28 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I Feb, 7, 1884. 



ing at the thermometer we found the temperature to be fif- a day in the fields. Along the line to Atlanta, the fields are 

 teen degrees below_ the freezing point. For once I gave my \ new and very inviting, as they have not been investigated 



gun the promise of attention on the morrow, and roiled in 

 bed as soon as practicable, about as weary a man as you 

 ever saw or heard of. 



My brother and I think we left between ten and fifteen 

 dead ducks lying en the ice which were not included in our 

 count, And there was an "if" in the case, in the bargain. 

 If we could have made a reasonably good blind, I think it 

 would have been an easy matter to have bagged at least one 

 hundred ducks. Eur;}! II. PbtaK. 



Yicksburg, Miss., Jan. 23. 



SOUTHERN SHOOTING GROUNDS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



When I left Washington, my object was to take a route 

 that is comparatively new, andwhich promised more inter- 

 esting details and inducements to sportsmen and tourists 

 than any old line that was familiar to me. Hence, after 

 leaving Warm Springs, I took a route to this place that 

 proved a source of remarkably pleasing interest and delight, 

 and I think very inviting to those who come with dog and 

 gun. 



As there are numerous well-known game fields on the line, 

 and a vast variety Lathe character of the grounds, 1 will 

 give those who are interested some of the details. Taking 

 Knoxville, Team, as the initial point, perhaps the first best 

 thing to do is to visit the superintendent's office of the E. T. 

 Y. & Geo. E. R., and get all the information you desire and 

 permission to stop off by your ticket at any place or places 

 that may be decided on as inviting shooting grounds. This 

 gentleman, Jas. F. O'Brien, General Superintendent, has a 

 very warm heart toward hunters, and a splendid appetite for 

 game, and that argues that his subordinates will treat men, 

 guns and dogs in a royally proper manner. It you wish to 

 remain a few days in that charming and singularly interest- 

 ing city, you will find a very spirited and eager set of young 

 sportsmen, who are thoroughbred gentlemen and remarka- 

 bly hospitable. The fields within easy reacli are found very 

 attractive and of every character that sportsmen may want 

 to test. There are lulls and dales, dry fields with clean, 

 closely laid grasses, and just enough grain lying about the 

 roots to seduce birds from covert places in the brier-filled or 

 sedge-laden corners of worm fences. So that when birds 

 are started, they furnish the prettiest and clearest shooting 

 one may desire, and let me tell the oldest and best among 

 you who shoot, it will require sharp eyes and the quickest of 

 touch to drop your birds anywhere in those well farmed 

 fields in the grand and lovely regions of the Clinch and 

 Holstein rivers in East Tennessee. 



In the hillside coverts and brier patches, with innumer- 

 able rills and springs and streams babbling along their stone- 

 tuned courses, black haw and other delicious berries induce 

 birds to harbor and linger until their flesh acquires a deli- 

 cacy that is delicious as were the golden grain fed ortolans 

 that made the feasts of Lucuilus the standard of all gusta- 

 tory comparisons in all ages since that luxurious period. 

 On" the mountain sides there are pheasants, the rich flavor 

 and rare excellence of which will repay r one for the labor 

 and skill required to bag them. They are in elegant condi- 

 tion from feeding on wild berries and farm grains, all of 

 which gives their flesh a most delicate flavor. The skill re- 

 quired to bring this kind of game to earth is one of the best 

 tests that a sportsman can wish for. In the edges of thickets 

 that lie along fields with numerous clumps of grass and 

 brown caps of low bushes the wary birds often lie close, 

 until the hunter and dog come within a few feet. Then 

 with a sadden flatter, that takes away the head often of the 

 coolest and steadiest of shooters, the brown mas* goes 

 straight through the leafless branches, and with a laughing 

 whirr asks the man with the gun to answer its call of" defi- 

 ance. To shoot one of them" under such demoralizing and 

 tantalizing circumstances is a feat that entitles the suc- 

 cessful sportsman to all of the credit he can proudly de- 

 mand. 



