FOKEST AND STREAM. 



195 



illy called by the hu-tners, and The Vagabond were 

 emptying cartridges with a rapidity equalled only by the 

 Turkish lire 'it Plevna, the elders were trying to find a, stick 

 with which to lick some sense into their rjfcg. Bui enough of 

 this; the result of the afternoon's tramp was only tuirty-iour 

 chickens, mostly brought down at very long range. The el- 

 ders discoursed something in this wise : 



" That was a mighty pretty shot I made near the corner of 

 that first cornfield, wasn't it, Cowles?" 



'■Yes, and do you remember the old hen I kno'eked over 

 going past at such a long range?" 



"Oh, yes: that showed skill." 



But when The Young Man and The Vagabond came in with 

 the greater number of chickens, the elders struck up a regu- 

 lar chorus about what ''luck" those, youngsters had. 80 the 

 latter started a mutual admiration society" of their own, and 

 got so excited in bragging about their crack shots that Cowles 

 couldn't stand it. 



'•Look here," said he, "I've kept count of (he chickens 

 you say you've lulled by most miraculous shooting, and, ac- 

 cording to that tally, you ought to have forty-seven. Now, 

 a3 you brought in only eighteen, I'd like to know what you've 

 done with tiie. other twenty-nine," 



It is always disgusting to have a mathematical man along 

 on a hunting or fishing trip, for he is sure to spoil the best, 

 stories told at the camp fire by bringing a lot of confounded 

 figures to hear on the subject. It is not well to be too par- 

 ticular at such limes. 



That evening the party returned to New Ulm. This town 

 was settled in 1834 by the German Society of Turners, mostly 

 from Cincinnati. Tile founders, desirous" of avoiding church 

 quarrels, tried to exclude all churches. The early deeds con- 

 tained the condition that the properly r should never be sold 

 nor leased to any chinch member; but it was found that these 

 restrictions were impracticable, and they have long since been 

 abandoned. A number of cliurehes of different denomina- 

 tions are. firmly established in the town. 



In 13152 the town was the site of the well-remembered Indi- 

 an massacre, in which a huge number of settlers were unex- 

 pectedly attacked and slaughtered. Among the fearful inci- 

 dents of the massacre, the inhabitants tell a story of a mer- 

 chant named Merrick, at the lower Sioux Agency, who was 

 said to be very avaricious. The Indians, believing that he* 

 bad cheated them, were particularly bitter toward' him, and 

 took a striking and horrible revenge upon Mm. His mouth 

 was cut from ear to ear. his jaws pried open, and he was 

 then choked to death with his own monej r , gold pieces being 

 thrust clown his throat until death relieved him. They said, 

 "Now cat gold, you love it so much— eat all you want; fill 

 yourself with it." It will be remembered that about thirty 

 Indians were hanged for these outrages, and a large number 

 of others punished in other w T ays. 



In the vicinity of New TJlm there are few chickens and no 

 ducks, owing to the long-continned drought. Sloughs which 

 are ordinarily several inches deep all through the summer, 

 were now wholly dried up, no rain having fallen for two 

 months. Finally, by going down the Minnesota River, seven 

 miles below old Fort- Ridgely — now abandoned— game was 

 found in abundance. The river bottom was filled with par- 

 tridges and the prairies were a ive with' very wild chickens. 

 They had already broken up their coveys and were running 

 in immense flocks, some containing as many as two hundred 

 birds. Earlier in the season, before the coveys were broken 

 up, the shooting would have beeu unsurpassed anywhere in 

 the world. At the present time, by means of their sentinels, 

 they are able to keep at long range all the time, and only a 

 quick, accurate shot with a long-range gun could get them. 

 .And here, all joking aside, the skill shown by Mr. Turrill was 

 exceedingly inttresting, his shots being remarkably success- 

 ful, but apparently so neat and ea^y that his shooting was an 

 object of admiration to. the whole party. Mr. Cowles was an 

 excellent second, while the youngsters had plenty of fun, even 

 if they did miss a good many birds. 



