Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-12-04
SETH STARK.
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN sHARP.sHooTER
BIZ HARRY HAZEL.

"sIt'sno use torking 'beout il, dad, l I'M goin
to fire into the enemy. The Union is in dan
ger-Varmont is in danger, and Hardscrable
in particular is in danger, and | am bound to
CO., That is wot told the old man, Mister
officer, and that's wot tell you. If you wont
'list me, I'll find out another 'crutin station,
darned quick.o
This speech of hard listed, young Green
Mountain Boy, with rifle in his hand, was not
long since made to an officer of a recruiting
station in Montpelier, VT, who interposed
some objections to the stout lads enlisting,
to-wit: that his visual organs presented a
strong case of strabismus, that his body was
slightly angular, that his style of speech and
manner rather shocked the eyes ofthe gentle
manly, college cultivated lieutenant, who had
thrown down Blackstone, Kent, Coke, and
other law commentators for sword and epau-
let's; and also because the applicant was in
curably left handed.
"How old are you 2" asked the lieutenant.
"Twenty last grass"
s.What has been your business ?''
"Cuttin' logs, and shootin' bars in winter,
and driyin' cattle and mowin' grass IN sum-
mer."
"Shooting bears, eh ?''
"Yeas, shootin' bars"
"Then suppose you would take aim at a
tree in one direction. and hit the bear in an
other," said the officer derisively. sI am
afraid, in battle you would be much less dam
gerous in the enemy's ranks than in ours"
al know that Pm little cock eyed, Mister
Officer, but I've fotched many at bar more
than hundred rods, and at turkey shoots
they allus try 20 caount me aout."
"COunt you out; what do you mean by
that i''
s'Waall, I amt SO preferable to the turkey
match-maksrs as some o. the rest of 'em for
when git this 'ere rifle of dads on one of the
birds, you can reckon he is mine,''
care you also good shot with the mus
ket 7''
"Don't know nothin' beout that kind of
shootin' irons''
"But ours is an infantry company, and we
use smooth borcs,'' suggested the officer
"Waall, Captin, ii yeou don't caikilate to
60 to kill, l am not your man. Ii veou dew,
you'd better take me and my bar -kiler.''
"Oh, it's impossible that you should appear
IN our RANKS with a dark barreled weapon.
lou must leave that weapon behind.''
"Can't dew it, Captain. Whar the bar. kill
Ter goes, there 1 goes. Never go nowhere
without it. You see its a sure thing.''
81 have no evidence of it beyond your
word" said the officer, beginning to be inter-
ested in the somewhat uncouth individual.
"bat I'll put your shooting skill to the test,
ana II you can make three as good shots as
three sharp shooters in my corps, I'll engage
10 enlist you, bar-killer and all.''
'Giye US your fist for that, Mister Officer,''
returned the raw recruit, extending his rough,
tan-browned, and freckled hand. elf you've
got three men in your corps that kin out shoot
Seth Stark, I'll GO hum again, and help dad
Kerry on the farm.''
The match was forthwith got up and three
privates OF the Ethan Allen Rangers were Sc
!ected for the trial. Each of them was famed
sharp-shooter, and particularly we'll SIX i'll
ed in the use of the rifle.
A target, representing an Indian chief, was
placed at one hundred rods distant at the ap-
pointed time, the three already recruited rang
ers and Seth Stark took their positions in front
" the company of Rangers to witness the ap-
lafently unequal contest. The two men were
ue'alied to stand within six rods on either side
OF the painted Indian, to make a record of
eaeh successive shot, and before they left the
i,nks their comrads made many good natured
uu' shghtly satirical remarks at the expense of
AUG cross-eyed volunteer.
"bill Barton, be keerfu. where you stand
.neh that fellow blazes away" said ranger
one OF the target markers the safest place
VII be behind il. -
Better get under the bank, Bill there's no
.aleuiatng where his bullets may strike,"
SAID another.
~ think the only sure place is in the rear
oi The breech, ''said third.
Almost every one of the corps volunteered
aJocose opinion in reference to the crooked
t!eu, crooked-formed and otherwise crooked
uacS-woodsman, some of which reached the
.aH OF Seth who, suddenly facing the CON-
pAas, while they we're at ease, and pricking
spa us ears said: "Perhaps as haow some on
would like to bet sum on them 'ere three
suafp shooter 2" and pulled out from his ca
saclous ,sus looking pocket greasy wallet, which
emed rather plethoric of bank bills, consid
>'ns the coarse, Aedy gear of the rifeman.
I'll lay ye anythiog from sheet Of ginger
s.a ssd to tew dollar bill that I'l take the con-
rss nc. out o. you or your sharp shooters at a
kn.sssnootin', wraslin', huggin' or reg liar
'', x.deown and drag eout fight" s
An bet you dollar you don't hit the board