The New York herald., 1871-03-12

place who invariably unfured the Coned crate nag
meal. How great the change and all for few
ducks. This IL but another evidence OF the fact
that mems politics are formed on basis oil hnsnce'
A HERALD REPRESENTATIVE
having watched the course & Of the he 1 duck war with
since to learn what the feeling Is in regard TO the
spring campaign. The little town was quite lively
with the merry jingle OF sleigh bells, aid Marylands
fresh and beautiful specimens OF rural femininity
were gayy disporting themselves
Over the OF the beautiful snow,
some In quite fancy turn outs,n while others con.
tented themselves with the old fashioned sledge.
large party OF sleigh riders at the depottO see
Havre de Gracians chance to air their charms and
IKE humanity the world over they improve the
was not long in finding veteran duck hunter
ana We were In the midst Of an argument on the
merits OF the duck law when our conversation was
Ing across the street we found two or three negroes
lighting over sick girl. Axes, tumblers and ham
ments both "darks were LAID out % and the SICK girl
had tainted. ON inquirng the cause OF the row we
were informed That the girl had been sick about
ley simpson, sah-no, indeed she's Jes' liyin heah
with HIM, +" said an aged negress "Wel, sab,
seed that Charley Ayers d settin' round and ne
seed Nancy amt gettln' well, an he says Ayers.
tou is, an sne amt goin' to get weIi.'H
Ayers said ne hadn't been doin' nuf1n OF de kind,
an dat made Simpson mad an they both commenced
fgntin' with de axe an de hammer BY de good
Lori but dat Charley Ayers has got nice '.head on
him." It seems the girl had endeayored to part the
men, bur nad been badly hurt The Freedman's
Bureau oicer and doctor or the occason) lelt ''de
gal's" pulse, recommended rest and departed.
IN THE COURSE OF OUR ARGUMENT
learned that preparations are now being made to
renew the duck war IN the spring with teniold
vigOr. DecOys and sink.b0ats are being constructed
in all kinds Of out OF the way places; but my inform
ant professed ignorance Of the places In which they
We're being construc5ed He merely sad Down
bade my informant goodby, and gave him to
understand that would take The six minutes past
four p. NJ. tram for New York; for feared to let
him know tnat intended TO make some observa.
tons "down the shore somewhar'' TO satisfy myself
In regard 10 the preparations for next springs war
fare. The train was somewhat behind. My inform
ant accompanied me to the depot, and took the
cars and went across the bridge, then gos OF.
walked down the shore about two miles ana struck
bee line across the bay where the Susquehana
river empteS into IL.
1T WAS NEARLY DARK
when arrived @ at my destination, having walked n,
nearly ~ 1onr @ ss On tne ice , Daiea IRON
SIX miles from Havre de Grace. Toward IL wended
my way. and as came nearer and nearer the sound
| and reached the window and looked cautiously In.
what r' involuntarlly exclaimed, "is the man
been done and he is trying to hide all
| traces from mortal eyes," Imagine my feel.
told me that sink boats were made coiiin-shaped.
congratulated myself on the result OF the long walk
had had across the l;e Here said ar .hs s down n
pant Of the hut think had been watching him
silently retraced my steps some little distance ana
then, whistlng lively air. walked in the direction
Of the house. The haInmering ceased as IL by magic.
l could see the "shlp bulder'' actively stirring
| about, carrying the boat out or sight. Knocked
boldly at the door; the opened IL, and asked If
| he wouldn't direct me TO Havre de Grace.
HUNTER-Whar in the world did you come from.
stranger, that you are way down here this time o.
| dayP
have been surveying . route tor new railroad from
Baltimore to Philadelphia started or this after
noon to take look around the country, and here
am.
AUNTER-Ha, ha, ha reckon you've had COED
long tramp, amt yer But come IN aud rest your,
iredest snow drifts have seen here for nigh onto
| twenty years.
ly as you offer 1t. Hyou have place TO sleep con-
HUNrER-Ail right; the ole 'oman she's gone to
Baltimore 10 see some o. her relations, an I've been
alone for mOren q week Darn my buttons II amt
glad TO see human once IN while; cos. ye see
Cap, It's mighty lonesome like about here In the
winter, an don't 60 up to town much.
REPoRrER-what do you do with yourself all win
nUNrER-Jes kinder lay around. Sometimes we
fish and sometimes We smoke and tell stories, an,
story papers or some OF the novels Don't some o.
them ere tellers write powerful yarnss
some o s ,nem az, 90 Guns Wrse very
uons DON'T you Intend to shoot any ducks IN the
sprngs
how that ere Is. What did you say you forereds
REPoRTER-l believe told you am with sur
RuSrER~oh, yes. You see sorter forget. We
has to be little keerful wEO wetak to. for them ere
sharks the gunDoat are laytn for us heavy. They
just want to lind out what we are doin, and then
they'll know where to 20 for US In the spring. l
didn't know but you was one o. them.
REPoRTER-Oh, no; feel interested in the subject
simply because expect TO do good deal of shoot
ing here next spring II everything goes right.
you ever seer Here Is over 200 families Jes depend
In on duck shootin' Tor living, and up comes lot
maxim a livin' they say we are reducin' the sup.
ply and VIII shortly KIN on all the ducks; the id
TAXI taKin, about Why. iii tell you, stranger, there's
MORE NOR TWENTY MILLION
ducks down at the island and on the bay In season.
They want 10 run US out the id skunks, that's
what they want TO do; but Wen put up JOB on en
thatl make 'em sick, sure's my name Is Cutnose
| Bill
REPoRTER-Its pretty hard job to tight gun
boat. Don'tyou think 1t would be better to endeavor
to secure some leglsau0n that would protect you?
HUNrER-Leglslation pe ID that's too thin.
Amt we appointed committees 70 wait on Bowie
that's an he Governor Of me me state @ What
TO shoot ducks II 1t takes a leg.
REPoRrER-I saw one OF the boys the other day.
He told me you were building some boats on the
HUNTER much surprised,-what Who told you
soG am builuin' a few boats, but skin my mule
II l thought anybody knowed ii.
REPORTER-Well, you some one does know It;
but it's oil rlght-your friend knew who he talk
aUSrEs-Come in the carpenter shop; I've got a
few boats slowed away Meooe you'd like TO LOOK at
went through rather primitive looking door
and turned to the left, and walking down three or
four steps, my guide struck match and lit pitch
pine torch. We then proceeded along probably
twenty feet, and another door yielded TO "Cutnose
Blll.n stood in silent amazemcnt looking at the
results OF my irieud's winters work. Judge there
were at least fifteen completed snk-boats, wings and
all, and probably 1900 decOys, painted black and
white and ead-colored. My rumlnations were
brought to an abrupt close by request to "Join in
social nip, Cap. You see keep old 'tear-heel' on
hand; the boys come down to see me once in a
while and have to use them well.n
REpoRTER-"Here's looking at you.'' l tried to
swallow it, but 1t was tear throat instead OF tear
heel and was forced to desst. Bill was too intent
on getting away with his ''np'' to notice me-
TOOK advantage OF mis- rapture, and threw the stun
behind me- ana just got the empty glass back to NV
asked me how liked It.
Like It, said I, with tears in my eyes, sits the
only real stun have tasted this many q dayr And
50 1t the only stuff had years. II salts.
ted me SO well tnat 1 don't care If never get any
more.