330 



- FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Novmbib 24, 1881. 



"SOME OLD GUNS THAT I HAVE SHOT." 



LIKE all his articles in the Fobmt and Stbkam, St. Clair's 

 p p^r in your is»ue of Sept. 29ih, headed " Some Old 

 Guns Tual I Have Shot," was good ; and his touching allu- 

 sion to the friends and companions of his boyhood days 

 doubtless went home to the hearts of many Southern readers. 

 You see so many of ok have la-en through the same experiences. 

 Like " St. Clair," I was brought up with the other little 

 niggers, ant i learned to call an old negro woman "Mammy," 

 which 1 kept up nil I wasa "great big boy." And whin I 

 meet her uow (she is n servant iu our aunt's family) I take 

 off my hat, offer her my hand and call her "Aunt Lucy ;" 

 andobe calls me Mars William, (for master,) as in the good 

 old antebellum days. 



What a perfect picture "St. Clair" paints of the life of 

 the Southern sportsman before the war ! 



It carries me back lo the good old ante bellum days of 

 long, long ago, and awakens many fond recollections of the 

 past, and I feel like offering my hand to St. Clair. 



As Robert Bnrna said of the many pleasant moments spent 

 with his " Highland Mary t" 



Still o'er those* scenes my memory wakos 



And fondly nroodd with miser care ; 

 Tune bin the impression deeper makes 



As streams their channels deeper wear. 



I was alike imerested and amused with St. Clair's discrip- 

 tion ot his cane-gun. I have " been here," too ; but perhaps 

 ■we had ihe advantage of St. Clair, as an older brother and 

 myself bad access to a set of tools that enabled us to give our 

 guns the finishiug touches. We would take a soft piece of 

 poplar timber and soon fashion it in the shape of a pistol. 

 Then we would take a gauge and cut a trench in it the whole 

 length of the barrel, and into this we would put one joint of 

 a ciine, which was fastened to the stock with leather strips 

 securely tacked. The idea was not altogether original with 

 us. In an evil hour, our falher, to satisfy our craving for a 

 "sure enough" pistol, made us one. Little did he dream of 

 the clandestine raids we would make on his powder canister 

 to keep our pistol booming! Hide it? Xes; but it was 

 useless. We would search the house from cellar to garret 

 till we found it. But we grew ambitious. A pistol that only 

 shot once would not do — we must have one that would rattle 

 away five or Bis limes. The Colt revolver was just beiDg 

 introduced then, and we said we must have one too that 

 shot five times. And we were not long in getting one up, as 

 the sequel wili show. Like "St. Clair," after first selecting 

 ■with great care the joint of a cane that we thought world 

 bear considerable strain and kick up a big racket, we made a 

 small hole at the bottom ol ihe joint for a touch-bole. Then 

 we put in a charge of powder, then wadding, and then shot 

 and wadding. We then made another touch-hole even with 

 the wadding on the shot, thtn another load as before, and so 

 on until we put in five loads, by which lime our pistol was 

 Dhuck full irom breech to muzzle. Our idea was to prime 

 the first load at the muzzle, apply a live coal to it, discharge 

 it, and so on all Ihe way down. We expected to fire all the 

 loads one by one, with great rapidity. The modern Win- 

 chester repeater is a toy compared to our weapon, and our 

 owu invention. It would not do to let aoy one see it. We 

 might get a rjati nt on it. Who knew ? We decided to lest 

 our weapon. It woula not do to practice wilh it publicly. 

 People might learn the secret of its mechauism. Then they 

 might warn to know where we got powder to load it from 

 breech to muzzle. So we decided lo have a strictly private 

 trial behind a negro cabin. I held and pointed it while my 

 brother burned the end of a small stick till a live coal glowed 

 on the end of ii, and then touched the priming with it. Dear 

 reader, many, ninny dajs days have passed since I was 

 Blartled by the booming of that newly invented weapon, but 

 the recollection of it is as vivid and distinct as if it were but 

 yesterday. It roared like a young cannon, and I did not 

 know whether I was struck by lightniog or a locomotive. 

