e 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 5, IBm. 



CAPU COD DEER. 



Thkre are, it is believed, only two in this big family of 

 foit\ foui wStato«— ndUK h ( onntttnut md L'hoik Tslui«l 

 that h.i\e bucteedi d ni tot UK ( xlPiinimtitiL, wild lec i 

 withiu tlien boidc-is If i'>nf)1 i iniltfi u]>im ul n li tin \ 

 tive. to be congratulated. Indcc'd. tiiev un<:lir to Im 

 ashjnud of -,ik U tM<ltuct (f Ihi ii mi])i(\il lu < I ul 

 after all. it is not oasv to siiv how it could liavc been 

 d\oided Thi tiiiH 1^ now q pi k Imu linw(\<i w lien 

 it \m]1 be powbie l(Mi --toie unl pu i\< tlx _ mu nul k 

 forest the ranges that, are rlieir natural lionio. 



Massac liu^ctts Ins iknciiumk (\1(immil d In i h m 

 though she (.aint d ion->l\ lu ii (l( iii^ so t( ii oi twiUi 

 vedisago \t this \M itiii^ tlx \ ik lml\ iIhiihI ml iiid 

 indeasing m fJairistable coiiutv ,ind June miiitlv been 

 repoited from Berkshire, at the opjiosite corner of tlie 

 State. 



K\\ the -woild l^jiows ( ip( ( (wl It least In name and it 

 iH of no sjifcnl ( oMs HuiKi i( ntsidds if itb Itgitunate 

 political title IS Ha,n)st;ibic conntA'. 



y\s sncli. how(.'vcr. n .luid 1,o he iccdiinr/cd wlicn 

 close deer law was ])assed tor Plvmonth and H.-irnstidilf a, 

 tew rears ago. Plvinomh was allowpd t^) comi^, ni mamh" 

