Edd said in a hushed voice, Listen bybear had been. Some of this country is really the north. We might just as well, Granddad said, andgolly, here they come. . . it sounds like a whole trooprough and rocky, but Im sure we will get a bear close tomorrow we can ride down to the Henryshot placeof soldiers . . . what did he dobring California withto the ranch to start with. Sort of break everyone into and visit a while, that is if anybodys home. They mayhim? I hope not, Granddad said. I had a cattle dealhuntingon this rim. Im gonna turn in now . . . my be keeping a pretty close watch on their stock. I heard,with one of those California sawbones one time and heback is giving me a fit, good night, Mr. Grey.not too long ago, that some of their cattle were missingcheated the devil out of me. I hope he doesnt have too from the lower pasture near the big spring. Well ridemany of those critters with him. Good night, Haught . . . see you at sunup!down anywayI want to tell them about Zane Grey coming to the Rim Country. That night as they layA few more anxious moments passed until Mr. GreyThe following morning the supplies were replenished in their bedrolls looking up at the heavens, the starsrode up and stepped down from his big bay horse. Imand the trip to the rim was underway. As they traveled were twinkling as though to say, Rest peacefully . . .Zane Grey and you must be Haught, the Bear Hunter?along Granddad pointed out where different canyons tomorrow will be another beautiful day. Ive been looking forward to meeting you for quite someran and where the cattle were running. For a man that time. Everyone was introduced around. Included inthe boys had rarely heard rattle on it seemed as though The following morning was just as predicted and asthat group was Greys brother, R. C., his cook, Tophashi,Granddad did not stop talking about his beloved rim they finally reached the road that Zane Greys partyand guide, Lee Doyle from Flagstaff. In addition to theircountry for the whole trip to the ranch.was to be using, they stopped to rest for a spell. Unclemounts, they also had brought five pack animals with Edd once again dug the coffee pot out of the chuckthem. This would probably explain why they soundedAs they reached Tonto Creek that evening the party box and made a big brew of the blackest coffee in thelike the whole 7th Cavalry when they arrived.With thestopped to rest and water the horses. The air was world. It was always good, but just blacker than Oldintroductions done, Mr. Grey then had a cup of coffee.getting cool and crispthe smell of fresh water Colley. Now, this wasnt Uncle Edds fault cause it wasHe said, Haught, I hear the game around this rim is verymingled with the ever-present aroma of the pines, Granddad that had taught him how to build coffee. Heplentiful. I am sure grateful to meet a man with yourwhich always had a pleasant effect on everybody. Few said to always use seven handfuls of coffee in the pot.talent as a hunter and guide to help me hunt and gathertimes have I heard a written description of the rim Edd asked him what size pot to use to which Granddadmaterial for my books. Im sure you will have plentyadequately fulfill what it was like.Zane Grey was a replied, It dont make no difference! Billie told meto tell me. They headed off toward Payson where theymaster at it. His books Tales of Lonely Trails and that he still drank coffee made that way every once inwould stop over to meet some people who could tell theUnder the Tonto Rim were as close as you could a while. Make no mistake; it was strong enough to putgreat writer a tale or two and to pick up needed supplies. get without actually being there. After an evening of 8 June 2021"