The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-09-09
Shooting Pigeons without Shot.

A correspondent at Chil'icothe, Ohio, I'M
der date of February %, records the follow
ing anecdote as veritable fact
A week or two since, the woods and feed
ing lots around this little city we're perfect
ly alive" with pigeons--as indeed they are
every fall and spring. Among the many
who seized their double barreled guns, and
rushed to the slaughter, was my friend, Sam
XXX, from Bucks County, an eager
sportsman; 80 eager upon this occasion, in
deed, that after driving ut 2:4O speed some
five or six miles out from the town, and see
ing his horse properly put away, he discover
ed with dismay that he had left his shotbag
at home! Here was dilemma for you'll
And to make the incident intolerable, the
morning was simply perfect, and the birds
settling and rising in clouds! What was to
be done ? That was question uron which
Sam exhausted his ingenuity, without arri-
wing at any satisfactory conclusion. Having
gyratcd two or three times around the eighty
acre lot, to the music Of some profane ex-
carnations, he became calm enough to make
up his mind for the return trip pigeonless.-
just at that moment he saw another sports
man drive up to the fence near by, and soon
recognized Capt RI. "Ah. how lucky"
thought Sam Il can beg, buy or borrow
some shot Of him. But--but--what if he
has short supply, and declines divide in
view of the multitude Of birds? All, have
an idea"
'Good morning, Capt R, A beauti-
full morning, this for shooting, and the pigss
cons are as thick as blackberries.
"Cootn morgcn, Herr XIX, respon-
ded tie new conner, who is one OF the most
gentlemanly, but not of the sharpest Of kraut
and sausage consumers, tine dink we have
blenty of shooter dis day"
eyes, plenty Of sport, Captain. But ! say
Cap, do you see yon coffee-nut tree ut the
edge of the timber? Its big leaves, still
hanging, look like pigeons. Now that tree
will attract all the birds to light upon it
Suppose we build blind there, and shoot
together to day. We can take in a thous-
and or two, guess.
avery coot, Herr Xxx" responded
the German, and in few minutes the corn
stalk blind was erected, and the sportsmen
ensconced behind it, ready for business.
On came the long line Of birds, circling
around the feeding ground for moment,
and then settling upon the codee-nut tree in
tens, fifties, hundreds.
"All ready, now, Captain whispered
sam
"Yahp' exclaimed the excited Captain,
Sire together, then !"--bang bang went
both guns, and dozen birds were futtering
on the ground beneath the tree, besides two
or three that sailed off wounded, and were
lost.
.Pretty well done" exclaimed Sam. But
let them lie. Captain; we will gather up the
spoils when we get tired Of shooting" a
Aud SO they shot oil day long, Sam taking
especial pains to FIRE simultaneously with r.,
and when on one or two occasions, he acci-
dentally fred alone, the id gun hung
FIRE" or something got in his eye just as he
pulled the trigger" and resulted in clear
miss In the evening they divided some one
hundred and forty birds between them, and
drove home in high glee over their good
sport and heavy game bags. To this hour
the captain has not learned the fact that Sam
did not fire a single charge Of shot that
DIM ~