 That was the lhst I saw of it. It flew to pieces. The loud 

 report startled the whole household, and brought our father 

 to the scene instantly. 



"Whtre did you get the powder ?" was the first question 

 he asked. 



And we forgot our little hatchets — yes, we forgot 'em — and, 

 forgetting our daily visits to hiB canister, replied; "Jim 

 Ivey gave it to us"— Jim being an apprentice in a cabinet 

 shop near by, and a chum of ours. 



vVe found that pistols macie of wood would not do. So 

 between us and three companions we raised money enough 

 to buy us a "Btire enough" pistol — a sicond-hand one. The 

 " thumb" on the hammer was accidentally broken off, and it 

 was with great difficulty that we could pull the hammer back 

 to a full e. ck ; we were rompe'led to go to a tree or fence 

 and prize the hammer back. When I look back now and 

 think of it, 1 wonder how a crowd of boys could load and 

 shoot such a mechanism without some of" them getting se- 

 riously, if not fatally, hurl. We dubbed our newly acquired 

 weapon " Old Growler " And it would growl, too. With 

 the chare es we put in it you might hear it roar ten miles 

 away. Sunday was our favorite day to practice with '' Old 

 Growler.' But we w< uld take to the woods, away from 

 people and houses. We were good Masons, and each one 

 knew the other would not tall. I remember one Sunday we 

 practiced with " Old Grower " at a poplar tree. It would 

 send a ball out of sight in the Boft bark of the poplar. We 

 were all greatly elated. We had been firing "Growler" at 

 hard, seasoned timber, and the balls would rebound and paSB 

 in cIobb proximity to our heads — zip ! 



Why did "Growler" perform so well at times— sink a ball 

 at times, and thru all oi a sudden fail to sink the ball, which 

 would come back among us wilh more force than "Growler" 

 sem it? We solved the problem eventually by observing 

 that when pa'cbing was used, and the ball forceddown.it 

 did not come back among us. Finally wea:pired to the pos- 

 session of a belter weapon, and my brother, who had become 

 sole owner of '• Old Growler," sold him to a companion for 

 the enormous sum of ten cents. We then turned our atten- 

 tion to swim m og. We must know how to swim, and then 

 we would all be men. Our hearts were as joyous and free 

 as the mocking-bird's that sils in yonder tree and sings so 

 sweetly this beautful October morning. His sweet carol- 

 ings reminds me of the 



that cheered the soul and revived the drooping Bpirita of the 

 lonely Bonnivard. 



1 could go now right to the spot where we would strip and 

 plunge into the waler. Ahl dear reader, the many, many 

 happy moments 1 have since spent upon the banks of that 

 clear, beautiful little rivulet with rod and reel, and dog and 

 gua. 



"I've angled In many waters, 



On many a summer's day, 



In many a murmuring river, 



By many a 1 angled way ; 



Bit the vjlce o> that brook has never 

 Lost Its patho- and charm tor me, 



As It ripples and ran- forever 

 To its grave In the mighty sea." 



Long after the heart-throbs cease that send the blood 

 through the veins in the band that holds the pen that writes 

 these lines wilt thou conlinue to flow on and on to thy "grave 

 in ihe mighty boi." Like the stream described by Byron, 



and nowhere as upon thy banks do the wild flowers grow 

 and blossom so beautifully — nowhere do the sweet notes 

 of the mocking-birds— those sweet woodNud warblers of the 

 South— sound so sweet and musical as those that inhabit thy 

 banks. Bibdo. 



Port Bayed, Tenn., October, 1881. 



THE SQUIBREL HUNT. 



WHERE they are much hunted there is no game so wild, 

 so sharp in hiding and so hard to kill, even when 

 hard hit, as the large grey squirrel of middle New York. If 

 struck to death, and anywhere near a hole in a hollow tree, 

 they will work their way to it in the death aeony and di>- 

 there untouched by the hunter's hand. The following lines 

 are a bit of my experience -. 



