FOREST AND STREAM. 



the hounds. A' all! there is a commotion in the br'ish 

 over. by that stump now. No fawn this time. A crash in 

 the thicket, and out rushes like the wind an old grey- 

 haired monarch, plunging like lightning right by my 

 wondering and bewildered vision, and myself powerless to 

 raise an arm to stop him. In an instant, however, Richard 

 is himself again, and I send a wild shot after him. He is 

 away now two hundred yards, going straight f torn me. I 

 raise my rifle again with comparative deliberation this 

 time. Ah I old fellow, where are you now? His heels fly 

 up, and turning a complete sommersault he lies still. The 

 shot had struck him behind the ear and entered his brain, 

 and in falling his momentum had carried him completely 

 over. 



I viewed my prize with a pride that I will not attempt 

 to express. He was a grand fellow, and his head and 

 antlers will remain an heir loom, I hope, for many gener- 

 ations to come. I now start to get Joe to help me in the 

 details of bleeding and dressing him. Hark! there goes 

 Joe's gun! Can there be another coming? I stop to listen, 

 but hear nothing but a faint, distant jargon, in Joe's pecu- 

 liar vernacular, and hasten to see what has happened to 

 him. I found him leaning against a stump, with his 

 hands pressed over his abdominal region, throwing out 

 curses by the bushel on all guns, and that gun in particu- 

 lar, which was lying in the mud at his feet. He was able 

 finally to explain that, after he had heard our shots, he 

 thought all necessity for shooting his gun had passed, and 

 he didn't like to see ic standing there cocked, for the 

 "durned thing might go off of itself, you know," and so 

 resolved to put the hammer down. In performing the 

 operation he held the breech against his stomach, the 

 hammers slipped from his fingers and exploded both 

 barrels, the recoil sending him fiat on his back, and as he 

 expressed it, "knocking his breakfast clean up into his 

 hat." 



'Lish and Bertham had now come up with the hounds, 

 and we passed congratulations and enjoyed a hearty laugh 

 at Joe's expense. 'Lish had killed a buck and a doe, 

 which satisfactorily accounted for his three shots. Bertham 

 had not been in luck, and all agreed that the Greenhorn 

 had acquitted himself with credit, but rather joked the 

 sentiment which gave the fawn his liberty. We now 

 waited for Buxton to come in before we tackled the sub- 

 stantial that we had brought for the inner man. He was 

 not long after the hounds, however, and while regaling 

 ourselves at the festive board, Buxton related how the 

 large buck that I killed was started dp by the hounds, 

 only a few rods from where he was standing, and he could 

 have captured him easily, but he thought of that "chap 

 from York who had come a thousand miles to shoot deer, 

 aud he wouldn't steal any of his chances no how." Who 

 says there is isn't honor and fellow feeling in the back- 

 woods? Indeed, that is just the place to look for it and its 

 name, when you find it— is" Buxton. Well, there must be 

 an end to all things, and the end had now come to our 

 first day's hunt. We all turned to and had our venison 

 stored in the waejon box in short order, which obliged all 

 but that "favored chap from York" to walk home. That 

 night a mysterious party, with glisteniug knives and 

 lanterns, were busy until midnight cutting up and divid- 

 ing the spoils, and planning for the next day's hunt, which 

 promised lively sport, inasmuch as bear and wildcat were 

 included in the programme. I find I have forgotten to 

 speak of "Old John," as I promised. He is a grand char- 

 acter in his way, but the length of this paper precludes 

 the singing of his virtues, and of his wonderful intelligence 

 at ihis time, but will come in with a subsequent account of 

 the three day's sport that followed, and which was partici- 

 pated in by Greenhorn. 



WHAT WE HAVE 



For Forest and Stream. 

 IN KENTUCKY. 



a 



E 'uns "claim that Kentucky affords as great, if not 

 greater and more diversified attractions to refined 

 sportsmen, than any State south and west. 