The party stopped at Mr. Newton's, who was one of the 

 early settlers, a whole-souled host, a hearty, strong-voiced 

 Methodist, and a very shiftless farmer, with an indescribable 

 ■ faculty for mis-using long words. Indeed he out-Partingtoned 

 Mrs. Partington, until the party laughed till they ached, over 

 interminable stories, which would have been wholly devoid 

 of interest but for his absurd misapplication of words. He 

 owned a span of immense horses which were, if possible, 

 even lazier than himself, and, while driving, bis time was di- 

 vided between singing hymns and prodding up his off horse, 

 "John," into a jog trot. Whatever there was about the farm 

 or buildings lacking or out of repair was. accounted for by 

 Newton in one comprehensive word, " Grasshoppers." 

 While some men are in the habit of attributing the misfor- 

 tunes entailed upon them by their own laziness to "hard 

 luck," lie had a much more tangible excuse, and the grass- 

 hopper sirved him as a sort of scapegoat upon which hecould 

 lay all ids troubles and retain a calm, unruffled mind. 



About sevtn miles miles north of the Minnesota River at 

 this point is a beautiful sheet of water called ClearLake. about 

 three miles long by two wide. At one end, where a smaller 

 lake adjoins it, there is a natural duck pass, which in season 

 must be one of the finest spots for shooting water-fowl in Min- 

 nesota. Indeed, this lake is a sportsman's paradise, for, in 

 addition to fine shooting, he can have gamy fishing — black bass 

 and pickerel being quite abundant and eager. Here, in spite 

 of the drought and warm weather, which combined to keep the 

 ducks away, the parly bagged about three dozen plump mal- 

 lards without stirring away from one spot, the ducks falling on 

 the narrow isthmus between the two lakes every time.. 



After a day and a night at Clear Lake, passing the night ia 

 a hay mow, the party returned to Mr. Newton's, "where 

 Mis. Newton was awaiting them with an excellent supper, 

 which was heartily appreciated after a hard day's hunt and 

 long ride. Mrs. Newton was a bright, intelligent Swede, 

 willi more energy in her little finger than her husband 

 had in his whole body ; yet she was very proud of his book 

 learning and conversational powers (such as they were) and 

 probably considered him vastly her superior. 



One more day's hunt among the chickens and partridges 

 yielded about one hundred birds, and the party were then re 

 hictnnlly obliged to turn their faces eastward and leave Ibis 

 splendid burning ground before the water-fowl shooting had 

 fairly begun; yet they had learned enough to pay them for 

 their trip, to say nothing of the fun they had bad. It is a 

 country swarming with chickens Which are seldom shot at. 

 and, during the covey season, two such shots as Messrs. Tur- 

 ril and Cowles, with such an admirable dog Bob as the former 

 owes, could bag two hundred birdswithout any trouble what- 

 ever ; while later in the year the duck and goose shooting at 

 Clear Lake will be perfectly fascinating. 



As the party of four left the cars on their arrival at Devil's 

 Lake, the Young Ma." and The Vagabond played their last 

 joke by represe 1 Urj lo the visitors at the Cliff House, who 



thronged out to welcome them hack, that the quantifies of 

 game which had been shipped back daily during their absence 

 had been the trophies of their guns. 



"But didn't Turril and Cowles kill any birds?" they were 

 asked. 



"Gh! yes," replied the Vagabond with a commiserating 

 look, as if he did not wish to be too hard upon the elders; 

 "yes, they did kill some, enough for our owm meals. Don't 

 niention it to them, please, for they are naturally sore about 



It is to be hoped that if Mr. Turril and Mr. Cowles should 

 chance to read tli^s letter they will appreciate the kindness of 

 the above remark and remember gratefully 



TriE Vagabond. 



Chicago, Sept. 1. 



Massachusetts, Salem, Oct, 5.— Gunning has been, owing 

 to dry hot weather, rather scarce of late. Some coots have 

 been seen off Emcrsons' Rocks, Ipswich Bay, the past 

 week, and the first, a cripple, was seen in Salem Harbor 

 last, week, Geo. Stone killed eight out of eleven blue-wing 

 teal in Mill Pond this a. m. Pitman and Brother of Swamp- 

 scotl lately shot twelve black breast plover, with some other 

 birds, on Lynn marches. Teal. 