in the fields dogs find splendid and fine coursing, and 

 retrievers have easy work. But in the heath and thickets 

 on wild mountain sides, the brambles, laurel, rhododen- 

 drons, rugged footing and rough surface generally, present 

 many formidable obstacles to finely bred, thin-skinned 

 and delicate dogs. The well-trained animals that abound 

 in that section, and are famiJiarly r seen in nearly every farm- 

 yard throughout East Tennessee, are equal to an immense 

 amount of work, and seem to be as hardy and enduring as 

 are the mountain ponies that never die in that section. The 

 sinewy legs and powerful arms of those mountain-bred dogs 

 make" an excellent sort of graft on good blood of other 

 sorts. 



ii you wish to try your barrels over a stretch of water at 

 those butter-ball's which are found at every turn and in every 

 eddy of the river, you can have as much fun and work as 

 can be wished for. There is no need of decoys in any of 

 the duck-laden harbors of the Pigeon, Holstein or Tennes- 

 see rivers. Even the innumerable army r of sable pot-hunters 

 who shoot with miniature mountain howitzers, and fish for 

 them with nets and traps, are unable to lessen the supply to 

 an appreciable extant. Bluewing teal, black and butter- 

 balls are in abundance, and will continue to offer inviting- 

 inducements to shooters for a month or two. 



Leaving Knoxville you take an E. T. V. & G. R. R. ticket 

 for Jacksonville, Fla,, with stop-over privileges. Then you 

 can drop off at any point that you fancy, and it does not 

 matter at what place you want to try gun ana dog, you will 

 find a good held for sport. In every community or village 

 or station along the entire line there is one or more persons 

 who have a fancy for shooting, and hence you will find 

 splendidly trained dogs everywhere, and the best of breech- 

 loaders, as well as men who know how to use them effec- 

 tively and successfully. Such persons, too, are remarkably 

 hospitable wherever "you find them in all sections of the 

 South, and the only letter of introduction or passport neces- 

 sary to make them kind and welcome y T ou is an expression 

 of that kinship that makes sportsmen fond of such fellow- 

 ship the world over. 1 have met with it in the Mississippi 

 swamps, foreign jungles, the swamps around New Orleans, 

 and marshes of New Jersey, the fastnesses of the Rockies 

 and grain fields of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the prairies 

 of the West, in the log cabins and palaces of the South, and 

 the reserves of Europe. And I find that the polished gun 

 barrel and password of shells and charges opens the warm- 

 est hearts of the fraternity of shooters and hunters every- 

 where throughout the world. 



At Dalton, Georgia, there are some charming fellows with 

 dog and gun. In Rome and vicinity, some more Ninirods of 

 most excellent character and name are always ready to take 



much by any one except local shots and amateurs. All of 

 these, however, are well to do planters and merchants, who 

 believe that it is a very gentlemanly sport and occupation to 

 take exercise with gun and shoot over an intelligent dog in 

 the fields. 



In Atlanta and any of the towns and stations in the 

 vicinity, there are sportsmen who keep in the advance of all 

 the pretty and good things connected with life afield. With 

 these, any one who has a mind that way, will find a vast deal 

 of enjoyment and as much sport as can possibly be attended to. 

 as birds are plentiful and within easy reach by any of the 

 numerous lines that spread out like the radiants from that 

 vast spider-looking town called the Gate City. 



From there to Macon the trains glide over a track that 

 makes one feel as if he was making the transit on a greased 

 streak of lightning. I am told, too, that in the barrens 

 and plantations there are vast numbers of those small and 

 hard to shoot quail that abound in this region. In dear, 

 old Macon, whore live the loveliest, most charming and 

 dearest people if has ever been n»y fate to know, there are 

 men who know how to shoot, guns that are worth a fortune, 

 amd dogs that are far better bred and more intelligent than 

 some college .students with whom we have come in contact 

 within the past fortnight. 



Willi these Maconians you will find. as much pleasure and 

 game in a day as can be gathered in a month elsewhere. 

 There is a delicious hospitality and charm of entertainment 

 native to this class of men, and all that is necessary is for 

 one of them to vouch for you to receive attention and cour- 

 tesy such as pertains to a royal visitor. 