Leaves are drifting wild In flurries, 



Thro' the woodland dark and drear ; 

 Swltt the game bird Southward hurries. 



Knowing well stern Winter near ; 

 But the squirrel staunch remalneih, 



Tempting all the Hunter's skill ; 

 lie from swearing scarce abstalneth, 

 Shooting oft, but not to kill | 



See the banner white,* uplifted 



O'er the solter tint of gray, 

 As from tree to tree 'tis shitted, 



Quick as shadows, cloud-swept, play- 

 Hear hl3 taunting laugh resounding, 



While you search the forest o'er. 

 He from Drauch to branch is bounding, 



Glances showing— then no more I 



Where the oak-tree, widely spreading. 



Casts lis arms grotesque abroad ; 

 Oily acorns freely shedding 



On the sere and frosty sod- 

 Where the beeeh tree lofty towers, 



And seed maples taller grow, 

 There the Imp of Satan glowers 



On flls weary dupe below. 



From his nest-hMe, slyly peeping, 



Watches he the Hunter's eye- 

 Keenest vigil he Is keeping. 



For if seen he knows he'll die— 

 Patience have and seek good hiding, 



Till he fancies you have flown, 

 Then, with nerve and skid abiding, 



Shuot, and bring the ratcal down I 

 EagU's Nest, -Vou. 'I, 18S1. Ned Buntline, 



• The long tall, white beneath, looks like a flag of truce at times. 



HUNTING BABBITS FOR THEIR MEAT. 



THE other afternoon, Col. Houston Ruoker, Col. Geo. F. 

 Akers, Charley Hollister, Ralph Dodd and myself were 

 seated together, when suddenly the question of rabbit hunt- 

 ing was brought up by Houston Rucker, with ihe following 

 recollection of the first time he ever saw Col. Akers. 

 ,f George," slid Houston, "jou were sitting on the side of 

 the main ro.id leading from Appomatox 0. H. to Lynchburg, 

 the sourest looking Utile fellow I ever looked at. The snow 

 lay a foot deep upon the ground, and a cold, piercing wind 

 was blowing, yet there you were, with a scanty amount of 

 clothing on your back, and bareheaded. Upon closer inves- 

 tigation I noticed that your old wool hat was being utilized 

 by you as a foot warmer, shoes being a part of your toilet 

 apparently unprovided for. A couple of rabbits lay on one- 

 side of you, and on the other your Uncle Archie Mjoi's 

 famous hound Monroe, and Daniel Whittaker' s old dog Bryan. 

 I felt sorry for you, and would willingly have assisted you, 

 but for the sharp answer you gave me upon the first senlence 

 of my commiserating speech, 'None of your denied busi- 

 ness. 1 have just as much clothes and things as 1 want.' 

 Do vou remember the circumstance?" 



" Yes," replied George, " hunting rabbits barefooted in tbe 

 snow is no fun; but then when you have no other meat at 

 home, it's a clear case, and it was many a time that I had to 

 do it. But now that you have recalled to my mind that day, 

 I'll try and tell you about the chase I had after those two 

 rabbits. 



'■ Daniel Whittaker loaned me his dog, and a better one 

 never tracked puss ; when he opened his mouth, the sweetest 

 melody rolled out of it I ever heard, and it not only attracted 

 the people's attenl ion, but the attention, too, of every well- 

 bred hound within lis hearing. This accounts for Monroe 

 being along, Uncle Archie only allowing me to hunt him once 

 in a while. Ihe morning of Ihe hunt Aunt Milly told me 

 ' thar was no meat in de house, and dat Mass Bryan specled 

 sum company dat. day, sich as Mass Whittaker, Jish Daven- 

 port, Pardon Hammersly, Wash Hunter, and their wives, and 

 1 doan' kno how many'mo, so you must do de bes' you kin. 

