The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-07-01


try except Wilbur Waters and even ex-
celled him in deer driving and all the
hunters within miles, when they felt like
enjoying something extra in the sporting
line, flocked to his hospitable and pleasant
home, where they knew the latch; string
was always hanging out. Not only so, but
he was the best shot as well as the best dri
yer in all the mountains, and was always
ready, though the pillow had to stand in the
| furrow and the cradle remain idle in the
| field of golden grain. He was noble man,
and positively, and by large odds, in my
| opinion, the best man ever knew, in any
and every sense; and here take occasion
to pay him this passing tribute, because he
has gone to the land of shadows-his life,
in the prime of his manhood, was laid upon
his country's altar in defence of the "Lost
Cause" He was not a professor ofreligion,
though always thought he had it in the
natura5 qoay. He had heart in him big
enough for the giant of Gath, benevolence
and disinterestedness as pure as the noun
tain and the lake, hand as open as the
day-in word, he was the only man |
ever knew in whom | could not suggest
some improvement, were he to be "recon-
structed"
His brother Dave, now citizen of High
Point, N c., and an artist of no mean pro-
ficiency, was younger, unmarried and lived
with him, and was very much like him,
but in lesser degree. He also had pas
sion for hunting, but while the former new
er wasted time upon any but larger game,
'all were fish that came into the net" of
the latter, from a snow bird to an eagle, or
from squirrel to bear. He usually car.
ried both rifle and a shotgun, with a
tomahawk and butcher knife, so as to be
prepared for whatever might come in the
way. He was also as fearless as Turk,
and one of our most successful hunters
But to proceed with my story These
two friends and myself had arranged for a
hunt among ourselves, and rode over to
their home, nine miles off, in the night, to
have an early start to the mountains next
morning. had been hunting long time,
but always taking the post of 'driver," had
never had the pleasure of killing deer
The elder OF the brothers was to do the
driving ON this occasion, and the younger
and myself to occupy the stands. 1t was
alright and bracing morning, and a shower
the night before had so dampened the earth
as to enable the dogs to trail without diff
hcuty. AS | had never killed deer,
was anxious to make sure work of it, and
had prepared myself with large shot gun,
six feet in the barrel, carrying "a buck
shot and chambering so. | occupied the
best stand, as the brothers were more aux-
ions, if anything, than was myself, that I
should bag the game | posted myself
against forked wild cherry tree ON the
bank OF the river where the stream was
TnrlS 1tril
humping and my fingers itching to pull
the trigger, awaited the coming of the
game, which | was sure would come. for
William Clark never failed to do what he
promised, and he had promised to send me
deer that morning. I didn't wait very
long IN suspense. Listening very intently,
heard Il chug in the water and looking
towards the opposite bank | saw very
large buck dashing through the rocky and
turbid stream directly towards me. 10
my excited vision he looked as large as a
three-year old steer, with Il heavy and
Incorporating head of horns. | stood as
motionlcss as the double tree against which
was leaning, and waited till he came
within so yards, when drew bead and
let him have it right in the face, his body
being in the water. At the crack of the
gun we both fell. II shot at both ends :
1t kicked me-the gun, not the buck-into
the fork of the wild cherry, where was as
tight and fast as glut in rail,cut.
Here was pretty predicament to be in,
squirming and twisting like worm on a
hook in the forks of tree, and wounded
buck only few feet off. Whilst trying to
wriggle myself loose, | could distinctly
hear the trenzied animal houndering in
the water, and momentarily expected to
feel his antlers, though / couldn't see him,
and to receive a wound which would ney.
er be able to see without performing one
of the feats of the India-rubbcr man in
the circus, was rather more than | had
bargained for, or was willing to put up
with. finally cork screwed myself out,
and there was the buck, not dozen yards
from where my load of buck-shot met him,
t1oundering and charging round among
the rocks, and seeming to be doubtful as
to what direction he ought to take. | went
to reloading-being careful to be more
moderate in my charge-and stepping
away from the forked tree as a criminal
would from the stocks and was about to
fire the second time when | heard the re
port of David's rifle few feet off, which
Pat ah oiu W lhe CdpeIS Vi my DuCh, anu
took away exactly half of my laurels.
On getting the deer out Of the water we
found that II out of my "a buck shot had
penetrated his face and head and both eyes
were shot out have never since put "a
buckshot in gun, and have never fired
one with my back to forked tree.
This is short, common place letter, but
you must remember that l am 300 miles
from home, in the midst of the hustle OF
the Commencement Exercises Of Female
College, and almost totally destitute OF
either thought, material or common sense
When | get back on the green and sunny
side OF the Alleghanies, I'll try to do bet
ter.
Yours, respectfully,
G. B. c.
'otaunton, Va, June "a, 1870.
p. ST. spent portion of yesterday at
Monticello, the residence of Thomas Jeffer-
son, "a miles from Charlottesville, and wit
messed last night, a very splendid musical
performance by the pupils Of the Institu-
ton for the blind at this place. To night
| expect to be present at the closing com
mencement exercises of the Staunton Yves
leyan Female College, tomorrow to visit
the Lunatic Asylum, the next day to start
homeward, and then, after little rest, to
give you letter briefly describing what
| I baua and haa ri IN, Nd