From Macon to Jessup, and thence via Way Cross to Jack- 

 sonville, there are many haunts where birds, turkey, deer, 

 bear, ducks, foxes, wolves, fish and all kinds of game are 

 found in abundance, and one cannot go amiss by stopping 

 anywhere for a day's sport. Dr. I. E. Nacle, 



Florida House, St. Augustine, Fla. 



A VISIT TO CHATHAM COUNTY. 



A CCOMPANIED by my friends, Teceel, Duffrey, Mud 

 _^jl and LeG.. it was rny good fortune to have visited that 

 part of Chatham county, called the Hickory Mountain dur- 

 ing the early part of the month of D«cember. With our 

 dogs Nip, Bob, Pel ham and Argo, and an ample supply of 

 loaded shells, we took the train at midnight on Monday, the 

 10th, for Hamlet, a railroad junction six miles southeast of 

 our town. At that point we got on the cars of the Raleigh 

 and Augusta Air Line road, and at (3 the following morning 

 were cosily sitting around a good fire in the reception room 

 of Page's Hotel at Sandford. At this place, the Yudkin Val- 

 ley Railroad, which, at present, is finished to within twenty 

 miles of Greensboro, crosses the Raleigh and Augusta Air 

 Line, and up this road to a place known as Matfhews'.s m the 

 western part of Chatham, it was our purpose to go, and 

 thence by road-wagon to our kloppingpMce, a distance across 

 the country of eight miles. But the schedule did not suit. 

 If we waited at Sandford for •the train we would have been 

 obliged to remain there all day 



N ot being disposed to do this, we made arrangements with 

 Mr. Page, the hotel keeper, to place our luggage on the cars, 

 and we took the track, intending to hunt the old Mclver 

 plantation and board the train at Egypt, seven miles off, 

 when it should arrive, ana go on it to Ore Hill, the terminal 

 point to wiiich the mails are carried. We had been told that 

 we would find plenty of game in the plantation mentioned, as 

 well as in the fields on Deep River, lying in the vicinity of 

 Egypt. After a fatiguing tramp of about four miles on the 

 cross ties, rendered more fatiguing from the fact that we had 

 had no sleep during the preceding night, Teceel with his 

 setter Nip, and I with a little pointer named Argo— not after 

 celebrated vessel "which took the fleece to the Thessalian 

 city" — went on the right side of the track, while Jim LeG. 

 wilh Pelham, and Mud as a supernumerary— for Mud has no 

 dog, and does not want one, so loug as any one else will 

 allow him the use of his— took the left. Duffrey with bis 

 dog Bob had left us a half mile back, and was doing his best 

 to fill his bag before the others commenced hunting. To 

 our great disappointment we found but few birds, and when 

 we reached Egypt at 1 o'clock we had not more than a 

 dozen. Teceel and I concluded to walk on, and crossing the 

 railroad bridge, determined that vm would hunt up the river 

 to the Gulf." The other party we left shooting south of 

 Egypt. The distance between these two stations is but three 

 miles by rail, but by the course of the river it is not less than 

 six. 



We found but few birds, and the most of these availed 

 themselves of the proximity of the river to seek a covert 

 into which we could not follow When we got near the 

 Gulf we heard the others shooting, they having taken the 

 line of the railroad. Upon counting up the spoils, we had 

 killed but thirty-three birds. After a hearty supper, upon 

 chicken, sausages, etc., we patiently awaited the arrival of 

 the train. It came, with our baggage on board, about 8 

 o'clock, and in less than an hour we were at Ore Hill. 

 There is at present no hotel here, and all of our party except 

 your correspondent had to sleep in the coach; Owing to his 

 age, as it was said, he was kindly invited by Capt. Roger 

 P. Atkinson, civil engineer, in charge of the work of con- 

 struction, to share what was really a luxurious couch in an 

 old building, once used in connection with some iron works 

 at this place. Next morning he gave us all a substantial 

 breakfast, and placing our luggage, dog#and selves ou the 

 construction train we were off tor Matthews. Arriving, we 

 were put off in afield, and the train departed for the scene 

 of tracklaying. It was not long before we saw Jo Duffrey's 

 wagon, driven by his kind-hearted and pleasant son Tommy, 

 driving up. Some of our party had in the meantime got up 

 two coveys of Bob White within fifty yards of the track, 

 and managed to get about a half dozen of them. I got but 

 one shot, which had no other effect than to knocK off the 

 feathers. 