 I ain't got no shoos to len' you, but here is a par' ov my thick 

 wool stockin's, deay'll hlep you mazin' in de snow.' 



"I got into my clothes as soon as I could, pulled on the 

 gaod old cook's hose, and after drinking a bowl of corn meal 

 coffee, sweetened with maple sutar, sallied forth, followed by 

 Bryan. Hardly had we got into the road than fresh (racks 

 of rabbits Were seen everywhere iu the snow, and the old 

 dog, in his joy at the abundant sign, sat down on his 

 haunches, stretched forward his neck, with head high in the 

 air, began a solo that many opera singers might have envied. 

 I looked at him in admiration, and wondered what would be 

 his next move. Befoie getting through with the first part of 

 bis chant, two or three half-breeds came up, and joined in the 

 chorus. Looking acrosB the field I saw coming, Monroe. 1 

 was then sure of good sport, for with those two dogs no 

 rabbit on earth could get away. Bryan now began nosing 

 around, the other members of the pack simply waiting for 

 orders to come on. They did not have long to wait, as the 

 leader opened, and with heads down to the snow, the others 



fell into line and the race began. Before running five hun- 

 dred yards they caught one rabbit. 



" Oil ! how I wi-hed it had been big enough to do for din- 

 ner, as I was nearly half frozen, though as it was not, I 

 patted the dogs and said, ' Now, ray lads, George wants 

 more meat ; let's go for it.' They seemed to understand me, 

 and began hunting in every direction. But game was scarce, 

 and it was only after scouting several fields that they found 

 «cent, and away they went, I hobbling along after them the 

 best I could, tbe stones and ice having alrrady worn the 

 bottoms out of Aunt Milly's Blockings. 1 was absolutely bare- 

 fooled. The chase by this time had grown more exciting, 

 and I, in my enthusiasm, became heedless of my bodily 

 sufferings and pushed on as fast as I could. The rabbit, tn 

 old stager, proved as wily as reynard. He would turn, run 

 into holes and evade Ihe dogs in every possible way. At 

 last they pressed him so closely that he made directly to- 

 ward Bill Bocock's schoolhouse and ihere for a while the 

 dogs lost him; but after diligent bunting found him in a 

 hollow log. They barked and kicked up such a rumpus 

 that the hoys in the school began tittering and squirming 

 about upon their seats, irritating old Bdl until he came lo 

 the door to order me away. Just at this moment the rabbit 

 ran out of his hiding place (being forced out by a long pole 

 I had introduced into the lo^) and instinctively took retuge 

 inside the schoolhouse. Th>m followed a scene better imag- 

 ned than described. Bocoek did not tear his hair, as he wss 

 bald-headed ; but he cursed me first, then the boys and then tl e 

 dogs and lastly the rabbit, and was finally compelled to 

 give holiday for the remainder of the day. I got the rabbit 

 number two aDd started for home; and it was going there 

 that you saw me. My feet having become benumbed with 

 cold I used my old hat as a warmer. I hunied many times 

 after under no'more favorable C'rcumslances, for when there 

 tfajB meat in the house 1 had other things to do ; or, in other 

 words, when I went hunting rabbits it was alwayB for their 

 meat." J. I>. H. 



Nashville, Term. 



■ » . 



SUBSTITUTES FOR PIGEONS IN TRAP SHOOTING. 



Editor Forest and Stream : • 



In the last few years owing to the way in which wild and 

 tame pigeons have been slaughteied from plunge trapa at 

 tournaments and club matches, on account of their scarcity 

 it has often been found necessary to use something else for 

 targets in their stead. A few clubs indeed have stopped 

 shooting at pigeons alt >gH her, finding as much sport with 

 glass balls as they wish, besides the latter being cheaper and 

 allowing more mom y lo be spent in prizes. 



On the Pacific coast and in "some parts of the South, the bat 

 has been used from the trap and seems to answer admirably, 

 its peculiar flight making many of the crack shots score 

 quite low at first. These bats are gathered from old barns, 

 caves and hollow trees by men who make a business of it, 

 their profit on the hundred being considerab'e. 