 as a matter of coiirtcsr. tor in ponit ot tact shr liad tew it 

 an V df cr ot bcr ow n. but, conscicntxinsl^s' pinuncra.i rd l-ictorc 

 shoolltl^, t \ u \ ilK kli s^ -,tl i^^|( 1 t hit t( iiiid i' w i\ lip 

 troin tlie Lape. Iheii' is no reason ui rlic world vvliv the 

 Plymouth woods shonid not be restocked snnyil\ bvaUow- 

 mg nature to take it.s course, but n is tar harder for the 

 well disposed hunters ot PlvinoutlT tf) keeji the reckle.ss 

 eUnu nt in ( Ik ( k tb in )t In n in tin ( ijn siini)h bt 

 ca.iis(^ it IS easier tio net a,wa.\' u itli one s ti'a.nie. the ( ;ipe 

 dt(i 1 iiigt IS lou^hh -])( il in^ I liim^li im isniin^ 

 about l") iiules oil » uh sid*. ind i oiu uuiti}, iIumIok 

 «.oiiKthing hk< ion -,i|Ucii(- inilFH it enibiacts tin town 

 ships ot Saiulw i( ]i Boinnt Fihnonth Ahishpcc mdlUiii 

 •stable most ot tlum sottltd as long igo is |t)-)(ioi t uliei 

 The old established centers ot [loiiulatiou are naturallv 

 <oastv\ise IfiMn^tlu (tntiil U( i oM il^ ti i ui^li luioiru 

 pied save bv a few hamlets, scatteruiii' tariuhouses and 

 the (;auips ot craulterrv pickers. T hrou£;boii1 this retiion 

 are ponds and lakes, some of them miles loiiti. ol hers no 

 larger than duck ponds. Almost e\ er\ \\ i 

 have at one time or another been sutheiet 

 \ation to est-iblish i^iowtliot (ss tint 

 gia/mg wlun n< ihiii^ i i- to In I un I 

 broken into hill and dale, all covi.>re 

 of oak. piiie and umlerbrush. verv 

 iffoiding abundiut < ■o\ ei tor the uauie 



legislation foi the jtusn\ ition ot tht ( t[M ( od deei 

 began some t%^en1\ h-^e vt iis \_o ind iii)]Mil(tt is w is 

 the [)rotection afforded, tlie herd uicreased rapidlv. until 

 in 1HH-. % It w IS .stun it(,l ,( 1 0(10 h, |,l I h, „ , „ii( i 

 SM ( ( jang toK si fiK si lit 1)1^ tiom tin i nlio id U' ii 's nid 

 with which with whit si ( mc d littk hsstliiii mlUli 

 gent inaligmtv. first surronnd(Hi and then traversed the 

 entiH distiKt bummg foi seM.^i^tI da\s and lediirmg tlit 

 unha])])v deer bv several hiindr<>d head. The survivors 



liovvever, ha\'e 1 n bairb v\ (^ll prolecied and now num- 



b( I HMiduuii th Ml si <msi\v iili\ (stim.ites "^ome 

 thing hke ;3(K). 



Tin ic is no op( n season but m i 1 aid wJitie e\en man 

 ismoieoi l(ssahunt(i and (oiistibl s ni iow and e lay 

 gouiu'. it IS Tiol Ul reason that ■■wood s nuitton slumldnot 

 now and then hnd its wav to ])nviie!ied rabies, 



1 h( still ot till ( |s^ is this ill i< I I hw o< \\hi<h 

 all good •■(.;ape ( c)d iolks ;:ipi)ro\-e. but n cannot lie en 

 forccnl with the means at: Jiand. Obvioush liic dny.i'w 

 existing constables could not etti.cientlv iiatrol as umnv 

 square leagues of nearlv inipenetraltle forest. c\(^ri if they 

 were veritable huinau l)loo(ihonuds. and not the good- 

 nat'iired fellow mortals that mativ ol rlieni arc 



The d((i thn^torl must lool loi nt txtion to tht 

 public at large, or rather to that port ion oi u who are at 

 once fond of hunting and disposi'd to rlo t hr 

 the rieer. Opposed to this faction is tlx reck- 

 \\hi( h asseits thi light to shoot n 

 t losses its ]iatli ili< sOM 1 its h^ I 1 < 1 



Just iftei th( <(boA( mtntiorii 1 n 

 this class took advajitage ol the, burneii an 

 w oods lo in il ( lib 1 bin li n lo llii ii ii d b( s( t i< inn ml of 

 the herd, fsi'i'iiiti- thai the ile(;r would be liK^rallv eister- 

 iruuab d it some dec isi\ t uUouAxcie not tikiii m mfoi 

 mal combination was made sunoug tlie vvel!-dis]>osed cl-iss 

 and the ( oust ibh s i( notified th it 1he\ iniisl h i rinis 

 wei( the (In I n I dt i i i h ii h K i isl u Vim nc in 

 r ishion nami i\ tlx mli lli_( nl iiilo>inil x I ion of c ]fi/( ns 

 supplenientuig (he iin;iA indablc shoricdinmgs ol' th'-^ au- 

 thorities. This successful deal seems to have given the 

 hint f(u^ the svstetii or no svsieiii tiiav still adords fairlv 

 efticieul protection. All tlx^ decent voum-^ men of the 

 ohuileer jiame keepers. Ihev live on 

 d(.'er range and their daily v'ocations 

 i loiiK the; wood roads. Many of them 

 all t he deer do<is in the five towns, If 

 •tain to be known, and 

 judgment n[)onth 



' the hollows 

 l^x under culti- 

 atfords winter 

 Tlie connlT\ is 

 1 w nil I d( iisi ^, o\\ til 

 dilfx ulf lo )nss ,uid 



air tiling liy 

 s < leiiK ut 

 ' at lire that 

 ■ I I ts dory. 



nilUtCls of 



smoldering 



neighbor! lood : 



tlx bolil. Is , I tlx 



I lk( s( UK ol i III 111 



know the \ oices of 

 a, deer is killed the fact is almost < 

 an mexoiable peoples romt 



Ol not til 1 illm„ w is jnsfi 



ison il 

 nifx fc 

 make. 



case and decides whethe 

 liable 



1 am told that/ not more tlian t<?n deer Iiave been killed 

 luj( this sc^ason fNovcnibci ind DcmiiiIxi) T1 is u i 

 tdnd\ is not an e\( essi\ i niiml i i c on idi i nu t h i m iim 

 stancc^s. and its nujclei^ate ii^'urc, sjieaks well loi- tlu^ 

 e.thcaencv of the volunteer police. 



