Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-16
.CLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY Is, 1856


yet fatigued by the length of the chase, wear
ing more the air of surprise than fright, his
antlers laid gently back upon his neck, his
standark raised, and all his colors flying, he
bounded on, as if spurning the ground with
his hoofs, and conscious of untiring speed
l shouted in ecstacy.
sHush' said Newell, snot a word, or he'll
shoot the track
He brought his rife to the cock, and waited
for the buck to clear the woods, the distance
from where we stood to the river being about
ten rods of grass plat. On he came. Oh! it
seemed sinto take the life of SO noble crea-
ture. Newell raised his rifle to his shoulder,
and, as the deer gave the last bound from the
bank to the stream, aimed at his neck, and fir
ed. From the sudden turn of the deer's head,
as he struck the water, it was evident he was
hit. He gave two or three short jumps into
the ripple and fell. The Sheriff heard the re-
port, and as he could see from his station that
the deer had fallen, hastened up. The buck
lay metionless in the water, and slowly float
ing down the river, which was about knee
deep. AS Newell was getting advanced in
years, he, being clad in long fishing boots, Of
fered to go in and cut the animals throat
The bullet had struck just at the root of the
horn, on the side of the head, had stopped
there, consequently the deer was only stunn-
ed, not Killed. l. drew his hunting knife
aud proceeded to cut his throat. The first
cash, which let little blood, revived him at
once, and he was on his feet in m instant; and
and now commenced one Of he most exciting
encounters it was. ever my fortune to witness.
1t is well known that an old stag at bay is one
the most savage Of animals, and as the small
cash made in his throat had severed no main
vessel, the blood he had lost amounted to no.
thing. He lowered his head and made lunge
at his enemy. LIS only safety was to
catch him by the horns and force his nose un-
der water by his own weight. But this could
not last long, as the deer's struggles were pow
erful. He next attempted to hold him by one
horn, and use the knife on the back of his neck.
The result Of this experiment was that he ssas
landed about six feet of, with the whole front
part of his clothing torn from his body, and
his knife lost Tho deer made another spring
at him, with the intent to put his fore feet on
top of him as he lay in the water, and trample
him. This he evaded by sudden spring, and
again sncoeeded in graspiug him by both
horns. Thus they struggled and floundered, ),
sometimes one under water, and then the 9TH
er, for some twenty minutes. Meantime the
dogs had run in, and the mastid came to the
rescue. Unfortunately the water was just that
depth in (which man and deer could stand, but
the dogs could not touch bottom. 1t was all
they could do to stem the current, to say no
thing of fighting. 1t was getting to be sosi-
Gus matter. One of the prongs Of the antlers
had been broken, and left a biade-like point
as sharp as a needle. On this the Sheriff had
seriously torn his hand eally in the fight, and
was losing some blood by it. He shouted to
Newell to fire at the deer, but so sudden and
rapid were their motions, that the old gentle
man was afraid to shoot, being as likely to hit
one as. the other. As for myself, was mere
boy, and they had been gradually getting into
deeper and swifter water than could standin.
[ could do no manner of good, and stood ON
the shore, amid the barking dogs, excited and
speechless. Again the decr's nose was forced
under water for moment, and again with
mighty effort he raised his antagonist with
lunge that rolled them together in the stream.
L felt his strength failing, but he also
knew his life was at stake Earlier in the bat
tic he had fought from a feeling of pride, and
to save the venison, as there would he no
chance of killing it now, if the buck got away.
Now, had he let go, and made for the shore,
the chances were the deer would trample HIM
before he reached the bank. AT this critical
moment Archibald arrived. He had heard
Newell's gun, and not hearing another, had
. taking it for. granted the game was quietly
killed, and stroled Eesurely back. Seeing
the real state of the case at "a glance, he
the animals ham-strings at blow and ended
the fight. Both were drawn ashore, the deer
dead, and L. perfectly exhausted. A
draught from a black bottle, dug from the
depths of the mysterious basket, soon put all
parties to rights, saving the torn hand and ha-
bilinents of the Sheriff. He was a sorry sight
to see. Not. a single garment was left in It's
which had served him for years as hat, um-
brella, drinking cup, and landing net, as oeca-
sion required, had been foated off and sunk.
TIE deer was now dressed, qnartered, and
divided in the ustial manner, that is to say. the
carcase was cut into as many pieces as there
were persons in the party, Ghe ahtlers and
skin belonging of right to the one who first
draws blood, when one turns his back to the
whole, and to the question, Who shall have
this pile?' who calls off the names by chance.
In those days, this was the .unvarying mode of
dividing all manner of game hunted by par