Sit km, Oat. 8.— Reports from various parts of Essex 

 County give the gunning as dry in the woods. Coots 

 may now be found almost any day in th6 Bay. Some 

 winters are around. Reports from the' Cape, i. e., 'Chatham, 

 for the past two weeks have given but scanty returns. Small 

 birds were numerous and are at present, and some large birds 

 came along last Saturday. Teal. 



Plymoutlt, Oct. 5.— Coots not very abundant as yet. But 

 few have been killed. Ruffed grouse and quail are abundant, 

 however, and good sport is had. C. 



A Strange Accident.— Ou Oct. 4 an accident happened 

 Mr. Edelbert Finney that doesn't often occur. He, with Mr. 

 Ansel Bartlett, of Wellingsley, Mass., were off Manomet, 

 cooling, each having a boat. While waiting for their game, 

 they saw a fine buck whale playing seaward of them, which 

 finally struck Mr. Finney's dory just forward of amidships, 

 throwing it into the air. When it struck the water, bottom 

 up, Mr. Finney r found himself sprawling on the whale's back, 

 gun in hand, where he rode about a minute, when the cetacean 

 made a dive, drawing Mr. F. down with him. On rising he 

 was rescued, after some difficulty, by Mr. Bartlett and a Mr. 

 Holmes, who was au eye-witness of the whole scene. Hav- 

 ing Mr. F. safe, they put for the shore, fearing his whaleship 

 might take a notion to repeat his joke on them. 



Queens County Hounds. — The experimental meet of the 

 hunt took place at Garden City, L. I., Oct. 4., and proved 

 very successful. The first regular meeting was held yester- 

 day, and others are appointed for the Wednesday and Satur- 

 day of each week in this month and November. 



— General G. E. Spinner, late of U. S. Treasury, has been 

 hunting in the Adirondacks. Notwithstanding his seventy- 

 five years he climbs mountains, walks, camps out, and hunts 

 with all the energy and vigor of youth. 



—The woods along theDeleware are teeming with partridges 

 and small game. Deer in that vicinity are more numerous 

 than they have been for several years. 



Pennsylvania. —Sharon, Oct. 3. — The best bag on the 

 opening of the grouse season was made by Frank Davis — 

 eight ruffed grouse, three woodcock aud one gray squirrel. 

 Great numbers of ruffed grouse were killed here last August. 



J. R. 



Carry, Oct. 8.— Grouse and woodcock are abundant in the 

 vicinity. 



Port Clinton, Oct. 7. — Teal shooting fine ; good bags of 

 woodcock are made. 



Maryland — CMncofeague Isla?id, Oct 6. — Ducks are making 

 their appearance, and there is every promise of a fine season 

 along the favorite resorts of the eastern shore of the State. 



Virginia— White Sulphur Springs, Oct. 6. — The outlook 

 for sport about here this season is most excellent. The 

 mountains afford good turkey, deer and bear shooting ; pheas- 

 ants plenty. 



Winchester.— Mr. W. H. Calvert, during the last winter, 

 bought and fed some partridges, which were freed at the ap- 

 proach of warm weather. Trie other day one of them came 

 back, entered Mr. C.'s window, popped around, and hasevi- 

 dently returned to stay in his winter quarters. He is well 

 treated, and seems perfectly at home . 



Blacksburg, Oct. 3.— On Sunday last a covey of partridges 

 (quail), seven in number flew, into an open window of the 

 office of the Ya. Agricultural and Mechanical College at this 

 place, and struck the opposite wail. Five were killed, and 

 two appearing unhurt were set at liberty. They were fully 

 grown, but the game law protects them until Nov. 1. Quail 

 are very abundant. There is an extraordinary migration of 

 common gray squirrels, extending along the Alegbanies for 

 about 150 miles, moving from west to east ; in some places ap- 

 pearing suddenly in vast numbers, and very destructive to 

 corn fields. They seem to move at night, and do not regard 

 rivers. E . 



Quogue, Va., Oct. 6.— General and Ex-Go v. Dix the other 

 day proved that he was still able to " shoot 'em on the spot," 

 by killing six out of seven teal on the wing at one shot. 



