Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-05-08
Fo: the Chronicle.
"Watching a Deer Lick"

A short time since, while looking over the
Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper, lobserved an
article bearing the above caption-"Watch-
ing Deer Lick''-,vhich recalls so vividly
to recollection an incident which came under
nv own immediate observation, during a
short soourn in the West, that thought
perhaps it would be worth transferring to
paper.
The incident am about to relate, occur
red in the summer OF 1854. was at that
time residing on what is known as the "Mil-
ltary Tract,' strip of territory in the State
of Illinois, situated between the Illinois and
Mississippi rivers, and comprising one of the
fines, sections of country in the West, or
perhaps in the World-fertile, we'll wa,ered,
healthy, and much of it heavily timbered.
The climber or woods, however, differ
from what we are accustomed to seeing here,
in ore parlicular-there is generally an un-
dergrowth Of hoop poles, brush and brambles,
which. in many places, are so completely
matted and interviewer as to render a pas
sage through them, either for man or beast,
next to impossible.
One line evening, as came in from my
daily routine of business, my kind host asked
if would accompany him to deer lick that
evening. Glad Of an opportunity to join in
anything that might produce little excite
ment, and break or dispel the monotony
which seemed depress We, 1eagerly accepted
the invitation. As the last rays of the setting
sun poured food of golden and brilliant
light on the small, fowered-decked, grove
embosomed, emerald prairies, which lay to
the South and East OF US, we entered piece
of timber land which extended to the North
and West for several miles. Our road was
sort of cow-path, and as | noticed many
stumps, on which had apparently once grown
fine, large, thrifty trees, | came to the con-
clusion that the path we were following had
been made by some of the sovereign squat
ters in conveying rail timber oft of the fair
domains of some of Uncle Sans so diers;
practice formerly quite common, but no~
rather risky bi isiness, as the law Furnishes
such offences severely, provided any person
chooses to give information of the offenders
or enforce the law. After pursuing our
course some two miles, through briar and
bush, we at length came in sight of the
Slick" and began TO keep sharp look out
for the purpose of espying the deer, provided
any came within range of the visual organs.
Seeing none, we proceeded forthwith TO make
the necessary arrangements tor spending
few hours within rifle shot Of the slick"
NV companion selected a location COM
paratlvely clear of bushes, and at once pro-
ceeded to cut down the few that might in
terfere with the range of his rifle, when
brought TO bear upon the lick. With these
he hastily constructed a screen or covering,
which would render him invisible to the
deer, should any make their appearance. l
took my station, armed with pistol, little
to the right of Jeems, my companion, behind
tie trunk of a fallen tree. watched un-
til twilight deepened into darkness, "and the
sentinel stars set their watch in the sky
and their twinkling beams peePed down
through the thick foliage that overaung Us,
and, like old, familiar friends, seemed to
whisper, "why wander ye here, from your
childhood's home!" yet no deer made their
appearance. was getting somewhat tired
Of the "spori," and perhaps ere that time
1 would hdve moved ior an adjournment, had
not been kept very busy killing and piing
up the gnuts and mosquitoes, which swarm
ed around me by thousands, and, as believe,
wanted to stake me-" but, thought ], a
brave hunter would scorn sach puny antag-
onsts My musings ere here interrupted
by the suppressed voice Of Jeems:
Hist. here one comes" Listening,
heard something bounding towards us. It:
not deer" said |.
"Yes it is," said Jeems, "and I'll bring i
down just now"