Of course, the disadvantage and imcertamtv of fins ex- 

 isting state of things IS lei (vm/i d itidtlxu is ^onie talk 

 of oigaui/ation ihis howixci would m< 

 pledges of tot il absfmc nci liom (Ik i hiinlin 

 which oar volunteers are by no means dispo^ 

 It would also mean the relegation of the whole deii'd iv.> 

 busincs,s to pnd otiic laN w hc) w onid ■^ouKtiin s |, hlmd 

 sometimes inefficient and always too tew in nmnber to do 

 then diit\ ( fti( u iifh 1 Ik In im is ^ < < d i i iii is m 1 tlx 

 lest \\ ho now 1(1x1(1 NolnntMi si i \ n i would ivi i p tlx ii 

 v\oc>d(iitt foi pii\ lie us( Hid ihi oul\ i|ii(sioii Joi the 

 poacher to c;oMsider would be •■( an I do Hand not be 

 toiind out.-" iiiati lie ccaild often do so is tcileiablv cer- 

 tain, and even it arrested and brotiKlu to trial, sve all 

 know how lenient t he local courts are m cases where no 

 clea;r|y detin(^d m.dividual ri<>-liis are mvolved. 



()( o(ii-c this soil o( till i_ s iK^iihi mil somewhat 

 lepK h( nsihle Chii Ji.iudl\ (omshIimk (onsms k loss th( 

 ^\at(i (ondcmn the wlioh bnsnx - i~ i loose \iueiic<in 

 wav oi d( dui„ with wilful n di i x t is Tlx \ stublioinh 

 shut their ey&s to the fact tha,t population to the square 

 jnile in the Ujiited Kipgdom is tw dejisej' than anywhere 



in the United States, and that in spite of all tfieir elaboj'- 

 ate machinery of private gatne keepers, and a, .strong w-ell 

 organized rural constabulary poaching (xintinuea to 

 flourish. 



So Una: ase^(^\ Aineiuan has the iiojif tob( n mus 

 md sIk I t w lid ^ iiix OM 1 ( \ ( 1 \ |U II I mi'i of hi- ii itm 



la.nd it wall be imyuissible fc, enforce strnment protective 

 lawh. TJie most that can \>v done is to dehiie (dose a.nd 

 0]jeii seas(jns based upcii the local halnts of yarae m re- 

 sped to breeding. 1 liiM .ape e dd plan, w hile confessediv 

 open to olne(-'tion on ae;coun1 of its leioseness and dehb- 

 erate violaticn ot law. is upon the wdiole ibe niost praiv 

 ticaJ solution ol the problem. It is not eas\' tor a. iiarty of 

 hunters I rom tlie outer world to invade harnsl,able eoiuitv 

 witli. the indispensable outfit ol dogs and guns and success- 

 iiilh' escape mt.erfercMice. On the other hand, it is i^uite 

 the; thing for residents to introduce tricnds from "the 

 (.outinemt when there is to be a (jtiier local drive. 



The ■■proof of Idie pncldiiig. savs J.ih'. '"is m the 

 dlgestma.-. and oxjiei'ience siieiiis to sixiw tliat .'it least m 

 tins corner of New fjnula.nd (liere js enough c>t lionora.ble 

 (onui I n_ ih lo( d fainicis to ( utoiK tlx 



Mate i;i - ii: -inrpli' pr(,icess of breaking it under 

 pr0))er ... iiMW-; -supervision. 



h see.ins nioli mcr-^Jil^le that such a sbp-shf"! way 

 ol prolectint: llie dc^^r sii, luld be iijffective. but the testi- 

 m< n\ if tlx III si ii iisiwoi tb\ hulitets }^ un inimous th it 

 It IS far more so than any plaxi that has' tlms far been 

 tried. ■ C. L. If. 



is/NJiwioH. Mass.. C'linatJiias. ISflrf. 



