The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-09

state
"oeVeral hdiVdnAle who ruurcir-- -tflet'-
selVes expert in the management Of ube gun,
are oNen seen to meet Tor the purpose Of dis-
playing their skin, and betting uihing sum,
pot up a target 10 the centre Of which com
mon sized nail is hammered for about two
thirds ia length. The mArksm make choice
Of what they consider proper distance, which
.s-y he fnrty paeas- Fsch man eleans the L.
tenor ofhia tube, which 10 called wiping IL,
places ball in the palm Of his hand, pouring
As much powder from his horn upon Il az will
cover H. This quantity Ia supposed 10 be
sufficient for any distance within a hundred
yards A shot which comes very close 10 the
nail Is considered as that of an Indifferent
mArksmAn; the banding Of the nail is,of course
somewhat betteri but nothing less than hit
ting Il on the head il satisfactory, Wen, Kind
reader sas out ef three sl'ets generally hits
the nail, and should tho shooters AMOUNT to
half dozen, two nails are frequently needed
before each can have shot Those who drive
the nail have further trial among themselves
and the two best shots out Of these generally
settle the affair, when all the sportsmcn adj
journ TO some house, aud spend an hour or
two in friendly intercourse, appointing, be-
fore they part, day for another trial. This
is technically termed Driving che Nail.
Barking or squirrels is delightful sport,
and in my opinion requires greater degree
ofaeenrAey than any other first witness
ed this manner Of procuring squirrels, whilst
near the town Of Frankfort The performer
was the celebrated Daniel Boone. We walk
cd out together. and followed the rocky mar
gins Of the Ksntucky river, until VIC reached
a piece Of fiat land thickly covered with black
walnuts, oaks and hickorics. As The genera,
mast was good one that year, squirrels were
seen gRmbolling on every tree around Ms. My
companion, stout, hale and athletic man.
dressed in n homespun hundng-shirt, bare
legged and moccasined, carried long hea-
w rifle, which, rs he was loading it. he said
had proved efficient in all his former under
takings, and which he hoped would not fail
on this occasion, as he felt proud To show me
his skiiI. The gun Was wiped, the powder
measured, the ball patched with six-hundrcd-
thread linen, and tho charge sent home with
hickory rod. We moved not step from
the place, for the squirrels were 80 numerous
that il was unnecessary 10 go Rfer them
Boone pointed to one Of these animals which,
had observed us, and was crouched on a
branch about fly PAGES distant, and bade me
mark we'll the spot where the ball should hit
lie rNiscd his piece gradually. until the bead
(that being the name given by the Kcntuck-
iNns to tho sighD Of the barrel was brought
To iine With tho spot which he intended 10
hit The whip-like report rcsounded through
the woods and along the hills in repeated
echoes. Judge OF my surprise, when per-
ceived that the ball had hit the piece Of bark
Immediately beneath the squirrel, aud shivcr-
ed it into splinters, the conclusion produced
by which had killed the animal, and sea. !,
whiriing through the air, as IL IL had been
blown up by the explosion of a powder maga-
zine. Boone kept up his firing, and, before
many hours had elapsed, we had procured rs
many squirrels rs we wished; for you must
know, kind reader, that to load n rife re-
quires only moment, and1hat iC il is wiped
after each shot, it will do duty for hours
Since that first interview with our veteran
Boone, have seen many other individuals
Eporfurm the same feat"
On another occasion he says:
"Colonel Boone happened TO spend night
with me under the same roof, more than
twenty -Yea&s aen--AYe had rntnrned from 2
shooting excursion, in the course OF which his
extraordinary skill in the management os :he
rifle had been fully displayed. On retiring
to the room appropriated TO FRTt remarkable
individual and myself for the night, fell
anxious to know moro Of his exploits and ad
ventures than did, and accordingly took the
liberty of proposing numerous questions tc
him. The stature and general appeSranceot OF
this wanderer Of the western forests approach
ed the gigantic. His chest was broad ant
S prominent; his muscular powers displayed
$ themselves in every limb; his countenanc,
i gave Indication of his great courage, enter
D prise, and perseverance, and when he SPOKE
s the very motion of his lips brought the i'm
y kpression that whatever he uttered could no
l be otherwise than strictly true. IundresSed
4 whilst he merely took or his huhting-shirt
j, aud arranged few folds of blankets on III,
s floor, choosing rather to lie there, as he OBJ
e served, than on the softest bed. When W.
had both disposed Of ourselves, each after hi
4 own fashion, he related TO me the following
= account of his powers Of memory, which la,
!. before you, kind reader, in his own words
q hoping that the simplicity Of his style ma!
+ prove interesting to you
/ VIVA onoo aid ka Ion N hnutin0 awr,e.
q dition on the banks ofthe Green. river, WheI
=. the lower parts of this State (Kentucky )wer,
still in the hands OF nature, and none but tn
sons of the soil we're looked'upon as its Lawful
: owners. We Yirginians had for some tim'
bOen waging war Of intrusion upon them
= and l, among the rest rambled through tn,
woods in pursuit Of their race,as Inow woul,
: follow the tracks OF any raYenous animal.-A
The Indians o0twitted me one dark night,ant