Putting our effects upon the wagon we started oft to our 

 place of destination. On the way a fine covey was flushed, 

 and pursuing it, Teceel got five, Mud two and Wells one — 

 his only shot Another was started on the route, and we got 

 three or four ot them. W r hen near Duffrey's. Jim LtG., not 

 having the fear of the law— and he is a lawyer— trespassed 

 upon forbidden territory, and killed two birds. In a Short 

 while we were at the house ot our host, who gave us a 

 kindly welcome— it was kindly upon the part of the wife 

 and children, for they are an excellent family— shown to our 

 quarters, and bidden to make ourselves "at bom; 

 we heard the welcome announcement that dinner was ready, 

 and to a table laden with substantial viands, and presided 

 over by a genial hostess, we went, and all gt^e ample testi- 



mony that the food suited our tastes. Mud, in particular, 

 showed his ample capacity to make a generous landlady's 

 heart„rejpice, and thus, if for no other reason, ingratiated 

 himself into the good graces of that very important person- 

 age—a position which he held during our«entire stay under 

 the hospitable roof . Indeed, he rarely fails to render him- 

 self agreeable to the fair sex; and despite Mil his blunders, 

 his follies and his peculiarities, possesses always the sympa- 

 thy of matron and maiden. 



In the afternoon we took a little jaunt into the fields, which 

 had been hunted over by other parties, and were not entirely 

 unsuccessful, At night all were tired and sleepy, and "bed 

 time" came at an early hour. With me, on a hunt, it always 

 comes early, and as a general thing 1 seek the downy pillow 

 while the 'others sit up and lafct, often regaling them, as 

 they tell me, with sounds which do not remind them, except 

 by 'contrast, of the sweet cadences of the mocking bird. 

 "the lascivious pleasing of a lute," or the melodies of Miss 



; well. 1 have forgotten her name, but she sings "Baby 



Mine" and the "Maid of Dundee" to perfection. Candor 

 compels me to say that, if human testimony can be believed, 

 I have the unfortunate habit of snoring. The evidence of 

 one who ought to know, because of abundant opportunities, 

 I cannot gainsay. Besides this, I have heard it myself. 

 When bed room is ample, this practice of mine deprives me 

 of a bedfellow and a room-mate, but when it is not, my com 

 panions usually assign Mud to me, because of his philoso- 

 phic good nature and his incapacity to distinguish sound. 

 On this occasion, however, the sad lot fell to Jim LeG., who 

 let no occasion pass in which he did not complain that I dis- 

 turbed his repose. I am sorry that 1 so trouble my friends, 

 but I cannot help it. That is' all, 



Next morning, after slumber, which the preceding two 

 days' labor had made inexpressibly sweet, and a capital 

 breakfast, to which ample justice was done, we got ready 

 for our pleasant recreation. 



Teceel and Jim, with Nip and Pelham, were to take the 

 fields on both sides of the Pittsboro road, Mud and I, with 

 Argo, were to go down a little creek, while Duffrey and his 

 brother Jo, witb Bob, went to some fields lying to the north. 

 It mav be as well that I say, Teceel shot a 16. bore 28-inch 

 Scott." Jim LeG. a 12-bore Wsbley, Mud a 10 Scott, la 16 

 Tolly, Duffrey a 14 Scott, and Jo D. a 1(1 Wcbley. When 

 night came, and the weary sportsmen counted the trophies of 

 the day. Teceel had 81, Jim LeG. 26, Wells 18, Mud IT. 

 Duffrey 13, and Jo D. 3. The two last had combined business 

 with pleasure and did not hunt assiduously. Besides, Joisnot 

 a sportsman. Mud and I did some good shooting, ana some 

 that was no good. If I had bagged all the birds 1 shot dow u 

 and wounded, and ought to have killed, I should have had 

 over thirty, and so would Mud. But 108 birds in one day 

 ought to satisfy reasonable men. We had more than enough 

 for ourselves, and gave some to neighboring farmers, as we 

 passed along. 