North GA.uot.mK— Poplar Branch, Oct. 4.— The shooting in 

 this vicinity is now good, and promises to improve until "the 

 approach of the coldest weather. Mrs. Caroline Van Slack, 

 whose, estate embraces more than 10,000 acres, has accommo- 

 dation for sportsmen, and they will here find deer, turkeys, 

 snipe, quail, ducks and geese in abundance. 



Rextvoky— Louisville, Oct. 7. — Col. T. W. Thompson killed 

 ten blue-wing ducks on the river last Thursday. George 

 Woerner was out on Friday, near the " wet woods," and 

 brought back a number of wild pigeons and squirrels. The 

 sudden change during the past week has had the effect of 

 bringing ducks to the vicinity of the falls, and a number of 

 blue-wings and mallards have been shot. 



—The Louisville Sunday Argmlms a. vrell edited Rod and 

 Gun column. 



Going to Floiuda foe the Winter. — Our friend, Maj. 

 Alden, of New Smyrna, Fla., is kind enough to tender to 

 sportsmen the following information, as well as inducements 

 to visit Florida the coming winter. What he says will prove 



of service to those desiring to camp out at least possible ex- 

 pense : 



NSW Shyhna, Fla., Sept. 21, 1S7T. 

 Editor Forest and stream : 



I have had several letters from readers ot your paper asWng me as to 

 the beet route to take to this section, and when to camp and how to 

 live at least, expense. First, come via C. II. Mallery's line to Jackson- 

 ville, via Fernaudina; cabin passage from New Tors to Jacksonville, 

 $•25. Bay lumber to build a home («me size as U. S, A. hospital tent) 

 in Jacksonville, or wait until you get here, then send for what 

 yon want. Ten dollars will buy all yon will need for house to 

 live in, and cooE and servants' room. The roof cau be covered 

 with palmetto leaves which make a litrlit and impervious 

 roof and cost nolhing but gathering. Buy a camp stove with fixtures. 

 Buy what groceries you may want in Jftcfeonsville, or they may be sent 

 for after arrival here, andean also be brought here at a sliglu, advance 

 of Jacksonville prices. With rod and gun, a good cast net, and Hat 

 bottom boat, you can Uveas well as yon may wish for less than four 

 dollars per week. Boat, can be bought here. Bring your cist net (six 

 foot English net best), your (ishtug tackle, etc. I will give to gentle- 

 men sportsmen a place to c.unp ou tlie beach ridge opposite New 

 Smyrna, or if they wish to cmibln,; Uihiiig and minting, I will give 

 them localities where they can get plenty of wood and water without 

 oost at iay place, sis miles south of New Smyrna, from which point 

 they can get, llsh and oysters, or deer, bear, turkey, snipe or docks. 

 Game law is off, with plenty of good shooting now. The steamer 

 Border City will be put on the line between here and Jacksonville or 

 Fernaudina on or before Nov. 1, 1STT, without fail. Arrangements 

 will be made for through tickets from Se% York. Geo. A. aldk.m. 



Texas— The slaughter of buffaloes still continues without 

 abatement ; one firm alone, at Fort Concho, has bousht and 

 shipped during the past season over one thousand hides. 



LTenrietla. — Buffalo hunters report deer aud antelope plenty 

 fifty miles West of Henrietta. 



Ohio— AsJitabuh, Oat. 6. — Deer are occasionally seen in 

 the county. Partridge plenty, and afford good shooting. 



Missouki— Osage, Oct. 4— Thousands of squirrels are 

 slaughtered all about here and in the vicinity of Gasconade. 



Illinois. — Champaign, Oct. 3.— Chicken shooting in Ibis 

 part of the Slate has been very pom-, but quails are very 

 plenty. W r e anticipate good sport among them after Nov. 1. 



B. 