Blackbirds and sparrows can he used by catching them on 

 twigs and branches smeired with bird lime. Ab soon as 

 caught they should be detatched, their feel cleaned with 

 sand, and put in large cages or p>'ns. This would be an ex- 

 cellent way to ibin out the number of the Eugbsh sparrows, 

 which at present fill our parks. The b.rd lime can be made 

 from the juice of the holly bark, extracted by boiling, 

 mixed with one-third part i live oil. 



The crow, which covers in countless flocks the fields in 

 winter, has, to my certain knowledge, never been tried, but I 

 know of no particular re.ison why it shou d not be. Every 

 morning and evening the flight is seen going to and from 

 their roosting grounds in a long line that can almost be 

 measured by miles. Any one lhat has seen a crow's roost at 

 night knows how easily they could be caught then, no mat- 

 ter how acute their senses may be in the nay time. When 

 sprung from a trap, the well-known antipathy of the crow 

 to man's piesence would cause it lo flyaway from Ihe crowd 

 back of the shooter in a style that could only be chicked by 

 the best shots with a hard-hitting gun. 

 I have heard that quails are occasionally shot from traps, bul I 

 think Ihis as a practice should be d scouraged, because it w< uld 

 soon exiend to other game uutil iu time there would be 

 nothing left that < ogs could point or men shoot in the field, 

 all having been trapped for matches or tournaments. Most 

 of our Slates have forbidden trapping game birds, besides 

 the idea of shooling them from traps is something which 

 every sportsman should condemn. 



Of the list of inanimate objects used as a substitute for 

 pigeons, first in point of public favor is the glass ball. When 

 four years ago Bogardus i utt oduced ithere the shooting frater- 

 nity regarded it as a big thing, audit immediately became popu- 

 lar until at present the numerous designs of traps and ba'ls that 

 aie sold attest how well it has I aken a hold on us. Even in 

 England they have used it considerably, the matches shot 

 by Dr. Carver giving many people a cianceto see what they 

 were like, who had uover heard of ihem before. It lias in- 

 duced men who would not shoot at pigeons and had no time 

 to go out of the city for field shooting, to get guns and 

 take up the practice of breaking the balls, cften becoming 

 crack shots whpn otherwise they would hardly have known 

 the breech of their guns from the muzzles. 



Among ihe different kinds of target balls manufactured, in- 

 cluding the soluble, plaster, glass, rubber, smoking, feather- 

 filled and sanded, 1 think for ordinary purposes the plain 

 glass ball iB as good as any ; for special shooting, however, 

 the others are often vi ry useful. 



In the way of traps, the rotary give a great varii ty of 

 shots, but sometimes throw balls back into the face of the 

 shooler, which is unlike any sort of game shooting. There ifl 

 a knack acquired by skillful shots to watch itas the arm re- 

 volves, and to call "pull" in time to give l hem tlw ball in 

 any position they wish. The ordinary screened trap that can 

 be set to throw straight away and quartering shots, is a great 

 deal more like birds in the field, and ihe new style of using 

 five of them in imitation of English ground traps is a still 

 greater improvement 



Before the glass ball came into use, only a stick with psper 

 wings known as tbe gyro pigeon could take the place of live 

 birds; a modification of this has lately been invented in 

 Philadelphia, that consists of a spring encased in a paper ie- 

 pre en tation of pigeon, but which really looks somethiig 

 like a fish; the whole thing is thrown from a suitable trap. 



In England, Holland & Holland have brought out on tbe 

 market an apparatus in the shape of a pigi on, made of a 

 light iron frame ; inside of this is a glass ball which breaks 

 whenever the shot srikes it through the frame, the latter of 

 course being thick enough to remain uninjured. There were 

 also made solid sheet-iron pigeons to be dipped in white- 

 wash after every shot striking them, in order to remove 

 the marks. To make these iron pigeons go, they axe at- 