look at the weather, and when, he saw the large circle 

 aimmd tJie nK:»on he wa.s so encom-aged that as lie trudged 

 up to bed he said softly to liimself. "I gTiCiss I'm all right 



yit." Cbrisfinas mornine came but no 

 lord was m despair. .V la.r^'e tiinnbi 

 and he w as coin]iel]ed to set uyi the 

 made a beaiilitu] ?n.a.rk on ttie c 

 knocked over ritiht Iivelv. whil 



The land- 

 it riflemen gathered 

 lute tin-keys. Iliey 

 1 1 _ ( iiiid iixl w eie 

 the landlords jaw' 



dio[ijHd dis( aisol III h Is Ix if ili/ed that hr had totalH 

 missed his calculation. 



Hut enoimh ot rennniscenses. Lei; lis u:(> to Wainps. 

 MonciaA' morning came. and. oli: how cold it was! 

 liight degrees below zero, the thermometer said. a,nd I 



doubl; It 



;t,roiiLf west wind was blowine that 

 l( 111] ( lis I n t n tlx sli_,ht( st c\ji(jsuie 

 d not |)revent, m\ noing. Lilce the old darkev 

 earlv and dug his fish worms before bi^ma: m- 

 eafh. .1 also made arrangemeuts and 



OUR TURKEY SHOOT AT WAMP'S. 



Ajiout noon on Fridav. Dec. 2ii. 1 Teceived a ]ioKtal 

 reading: ""Sou and vour son are invited ti^ attend a, 

 turke\' shoot at inv house in Mudye Holler, on Mondav. 

 Dec. .^'(i. I8it2. -I NOALS \\iOMl>icr. Now I am stuck on 

 turkey slioots. and don t care who knows it. and it, is 

 seldom indeed that one is lield m this A'i(nnit\' that 1 don t 

 burn powder at it. am]>. as the lutvr. cm, II bmr. always 

 g-ives a good sh.oot. His turk(-»ys are lat ti-r and m good 

 condition, and he exerts himself to the iirrnost to make it 

 pl( isint foi his blasts Sii I eU < ide d tube tlx le k id's 

 and waitniii wdK;u the match <;arne oft. 



Tlx^ furkex- shoots held in tins 

 after those m vos^-ne when 1 brst c 

 ago. The rant;-e is eia'htv rods, 

 would fje quite difhcult to measure 

 npt lull anrl down dale country 

 have used tlieir rifles on a i 

 that wiioe^'er estinifited flit 

 far enough. 1 he tiirkev. 



ehdii t 

 tilK itelii 

 But th It 



who ros( 



formed of his w ile s di- 

 ha„d to -d. 



It was not very far to the ••Holler.' so I arrived earlv 

 .and found that I was the .fifi-st man on deck. But the 

 shootf-rs soon came straii^ii'hiiii' in and I realized that n'reet- 

 ma old trieiids ot rnanv furkev shoots was not the least 

 en-joyable part of the dav s amnsernent. .hen 'a c had 

 W' armed u|> w'e w^ent fiutswL-' to see \v\v\t arranaenienfs 

 had been made. We IouihI eve.rytlimij, readv. except 

 jilaciiiii- the birds, and llx.^ markers were then donning 



innltiiHs 



itlsfK t] , 



otnm- 



c>v(?rcoi 

 hid tlx 

 load of 111 

 The s!i 

 shed, w h( 

 a C(m.Aenieiil 

 the ba rroi mi . v 

 ceedmsj-s. I he 

 j.rohts ot) the 

 inaiter |udiciouslv 

 alwavs on hand. 



and liloves for a stiirt,. and we soon 

 ol seeinti' tlieiu on their way with 



find was on the e ist suh of Ihcwofjd 

 (lepnfb shi lt( i< d lioiii the wind and 



d. 



th] 



n^h 



■ into 



tnill .1 

 slioot 



) )]f 1 



but Ik 



vicinity are patterned 

 nne here, forty years 

 tiiiess measure, for it 

 it accnratelv across this 

 A 1x1 (he ritlemen who 

 isured raiijic soon ilisco\er 

 was careful to guess 

 in to I.^ft. of strong 

 stake, and has the 

 of Ins tether. And 

 across the ridge and 

 ot very slow about 

 between huiiiinocks, 



(fistaiK. 