Michigan— Olivet, Oct. 4.— The late drought affected the 

 duck crop, but since the great storm birds have become quite 

 plentiful. Last night the belated traveler on the Marshall 

 Road must have been astonished at the unearthly noises pro- 

 ceeding from Pine Lake. 'Twas ducks, only ducks ! Wood- 

 cock are abundant ; more so than usual. Cau it be that the 

 southern migration has set in thus early, that causes this sud- 

 den eruption of these birds ? Ruffed grouse, hares and tur- 

 keys are had by seeking. Quail scattering. The College is 

 in full blast, and the youngsters have furbished up all the old 

 muskets, pot metal shot "guns, etc., available, and neglect 

 prayers for ducks. g 



Wisconsin — Hebron, Oct. 6. — Game in this section has been 

 somewhat scarce for the past months, but ducks and snipe be- 

 gin to come in from the North, and the prospects are brighten- 

 ing. We have an abundant crop of rice, which doubtless 

 will be very enticing to waterfowl. Amateur. ' 



Califoekia— Clear Lafyi, Sept. 29.— Wild ducks and geese 

 are flockiug to the lake, and there is promise of excellent 

 shooting. 



Tulare Lake, Sept. 29.— Geese are abundant ; the cluck shoot 

 ing poor. 



Santa Cruz, Sept. 29. —Ex-Centennial Commissioner Ben 

 P. Kooser, of the Sentinel, had fine success, while huntino- in 

 Napa County the other day. Among the trophies of his chVe 

 he exhibits the antlers of a deer weighing 120 pounds. 



Canada.— Quebec, Oct. 7.— Wild geese in large flocks are 

 winging their way overhead toward their winter quarters. 



Sarnia, Ontario, Oct. 8.— The majority of our sports are off 

 to the St. Clair Flats After ducks. .Reports say that wild fowl 

 are less plentiful there than usual. This is due to the lawless 

 way in which our neighbors across the line behave they 

 seeming to think a game Jaw of no earthly use but to talk- 

 about. 



PIGEON MA.TCHES. 



Champaign (III.) Suoonxu Club, Oct. 3.— Conditions of 

 match : Six single aud three pahs of pigeons ; 35 and 20 

 yards rise ; 80 yards boundary. 



Scott ff 16 ' Do f ]e - T f- 



Brltton ,f, 



Conley 5 e it 



Fountain Gun Club.— Brooklyn. Oct. 5,— Monthly cont.es 

 for the champion badge of the club, shot for at seven birds 

 each ; 80 yards boundary ; handicapped distance j ties shot off 

 at three birds each. The high winds caused the birds to 

 charge at their best, and prevented good marksmanship. 

 Following are the principal scores ;. 



Madison 29yds 1 1 I 1 1 1 n « 



C Williams 38 _.i 1 1 l 1 1 o— B 



A^ins 25 1 i 1 ] ]_1 



Bogart 21 1 1 ! j 1 j _ 



Hansen 55 1 10 10 1-4 



Byrge 21 x 1 1* i-4 



DrRace 25 1 1 1 " A—t 



McMahon 2d 1*0 1011 o_j 



DeFrane 25 d 1 1 1 M 



Cfook 'a 1 1 1 1 0' 0-4 



O'Connor 25 1 1 0' 1 iZi 



Cutta 18 1 1 1 m 



In the shoot off, Madison won. 



Miohigan— Detroit, Oct. &— The Detroit Gun Club held their 

 shoot for the State medal Oct 3. The medal had another 

 narrow escape from becoming the individual property of one 

 of the club, having been won twice, in succession by Eldfidffe 

 The following is the score; 11 birds each, 30 yards rise' 

 English rules, every bird to be gathered before it wits scored 

 as dead : 



JVD-Eldrldge 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1— 



EdGlllman 1 I 1 1 1 Jl 1 1 tin 



georgeAvery 1 1010 p ,,001 0- 2 



WCUolbnrn . 1 p 1 3 ' M 



r .r^Teo 1 M l ° withdrawn 



QoffStenton 1 % ± 1 j 1 1 1 1 a 1—u 



•^-♦, — . 



—The New Haven steamers have discontinued for the sea- 

 son their landings at Twenty-third street, £. R. Steamers 

 leave Pier 35 E. R. (Peck Slip), as usual at 3 and llr m' 

 connecting with special trains to points North and East '' 