I know I will he excused if I suggest that sportsmen 

 easily avoid some of the troubles to which they are seme- 

 time's subjected, by the use of a courtesy which costs but 

 little and is always gratifying to landed proprietors. When- 

 ever it is practicable, the gunner should always ask the 

 consent of the owner to hunt over his premises, lie should 

 not shoot near the dwelling, nor wheu there is danger of 

 frightening horses. If he meets the proprietor he should 

 show his good breeding and good sense by speaking to him 

 and engaging in a little friendly conversation, as wall as 

 tendering a part of the contents of his bag. Even if be 

 does not' know who the landlord is, he should give every 

 man whom he meets a decent salutation. In the country 

 every man expects it, and it is the universal custom. Gen- 

 tlemen from the cities should always recollect ihat. In 

 densely populated towns it is not practiced and is not ex- 

 pected. But city habits must be left off when men go to 

 "the rural districts" audwaut sport upon the lauds Of othi 

 Let them observe what I have said and they will not be the 

 losers. But if an upstart, who has on a solar hat, a cordu- 

 roy stit, leggings, hunting shoes, a gun and a dog, goes into 

 the country, "treads down the grass and herbage" of another, 

 passes hini unnoticed, shoots around his house, his 10-bore 

 gun, with five drams of powder, pockets and carries off all 

 the game which be may chance to kill, without as much 

 as a nod of recognition "to the owner in fee Of the lands or 

 the tenant in possession, he is sure to be an unwelcome 

 visitor, if he is not peremptorily ordered off the premises. 

 Such fellows as these do much barm to gentlemen who 

 observe the proprieties and decencies of life. 



I do not mean to trespass so largely upon the columns of 

 the Forest axd Stream or the patience of those who may 

 honor me bv a perusal of my effusions, as to give the inci- 

 dents and results of each day's tramping. We got in about 

 three whole days of hunting, and the game totalized some- 

 thing over 800 birds, besides an occasional "molly cotton 

 tail," whose flight offered too great a temptation to Mud 

 and Jim, who rarely let one pass without a salute, notwith- 

 standing the bad effect it has upon the dogs. Our trip was 

 an agreeable one, entirely free from accident. The heartfelt 

 kindness of our host and hostess^ and their children, allot' 

 whom strove to make our stay pleasant, added much to om- 

 en joyment; and when we left the farewell was as cordial and 

 unaffected as was the invitation to come again and partake 

 of their hospitalities. We got safely back to our own friends, 

 found all well and glad to see us, and even full of thankful- 

 ness, 1 think, for all the blessings and mercies which had 

 been vouchsafed. 



Before', taking leave of my "gentle readers, I cannot 

 forego the ooportunity of saying a few words to .such of 

 them as are possessed of ample means to gratify their loud- 

 ness ibr health-giving field sports. Among the patrons and 

 lovers of the Forest axd Stream are quite a number of 

 gentlemen of easy fortune. These can. without harmfully 

 diminishing their estates, easily provide for an opportun- 

 ity of much enjoyment for themselves and their ehostn 

 few. Along the line of the Yudkin Valley Railroad, 

 anil within easy reach of it, there are many tracts of 

 laud which can be purchased on reasonable terms. These 

 tracts consist of from two hundred to five hundred acres, 

 and on all of them birds abound. One of them the wealthy 

 sportsman can buy, lease it to a good tenant who will pay a 

 remunerating rent, and this estate would give the owner full 

 access to the lands of the neighboring proprietors, especially 

 if he showed by his intercourse that he was worthy of their 

 confidence. This would be far better and less expensive 

 than Hie purchase of shooting points at high figures and 

 correspondingly heavy incidental charges, mother localities. 

 He could build a small hut neat and comfortable house, for 

 his own occupancy during his visits; the wife of the renanl 

 would prepare his meals, make his beds and air bis 

 and a horse and wagon could be had on moderate terms. In 

 addition to all this he could sport on his own land and the 