As a woman occupies greatest conspicuity in the earliest 

 authentic records we recognize her claims, and give her 

 merits precedence in our enumeration by declaring that 

 the superior beauty of Georgian and Circassian women was 

 conceded before Kentucky figures in history; in fact, 

 before the State was created. Now, the unanimous con- 

 cessions, so far as reports have been received, are that the 

 Kentucky women approach nearest the angelic type. The 

 worla knows that the finest and fastest racers on the turf 

 are of Kentucky origin. 



Our kennels of fox hounds have no superiors in speed 

 and staying qualities; our pointers and setters are as 

 staunch as the Dest, and in B. Mills & Son, of Lexington, 

 we boast manufacturers of as fine guns as any market 

 offers to sportsmen, no matter whether rifle or shot, muz- 

 zle or breech-loaders; and Meek & Milam, of Frankfort, 

 are the inventors and makers of the best reel known to 

 American anglers. 



We envy the fisherman who has never handled a "Meek 

 reel," but has the treat in store, for it will prove the richest 

 of his piscatorial enjoyments. 



Wheu we viewed in Government Building the Centen- 

 nial display of fishing tackle we felt that it was sadly 

 deficient when we failed to discover a Meek reel in the 

 collection; and imagine, if you can, our pity for one of 

 your New York gentlemen of the rod who confesses to us 

 that he had never heard of our Frankfort reel. We are 

 inclined to hold Genio 0. Scott and John J. Brown responsi- 

 ble for his ignorance. Our reccollection is, that their 



partiality is expressed for the New York balance reel. 

 Affix a similar balance to the handle of a Meek reel, start 

 it, and you have solved what is pronounced the puzzling 

 chimera of perpetual motion. 



But the most enchanting mountain scenery; and streams 

 swarming with bass, salmon and pike invite the angler, 

 while the abundance of deer, turkeys and partridges in 

 those regions render them the hunters' heaven. Bears, 

 panthers and wild cats are not unfrequently encountered, 

 and one of our clubs brought us one of the trophies of its 

 last hunt, a fine specimen of the black bear. The thrilling 

 descriptions of its capture caused an involuntary shudder 

 to us youx-ger hunters, most of whom never saw bruin ex- 

 cept behind a screen of iron rods; but the true version of 

 that monster's death, which slowly but unerringly followed 

 the club proclaimed it ignominiously slaughtered after it had 

 beeen entrapped by a native, who received a liberal pecu- 

 niary compensation for his favor. 



It is almost superfluous to add that the choicest article 

 known to chemical scientists of that elixir, which every 

 prudent and provident angler esteems an indispensible to 

 his "armamentarium" — "snake medicine" — is distilled in 

 our blue grass counties. 



The Kentucky and Cumberland rivers, arising in the 

 mountains near the Virginia border, course hundreds of 

 iniies through the State before they are lost in the Ohio; 

 our Green and the famous Salt of central origin, are no 

 insignificant streams before their tribute is paid to the 

 same. Those principal streams, with their numerous large 

 tributaries, render Kentucky one of the finest fields in the 

 Union for fresh water angling, though at present the per- 

 fection of sport is sought in the upper Kentucky and 

 Cumberland and their mountain tributaries in consequence 

 of the indiscriminate bushwhacking warfare which has 

 been waged upon the inhabitants of our central and west- 

 ern streams. The almost universal approval and observance 

 of a general fish law enacted by our last Legislature, in- 

 spire hope that the rapid increase of the game varieties 

 native to our waters will soon supercede the necessity of 

 drawing upon mountain rivers for delight. Moreover, our 

 State hatchery is in successful operation, and several 

 thousands of California salmon fry have been planted in 

 various streams. Should they thrive and "take to" our 

 waters, we shall be especially favored. 



After the completion of the Cincinnati Southern Rail- 

 road all tiie largest streams of Kentucky will be of con- 

 venient access by rail. Already, since the building of 

 that road was commenced, a hunter's paradise has been 

 erected at Cumberland Falls, about which is the wildest 

 and grandest scenery of the State. Trains on C. S. R R 

 will be run within ten miles of that wonder. The fall is 

 about seventy feet, at an ordinary stage of water, and the 

 pool below is not only immense but affords an inexhaustible 

 supply of finny game. The hunter will need no trans- 

 portation from the falls to hunting grounds, for a aeer can 

 be started at any time within half a mile. We shall leave 

 the attractions of that watering place and Rock Castle 

 springs, near by, to be described through your advertising 

 columns, as will soon be done, we have been assured. 



