Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-09-03

To one of those general nightly rendezvous, not
far from the banks of Green River In Kentucky, j
paid repeated visits 1t was, as is almost always
tho case, pitched in portion Of the forest where
the trees were of great magnitude OF growth, put
with little underwood. rode through it length
wise upwards of forty miles, and crossed it in dill
erent parts asceraning its width to be rather more
than three miles. My first view OF it was about
fortnight subsequent to the period when they had
chosen this spot, and arrived there nearly two
hours before the setting of the sun. Few pigeons
were then to be seen, but great number OF per-
sons with horses and wagons, guns and ammunl-
ton had already established different camps on the
borders. Two farmers from the neghborhood of
Russelsyille, distant more than one hundred miles,
had driven upwards of three hundred hogs to be
fattened on pigeon meat; and here and there the
people, employed in picking and sailing what had
already been procured, were seen sitting IN the cen
tire of large piles of those birds, all proving to me
that the number resorng there at night must be
immense, and probably consisting of all those then
feeding in Indiana, some distance beyond Jeiicr-
sonvlle, not less then one hundred and fifty miles
off Many trees two feet in diameter | observed
were broken at no great distance from the ground,
and the branches OF many of the largest and tall
est much so, that the desoation already exhibit
ed equalled that performed by furious tornado
AS the time elapsed, saw each of the anxious per-
sons about to prepare for action; some with sui phur
in iron pots, others with torches Of pine knots many
with poles, and the rest with guns double and tre-
BILE charged. The sun was lost to our view, yet
not pigeon had yet arrived, but all Of a sudden
heard cry Of g Here they come" The noise
which they made, though distant reminded me of
n hard gale at sea, passing through the rigging Of
a close-reefed vessel. As the birds arrived, and
passed over me, felt current of air that surpris
ed me. Thousands were soon knocked down by
the policemen. The current of birds, however, kept
still increasing. The fires were lighted and most
magnificent, as well as wonderful and terrifying
sight was before me. The pigeons, coming in by
millions, alighted every where on top of anoth
er, until masses of them resembling banging swarms
of bees as large as hogsheads, were formed on ev
cry tree in all directions. These heavy clusters
were seen TO give way, as the supporting branches
breaking down with crash, came to the ground,
killing hundreds of those which INSTRUCTED their
fall, forcing down other equally large and heavy
groups, and rendering the whole scene of uproar
and OF distressing confusion. | found it quite USE
less to speak, even to shout to those persons
nearest to me. The reports even of the different
guns were seldom heard and knew only of their
going off by seeing the owners reload them
No person dared venture within the line of de-
VISITATION, and the hogs had been penned up in due
time, the picking up of the dead and wounded suf-
ferers being left for the next mornings operation.
Still the pigeons were constantly coming, and it
was past midnight before perceived a decrease in
tnued, however, the whole nights and as | was aux-
ious to know to what distance the sound reached,
sent off man, who, by his habits in the woods,
was able to tell me, two hours afterwards, that at
three miles he heard it distinctly. Towards the
approach of day the noise rather subsided: but
long ere objects were at all distingushable, the
pigeons began to move off IN a direction quite diff
ferent from that in which they arrived the day be-
fore, and at sunrise none that were able to fly ie-
NAMED. The bowling of the wolves now reached
our ears, and the foxes, the LYNX the cougars BEARS
rackoons opossums, and pole-cats, were seen sneak
ing off the spot, whilst the eagles and hawks of
different species, supported by horde of buzzards
and carrion crows, came to supplant them and reap
the benefits Of this night OF destruction.
1t was then that l. and all those present, began
our entry among the dead and wounded sufferers.
They were picked up in great numbers, until each
had as many could possibly be disposed of and
afterwards the hogs and dogs were let loose to
feed on the remainder.