 \ith tio 



fist t( 



olio 



iiiicnlt a mark fliat it is not 



hn(^ tied to his lej;-. is made 

 ])nyilei4e oJ mo vim; about t 

 as the lilasfs of wintrv w 

 wdiistle tlirongli his w-attL 

 seeking shi^] for in. the little 

 where he otters so small .■iin 

 easy to poj.t htm o\ er. 



\llthii Is jii ( 1 sii\ istofhdw blood no mattei hew 

 sliL'litlv. so loim as It can be seiAU. and tlx^ bird is vours: 

 fh il : M " i iiie. P)Ut It lalv'es an old turke^y tender to turn 

 b; ai liers antl hnd tlie place wliere l.ilood has been 



slii;irii\ r-iaited. He is m the em[)loA- of the iiote] peciple. 

 and unless the sIiooK.ts are ha ving hard lucik and are not 



losely 



msl ( .\aiumc jt, but if the mark 

 ivilling them fast,, he sometimes 

 wl down agam. If it is severely 

 md takes the bird oil. bleeds luni 



I 111 si hiidsin (111 f( wot ' 



i t rees of exe^ellence or the 

 1 attendeid hist winter at 

 ( otiip itiA of I illi UK n pie s 

 md s( \ ( I il 1 1 111 Al))an\ 

 1 II nil I I \ -hootns and 

 no snow^: and the turkey 



ge-'tfing m.un buds 1 

 11 a turk(>v |umiis ! 

 IS slmht and the\' ; 

 n;nores if and puts tl 

 hit he throws up Ins , 

 by cutting his throat, and tii^s on another. Even with 

 tlx b( si ini\ nio--t honoi ibl( m<ui i_,niunl, it is often 

 ton nil when flie birds are picked that tJicy have been hit 

 several limes. 



II 1 -hooti 1 h IS II .ison to b( Ik \e th if Ix Ji is hit i bud 



that IS not taken oft for liim, he claims a shot on it. Then 

 when it IS taken oft and brought in. he loi.k-s it over care- 

 fiilly. and d he finds the mark, he is gisen a turkey. 



V s( I II 1 I pi I ]s ijipointcd w h 1 lib 1 II tlx n inns m 

 turn, and each .man must lie reaih to slioof when Ins 

 name is called. A-V hen the niat'.'h is o\ er the shots .■ire 

 cinmted. you paA' a dime ten 

 and the man w.ho lias see-ure 

 sJicjts is boss m III on ill II 



lln m III he s tie i i \ im m 

 reverse. I have m mind o 

 ( il^aiiesvillc!. lliere \\ as a, 

 ( 111 most h 1 1 om \ iiist I I 

 and Schenee'tacly ; they wet' 

 niosrh- a-ood sliots. Then^ v 

 was placed on soft, ^rassv ground that was much higher 

 than where the shooters v\ ere stationed. I he bullets 

 stinekdi id ind it \\ i- imp s.,il I u j, in tn oi them 

 A very tall .Englishman was actum- as marker: he %vas ereen 

 at; the business a,nd Aerv timid, so kej.it w ell screened from 

 da ns;er behind, a, Iniih bank and could not see where any 

 of our shots struck, but could hear the thud as thev buried 

 tlx n seh( s in flu sott^ioiitid \\ e ( allc d s( \ ci il time s 

 but cdnlii not make him he-ar; so we; ceased firing and 

 he came out. A\ (• made him iinderstarid 

 iiting that we w anted to know wliere our 

 were stnliing. He wf^nt up near the turkev. took a 

 ral view- of the landscape all round, raised his arms as 

 as he coidd rea.ch and shouted back. ■•Shoot away! 

