The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-08-08


zine we find in an article under the head
of "Surry County, North Carolina the
following stories, which will bear repeat
ing:
Odd characters abound in such COM
munity. Foremost among those COM
memorated by "Skitt" is Uncle David
Lane, tall, heavy, lazy looking old fel
low, whose speciality was telling Hunt
ing stories. He was never seen without
his 'Bucksmasher," a rough looking ri
fe of his own make. for he was a sort Of
gunsmith and when once seated, he
would pour out continuous stream of
adventures, most Of which had happened
to himself, though few he had ''hearn."
He had certainly never heard of Baron
Munchausen, though many of his stories
are vastly like those of that veracious au
thor as for instance, the following about
Pigeon Shooting" which we give in his
own words, slightly abbreviated
81 mounted old Nip, and moseyed off
for the pigeon roost. 'ruv thar bout
two hours by the sun, and from that
blessed hour until chock dark, the heay-
ems was dark with 'um, comm inter the
roost. 1t is uncomfortable to tell the
number on 'em, which it were so great.
Bein' man that has character for truth
| wont say how many there was. There
was mighty heap of sapling for 'um to
roost in, which they alters lighted in the
big trees fust, then pitch down on the
little uns to roost. Now just at dark !
thort I'd commence smashin' 'um, so l
hitched old Nip to the limb Nv a tree
with a monstrous big bridle--a good
hitchin' place, ! thort. I commenced
blazing away at the pigeons like thunder
and lightnin' which they'd light of big
trees thick as bees, bend the trees to the
earth like they'd been lead.
"By hokey, l shot so fast, and so long,
and SO often, het old tower so hot, that
shot six inches off NV the muzzle NV the
old lut. saw it was no use to shoot the
old critter clean away, which l mought
hev some us fur again; SO | just quit
burnin' powder and hingin' shot arter I'd
killed bout a thousand NV 'um fur sure
Arter Id picked up as many NV 'um as
my wallet would hold, I looked fur old
Nip right smack whar I'd hitched him,
but he war, like King SauPs asses, no.
whar to be found. l looked considerable
spell next to the yearth, but bless yer,
honey 1 mout as well scratched fur
needle in a haystaek. At last looked
upon inter tree about 40 root high, and
thar he war swinging to limb danglin'
bout atween the heavens and the yerth,
like rabbit to snare-pole."
elbow come him up thar, Uncle Da-
Wy"
"Why, I hitched him to the limb Nv a
big tree bent to the yerth with pigeons,
you numskull, and when they riz the tree
went up, and old Nip with it, fur sure"
"How did you get him down ?'' said a
listener.
''That's nuther here nor thur 1 got
him down, and that's 'nough fur such
Ipukes as you ter know
Uncle Davy's exploits with deer
were numerous and wonderful
Among them was Munchnusenism bout
an old buck which he had shot with a
peach stone, in default of bullet !; and
Il few year after he saw the same animal
again with fine peach tree loaded with
fruit, growing from his shoulders. But
we must satisfy ourselves with the fol-
lowing:
Il TUX the sunny side Nv the Sugar
Loaf. I kept my eye skinned all the way
up, but nuver seen anything till / got
nearly to the top, when up jumped one
Of the poxtakedest biggest old bucks you
uver seen. He dashed round the mount
ain faster nor shootin' star ur lightnin'
But howsomever, I blszed away at him,
but he were goin so fast around the loaf,
and the bullet going straight forward, |
missed him. Ev'ry day fur week l
1 went to that spot, alters jumped him up
in ten steps of the same place, would fire
away, but alters missed him, as just nor
rated.
Il felt that my credit as a marksman,
and of old bushsmasher, was gittin' nigh.
ty under repair. | didn't like to be out
gineraled in any such way by any such
critter | could smash bucks anywhar
and any time, but that sassy rascal,
couldn't tech har on him. He were a
perfect DAREDEVIL. Ono whole night
didn't sleep wink---didn't bolt my eyes
I-fixin' up plan. Next mornin' went
right straight inter my blacksmith.-shop,
TUX my hammer. and bent old bushsmash
er Just to suit the mountain. so that when
the pesky old buck started around the
mountain the built mout take the twist