In the blue grass counties quail shooting is the hunter's 

 only genuine sport, except fox-chasing. Woodcock and 

 snipe are so rarely flushed that one in a hunter's bag is the 

 exception. Hares are plentiful, but they and squirrels are 

 pursued chiefly by old musket and single-barrel shot gun 

 sportsmen, who are principally of African extract. 



Many parties from every blue grass county go to the 

 mountains on fishing excursions in spring and summer, 

 deer hunting in the fall, and we call for reports of the 

 richest incidents of each through the columns of Forest 

 and Stream. 



With a hearty wish for an increase of that prosperity 

 which its late enlargement and new outer dress proclaims, 

 as well as for the renewal of our old friend's subscription, 

 and the contribution of a few of the "good ones" which 

 we know, he can narrate charmingly, we refrain. 



Kentuckian. 



SPORT IN 



For Forest and Stream. 

 FLORIDA. 



Putnam, Ct., Nov. 24th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



I have sometimes thought I would write you of some of 

 the interesting times I have had while shooting and fishing 

 and traveling throughout Florida. I was twenty-two days 

 in the saddle on an excursion from Silver Springs, in 

 Marion county, down through Hernando, Hillsboro and 

 Manatee counties, returning through Polk and Sumner 

 counties to my winter home at Orange Dale. One of the 

 most laughable and withal most disagreeable adventures 

 was with a fifteen-foot alligator on the border of the Ever- 

 glades. We were stopping at Punta Rassa, at the southern 

 part of Charlotte Harbor, last winter, and having made 

 some pleasing acquaintances among the hunters and plea- 

 sure-seekers then there, I was invited to take a trip in a 

 sail boat down to Esetro river, about twelve miles south, as 

 some flamingoes and scarlet ibis had been seen there re- 

 cently, and it is excellent hunting grounds for most all 

 kinds of game. I was ready at an early hour, and taking 

 a fiat or push boat with us, with a spanking fair breeze, we 

 soon arrived at the mouth of this beautiful river, rivalling 

 in picturesque beauty the famed Oclawaha. Sailing up 

 as far as deemed prudent we came to a good tie-up for 

 our boat, and launching our flat were soon paddling our 

 way up to the drift or passage to the famed Lilly pond, 

 where we expected the rare birds; our way was up a kind 

 of ditch like a path through high saw grass on eaeh side; 



we saw thousands of water- fowl and many large alligators. 