 ve re conim doind (.'lose till ini. That was all the satis- 

 faction weemuld t:et from hm 

 fhati day most of us had no in 



Oil another occasion at; the, same |)la,ee t he landlord tie- 

 e 111 d to h iM ituiki\ sill ii lniin_ In liolida\s and 

 made all his calenlations on the basis of snow, dee.ep snow, 

 for ( lirtstiuas. So he touched up his old hoi"se and 

 searcliecf the conntrv over tor white turkeys. He secured 

 the finest lot 1 e^ er saw: they were nearly as w-hite as 

 snow^. and if j 'laced o.u a snow bank ei2-ht\- rods away it 

 wonhl be vei-\ dtfhcult to se-e them at all. and the Jand- 

 loiid -mikil t suiili I- h (ontunplitid tlx she k little 

 game he intended to .s].irin<i: on the boys. As the days 

 pisstd md ni snow nil Ix bt ( im m\ioiis \\ h n tlx 

 ajipointed time! was near and tne ground was still bare ne 

 geit triiilitened. Dec. 24. was a, hue. warm daw and he 

 gave np all hoj>e. The old horse w 

 and he sallied forth, tins time in ]Hirs 

 But the farme^.rs liad alreadv markef 

 the exception of theise res(-'r\ ed tor bri 

 W'as yam. As niaht a|.>uroacfied it b 

 and fus hopes rose as the mercui'y went down. Before 

 going to bed he stepped out on the front porob to take a 



after a wh.tl 

 if le I nmi h 



bv 



I when w-e c^uit shootin^i 



Tl 



v\ 1 



peater 

 were ntted wttli 

 Sights, and ou the 

 cured f)v weds 

 for wind wa 

 knockmg th 

 with tlu! (!nd 



lit 



the 



issa ti'ew-; 

 t ].ar(, of the pro- 

 t to get rich by the 

 has 'advertised the 

 arge cro^x-d of siiectators are 

 tronize the bar very liberally, 

 omes in. 



'iillard, two Reitiingtons, one 

 aim", one Coif ligiitnitig re- 

 e shot. About lialf of them 

 rear and wind-gauge fremt 

 lecessary elex ation was se- 

 sight: and the allowanoe 

 m.d accurately ganged by 

 liy striking it 

 ■per took the 



names of all who intended to shoot, and wdien that was 

 accomplished the furkev w^as ready and tfx' tronl ile began. 



NTiitwithstanding the exti^eme cold it was a ^ood turkev 

 da\'- and wi' popiied them over rmlit merrilv. 



I he man v\ ho has an ■•old inuzzldnader at home, 

 buosh. t ha.t he sa,\ s h(^ will •■brum- aroiiiiil after dimier. 

 that is. it fie lias any lialls run o]>. .and show you how to 

 siioot. was there as nsu.al. lie was a hftle dubious about 

 haviuii' the balls. I'.nt i here could be. no i|nest.ion about 

 bis having found tJie fiar and tlie liof wluskv. "\ on haA^e 

 all met Inin: and when he does not turn up with his old 

 fuzee. Mill know that he is eithe^r outot halls or too drunk 

 to keep his promise. 



.Anolhcr lellow who usualh' uets there is the 



thers 

 mo- tl]) the rear 

 very e|uickly ; 

 mnzzli! siglit te 

 |a,ck-lviiii(\ 



right 

 The I 



the .44 Wiix 

 up witli cont 

 way down If 

 furkev. any 

 loweil 

 finger, 

 great, 

 cornel 



W h( 11 

 turke\ 11 

 diim.er w hen w 

 gieith iu_nn 

 (infertainmeiif . 

 ot danger sive 

 with the iinitcl 

 merit ^vas )iresi 

 o\ er-)-ipe I 



hester. old mod 



enct 



md iftu 

 mqnu'CE 

 ca n t se 



i_lii 



•ith his eve 

 iuxl at) leng 

 He I ( tlie s _ 

 tiid becomes 

 liner time 

 it. and Wl 



Mid i ipcil > 



sL£mi!lmt;. aJioiit 

 ••Where is rlie 

 him." When 

 pointed out b> 

 I pi - tlx bud his astonishment is 

 icelullv, sets tlie old gim down in a 

 n interested spectator. 



