The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-10-22
Seleet Nlistrllang,
A HUNT IN THE NORTH WOODS.

Four years ago this winter | built my
camp on the head waters of Racquet river.
and trapped and hunted until December
without having much snow; but on the
9th of December il commenced in the
morning to snow, and for five days it showed
as though it meant it. Then it cleared off
so cold that il would freeze dogs bark up
tight, and held so for three days thcn it
began to rain, and ii rained for two days,
and then froze. and made Il crust that was
strong enough to hold up my dog, Vow,
says |, for hunt So, putting on my snow
shoes and taking my pack on my back, |
took my pistols and doube-barrel rifle and
old hound, and started for some vcnson.
About one mile from my camp are the blue
hills of Racquet, and upon them | knew
there were six or seven old bucks which
had escaped all of the hunters in these
woods for the last five yoas, Ono half
hours walk and was at the foot Of the
mountain. Vending my way along its base.
| discovered signs OF deer so slipping the
chain from the old hound | waited to hear
what he said about it. l did not have to
wait long. Soon he began his noise, and
the deep, heavy tone of his voice made the
mountains echo all around.
For nearly an hour he wcnded his way
on their old trails, where they had been Il
day or two before. | had lighted my pipe
and was having quiet smoke, when all al
once there came the sharp, quick cry that
told me he had found new signs then all
was still again as death for five OF six min
utes; then he screamed as though there
were ten thousand hounds all loose at once.
Now, says |, the dance has begun in one
hour | shall either have dead deer or dead
hound. Away they went, like the wind,
sweeping along the mountain to the west for
half u mile or so. then turned and came
straight toward me, | had hardly time to
get ready when a large buck came in sight.
He was "a fine looking animal, with his long
antlers sweeping through the LIMOS, his
large eyes looking fierce and wild. and
breathing almost as loud as an engine with
all steam on. On he came within range OF
the deadly rife, and with one shot it laid
him dead at my feet. On looking up to see
if the hound was coming, what was my sur
prise to see two more coming, as large rs
the first, On they came, turning the frozen
snow at every bound, like two mad bulls /;
and when within ton rods of me the other
| barrel of the old rifle sent It's half ounce of
lead through him and laid him out. But ON
came the third one. within six feet OF where
| ! stood, when 4 shot from my pistol, through
his head, stopped him,
As | stood looking at the three dead
ones, and thinking | had been lucky, the
fourth came in sight, and such hnck as he
was | had never seen before. Such horns
nearly six ieet long, with ten prongs on one
side and min, Oh the other, lie Was nearly
as long as e horse, and as large. On, "n ho
came, tearing everything that came IN ms
way small trees, dry limbs, and large
/ e How
! ton. On he came directly toward me,
had seen many an old buck IN my day, but
none like him. For twenty years have
roamed in the forests. through the woods
in Maine, and on the lofty peaks OF the
| Allegheny Mountains had seen moose,
panther, bear, and wolves as thick as sheep,
and did not mind them but his fierce, de-
termned look, and his lofty bounds as he
came sweeping through the forest, told me
| | had something more to deal with than
either of them, As he came within ten
feet of me he stopped, looked at me, shook
| his long horns, as much as to say, " am
master of tue forest, and shall pass here II
| | like | quietly drew my other pistol
cracked it, held it as his eye and pulled 1t
missed fire. With one bound he was upon
me. | meant to dodge him, but my snow
shoes caught in the crust and tell Hat on
my face Ii was we'll for me that dld, iol
| when / struck the snow he was upon my
back with his hoofs, and for minute OF
two beat out quite g tune then stepping
| back few stops, stood and looked al me
| thought / would get out my hunting knlie
| but the first move made he was upon me
again, and had not his hoofs been badly
worn nothing could have saved me. MY
heavy buckslin hunting shirt he cut in sew