 Passing a small opening we saw a huge alligator lying on 

 the grass at the end of this opening. He was so large we 

 determined to try to get him for his teeth, and Adams and 

 Bailey were to try their rifles on him. He was only about 

 forty feet from us. Backing our boat a little, they both 

 fired. As the boat was unsteady they did not kill him 

 dead as is usually the case when hit in the eye; but the 

 creature plunged into the water and came directly for the 

 larger channel, where we were in less than a minute. He 

 was passing under our boat; the water being shoal he 

 swung the boat half round, tipping out Adams, Bailey and 

 myself. I happened to fall where the water was shoal, 

 but Bailey and Adams went over backwards into the very 

 middle of the ditch or stream. Such floundering for a 

 few moments I never saw before. Adding to the general 

 scare were two large moccasin snakes, which seemed to ap- 

 pear then and there among the crowd. However, the boat did 

 not completely overturn and we soon got in; but Bailey's 

 rifle and my Parker shot gun were lost, and it was ten 

 minutes before we reclaimed them from the mud. Too wet 

 and muddy to continue we returned to the boat, and per- 

 haps it was lucky that we met with the mishap, for we 

 found a canoe there with two rough looking men just 

 boarding her. They, as soon as spying us, as hastily left, 

 paddling down stream as fast as possible. It took us full 

 two hours to wash the mud from our clothes, and A.darns 

 and myself concluded to stay in our boat, while the rest of 

 the party again started for the little Lilly Lake. The warm 

 sun soon dried our clothes, and we slowly proceeded a little 

 way up the river, and seeing a flock of wild turkeys were 

 enabled to kill three of them. O such fine, splendid birds 1 

 By and by we saw a very large alligator, who, with saucy 

 imprudence, swam directly for our boat, and in his ugly, 

 wicked eye seemed to challenge us. He lay on the water 

 within fifteen feet of us, when I sent a bullet crashing 

 through his brain and turned him up. We passed a rope 

 around his neck and then put a few bullets through his 

 brain to make sure; and with hatchet and knife finally 

 separated his head from his body. It was as much as we 

 two could do to get the head into our boat. We shot some 

 parakeets, and four white and two variegated cranes and 

 one otter. Before our party found us they had considerable 

 sport, and quite a pile of ducks and cranes and one deer. 

 We soon got under sail, and before sundown arrived back 

 at Punta Rassa. The next day we planned a trip across the 

 peninsula to Indian river, and arranged for horses so as to 

 start the next Monday, expecting to be gone at least two 

 weeks. This we successfully accomplished, and if you 

 would like the journal for your readers I would give it to 

 you in my next, although I shall not tell of my experience 

 of getting off the horse some half a dozen times, and 

 alighting in as many different ways. Mostly, however, 

 getting off over his tail and sitting down double quick 

 Nor will I tell you of my scare when I met a panther, al- 

 though I had often said I would give ten dollars for a shot 

 at one. He was only about thirty feet from me, and on a 

 big limb of a live oak; and yet I did not shoot. No siree! 

 I didn't want aty cat — we had a cat at home. G-. F. W. 



NOTES FROM MISSISSIPPI. 



Hudson, Miss., Dec. 25th, 187(3. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



Leaviiig the "Keystone" State about the middle of No- 

 vember we journeyed by rail and boat to Northern Miss- 

 issippi to spend the winter with our amiable friend and 

 acquaintance, J. M. Lindley, who resides on his pleasantly 

 located little farm on the first range of bluffs east of the 

 Mississippi fifteen miles. As we came on the Pennsylvania 

 railroad we rode in the smoking car carrying our Win- 

 chester rifle and shot-gun by our side; but when we reached 

 Pittsburg and changed to the "Pan Handle" route, the 

 conductor ordered the guns put in the baggage car. The 

 baggage master being busy changing the baggage only, in- 

 quired if we were going through to Cincinnati, and laid 

 them down to one side on some baggage until he could 

 have time to put theoi away more securely. When we 

 reached Columbus we went out to look after things, as 

 they change both conductors and baggage masters there, 

 and the retiring baggage master came to us and said that 

 he came near getting killed with that rifle, to which we 

 replied that he must have handled it very carelessly, as 

 there was no load in the barrel when we handed it to him. 

 Then he acknowledged to having picked it up by the lever, 

 which cocked it, and when he put the lever back it put 

 the cartridge in the barrel, and the first thing he knew he 

 had put a ball through the top of the car. We venture 

 hereafter that that baggage master will handle a Winchester 

 with a little more care and discretion. After arriving in 

 Mississippi we took a few days' hunting through the bot- 

 tom; only saw one deer which, was too far off to get a 

 shot at, but succeeded in killing some fine wild turkeys, 

 which are very plenty hereabouts this winter. Deer are 

 not as plenty as they usually are. Black bear are very thick 

 in some parts of the bottom. One man over on Beaver 

 dam has caught four this winter in his log trap; the largest 

 weighed 380 pounds. Joe Keiser, a trapper near hear, 

 from Hanibal, Mo., bought him two of Newhouses No. 5 

 traps, with which he has caught two small bears, weighing 

 respectively 130 and 165 pounds. Bears usually go into 

 winter quarters here early in January, and do not come 

 out again until the last of March. The winter has been 

 unusually cold for this locality, and it is generally thought 

 that the bears have already housed. 



We have been around through much of the South, and 