id cai>tured some 



mari with 

 lb w I Iks 

 I a (jiiarter 

 1 II III d old 

 lie hasfol- 

 onr index 



^ arriveif 

 e ad]ourne 

 mil d hi 

 .■md a nev\ 



d loi 11 III 



da 



ihments. After 



shootms,-. the erow-d was very 

 new teatiirc \\;is added to the 

 Those s|ieir(snieii who think that a since 

 zest to s|iort would lia.ve lieeu delighted 

 at Wanips ihal afternoon, for that c;ondi- 

 'sent m ti-reat ■ -gofis. like t)ie seasonmg in an 

 os;na. whei-e I liere is as much s|nce as meat. 



performance tlii^re was a de- 

 vhether you c;ould 

 har<;es and manage 

 ed vi.mr name for 



ittelia 



it uin.-ertain 

 1 tl im K I II 

 n the score! 



ej.e 



All throni 

 Imhtful s 

 escatje tlu- 



alive wl 

 ycau- next shot. 



Se^■eral ol the regular shoote?i's tdlowed others from 

 amon^ th |) i itois''te) tike lums nisho(-)1in^ tin u miiis 

 and h resulted it greatly increasma- tlx.' danger to all. 



I spe;if; c;H-nestl.v in tins matter liee.anse 1 mvself came 

 vi^rv neaj' Juruishing business lor the coroner on that oc- 

 casion. And it came about, m this wav: 



After making a six it 

 his gun— a TMarlm re]iea 

 shed, while lie w^ent mtit the ba 

 The sroiekeei i e dh d b te Mi 

 u]). took (Joats 2,iin and looked i 

 he •']! llarr\ loaded ner tor me 

 way. and see. ' He knidt do-wn 

 muzzle on the end end oi the r 



111 ( li ini-'d lud loaded 



1 then set it diiwn by the 

 rrt.ii an to warm up a little, 

 imfolil. and Pete sti-pped 

 t over, --l w^rxider. said 

 . Ill trv her once, any- 

 n the straw, rested the 

 litilled the trig- 



ger. < 'lip went the hammer on the hrmg pm. and there 

 was no explosion. ••No. said he, ••Harry didn t load her.'" ' 

 And lie sfepjied bai-k anioug the crowd, flirew the lever 

 down iiiilsiw i(iilixU( iiillxihimbn Hi' said he, 

 '•she is loaded after all: I'll trv lier again. And he 

 brought the lever bacjk to phice w^ith a smart jerk, and 

 must ha\e touelud the tii__n it tlx s mn time t n the 



old gun roareed out a sal 

 out. ilirectlv m line wii 

 realized that 

 I his jaw eiro 

 liosiricin Avhit 

 xplauations of 



1 my lie 

 iIk- '^un . 

 ped.. am 



iw I >fii- d or -111 piirt 

 ■a.fl fait a Jittle loo high. 

 '4dnei o.tl., he was SO 

 •etaineel the •^im in 



1 1 excuses and 

 d. and while he 

 [be closeness of 

 :. 1 hardly think 

 ro measure the 

 1 IS I , oiild tell 

 SIX mclies. 

 li\' t lie owner 



agam mtidied up 

 I bl xk hnkns 



tlieir fowls, with 

 lers. ;ind his ipiest 

 inx I little ( oldn 



^^ lien 1 1 



amazeit ( 



the same |iosinoii avIuIc lie stamm 

 numerous explauations ol bow it Jiai.ipeix 

 did so. I had an opportimity to estimate 

 the ( all The t it ik f iil( d so jUK k f\ flu 

 I had time to go mside ami borro-^v a. rnli 

 actual distance from mv liead. but as ne 

 by the eye he missed me fiv from tliree t.; 



The explanation ot the difhcidt^- as givi 

 e>f the gun when he came back was that his son had 

 piim d tlx itiiiLis and had not seated them deep 

 I iK tub 111 1 tliK u^hi ut the d i\ theie we le fittpient mis 

 fires on that account. 



Vnot her oi the men. tea' some reaseni. candied his gun 

 iiisxle ( lie barroom, and was mamiJiilating tlie lock wdiile 

 tiie muzzle pomreel in liehmd the b;ir. 1 he barroom was 

 crowded at tlie time, fait tor some reason t)ie liartender 

 had just stepped back into ancjther room for a moment. 

 Suddenly there •was ttie crash of an explosion, and 



