Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-07
A GEORGIA GANprR PULLING,


offend "ears polite" but simply desire to give you
un idea of Southern refinement, as it prevails a.
mong the common mass of the population. Moth
ing is more unerrlng index of tho character of a
people, than their amusements, They are the I'M
perverted manifestations of the principles and feel
ings that reign uppermost in the popular BOSOM
The differences that are to be drawn from the fol-
lowing sketch, however, are not to be applied to
the upper and better portion of society That class
regard such barbarous sports with adherence, and
always blush for shame when they are presented to
the view of strangers.
The day was the fourth of July 1912, and the
place town in the Northern part of Georgia. We
had just been listening to n regular "blood and
thunder" anniversary oration admirably suited to
the tastes of the native chvalry, and were engaged
in scanning, with philosophic eye the evoutions of
squad Of cavelry which looked for all the world,
like "Falstaff S regiment turned troopers when a
medical friend touched our elbow, and with ro-
gulsh twinkle of the eye, invited us to attend a
gander pulling which, he said, was shortly to take
place. We had read something Of this sport in.an
old volume of American travels, published in 1915,
but supposed that it had grown nearly Obsolete
An opportunity to witness a bona ide exhibition Of
this kind of course, was not TO be despised by one
ever anxious TO learn something new respecting
Southern character, and without hesitation we re-
paired directly to the scene of operations, which
was but short distance from the village. We
found a crowd of three or four hundred already
collected, composed of every variety of color from
the purest European white down 10 the darkest
African sable All were standing upon the tiptoe
Of expectation, awaiting the arrival of the hero of
the day. But few minutes elapsed when sure
enough he came in the shape of large, powerful,
well proportional gander, that looked as if lie had
been the monarch of thousand gooseponds. His
appearance was hailed with the most boisterous ac-
CARNATIONS. Operations were Immediately com
menced. In a trice his neck was denudcd of its
teathery covering; and was then thoroughly rub
bed over with soap and other unctuous substances.
This step completed, the regular course of events
was suddenly arrested by an unforeseen difficulty
which well-ngh "nipped in the bud" the Joyful an
ticipations of all present The gander was unpaid
for, and his proprietor, sensible Of the repudating
propensities of his countrymcn, demanded his
worth, in advance, in good solid cash. He turned
deaf ear TO all entreatics. His money he ,0ould
have or the sport should not 90 on. Those who
were white enough stood nghast at the announce
ment, and the rest mutely rolled their eyes in elo-
quent despair Not picnyuue could be raised to
meet the exigency At last, however, the better
feelings of the barefoot master of ceremonies OBJ
tanned the ascendancy, and he proclaimed his will
lingness to take his pay in good fair PROMISES
These of course were not long wanting, and all
again " went merry as marriage bell.' stout
leather thong attached to the legs of the poor
crest-fallen gander, and by it he suspended to
one extremity of long elastic hickory pole, which
passed horizontally through the crotch of another
pole set in the ground for the purpose. There his
anserine majesty dangled in the air, at the height
of ten feet from the ground, and, like martyr,
meekly eyed the gaping crowd ranged around. A |
ring is straightway formed. Five six bold
alters each mounted on favorite courser, enter
the lists with their arms barred for the deadly srug
gle, and array themselves in order at few yards
distance in the rear. Two rugged func.onaries,
each armed with hickory of most portentous
length, station themselves beneath the victim. All
things ready, the word is given, and now comes the
tug of war. The first champion spurs his charger,
and dashes onward, He reaches the pole. His
horse, dashed to madness by the aforesaid dignita
ries. springs and rears with almost uncomfortable
fury. But calmly the rider fixes his glazing eye
full upon his devoted prey, then stretches forth his
brawny arm, seizes the gander's sof-soaped neck,
and though he has loose and slippery hold, he
manages to give it deadly wrench, such as mortal
gapder meier sustained before. The sufierings of
the poor animal were extreme, and he vented them
in series oil unearhy squalls, that, one would sup.
pose, would have sent conjunction to hearts of
stone. But far enough from this was their actual
effect. His agony furnished material for merrimcnt
and many peal Of laughter long and loud did it
elicit from the patriotic bystaniers. Bet look
a second comes rushing furiously on His char ger
feels the blows of the hckories, and in sudden
demipoH dashes aside, and MS master clutches at
the gander's neck in vain shout of derlsion
luted the boffled hero, and sorrowfully he walked
his steed back to the extremity Of the lists. The
third and the fourth were alike unsuccessful The
fifth was more Fortunate and, with iron grippe, lie
stretched the ganders neck to its utmost degree of
tension But it is needless to pursue these revolt
ing details further. The poor creatures head soon
sweled to thrice its ordinary size, and exhibited
nothing but quivering mass of bleeding, bruised
flesh. About the fifteenth trial his neck was bro
ken, and death terminated his sufierngs; and on
the twenty-flth, his head was torn from his body,
and the game was pronounced finished. Cheers
from hundred throats greeted the exulting victor,
and the crowd adjourned to the tavern to celebrate
over sou-inspiring whskey the gallant exploits Of
their comrades The headess gander was left
swinging TO and fro in the air, frightful monu-
ment of human barbarity. We turned away sick
at heart to witness such horiid scenes enacted in
this Toasted land of freedom. The day was as
beautiful as ever gladdened the soul of man. Ma
ture was decked IN all her richest array and bright
skies above smiled lovingly upon her. But scorned,
hated, detcsted, loathed, was that region of Gods
earth, which was covered with such unutterable
moral darkness