Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-12-05
How Smith Shot u Duck.

How Smith Shot Il Duck.
SOME clever ways reside on the coast of
Connecticut, In the County of New Lon
don, and neal the little town of Jordan.
vile, and now and then they perpetrate a
practical Joke. Lounging in the room of
an cid mansion built one hundred and
fifty years ago, and looking through u
narrow window and a mist Of rain ont
upon the turbulent waves of the sea, we
listened, a few days ago, to the narration
Of a story that had its comical side. A
young gentlemen from New York, who,
for convenience sake, we will call Smith,
was on a visit to Jordanville, the special
object of the visit being sport. Fishing
had been tried, with indifferent luck,
when it was proposed to take the gum
aud go after ducks. The proposition was
received with favor, and ina short time the
party were equipped and on their way to
q neighboring pond. An old mill stood
at the head of the pond, and into this one
of the gentlemen Crept with the ayowed
object of commanding the water from
that point. The three other gunners
were to take sheltered positions further
down. As they s~tealthily approached the
banks they discovered what they sup
posed TO be a fine teal swimming in the
water, Smith was all excitement now.
Lifting his hand as a signal for silence,
and with a whispered, tremulous hush
upon his lips, he advanced cautiously in
order TO ecu a better position for TAX
ing aim. But, fearing that the duck would
fly, he fired more quickly than he would
have done in cooler moments. The fowl
Owed At the flash, and the shot whistled
harmlessly over the water. Smith WA
much put out at this miss, and
fearing that one OF the other gen.
tlemen would get Il well directed shot
in, he stood, with cooked gun
In hands, waiting for the duck to
rise. Presently it came TO the surface,
and the excited New Yorker let drive at
it with the second barrel, again the
duck Owed, and no crimson trail was left
behind TO tell that the shot had taken eff.
feet, Smith loaded his gun, and while
doing 80, each OF the other gentlemen
blazed away at the teal. But the bird had
q charmed life. Smith was now deter
mined to do terrible execution. His
nerves had become more steady, and, as
the duck came up within range, he took
deliberate aim and pulled the trigger,
Imagine his disgust rs he saw the bird
again 90 down apparently unframed. As
the duck r%eappeared. he fired rather
quickly, but without effect. He now was
mad with disappointment, and wore
roundly at the gun. Grittlng his teeth
after the fashion of a thoroughly yeyed
man, Smith loaded once more, But both
barrels failed TO bag the obstinate teal.
The small supply OF ammunition was
now exhausted; besides, II was growing
dark, and the hunters were obliged TO re-
trace their steps TO the house empty
banded. Smith did not bear his misfor.
tune very s 0cefully; in fact, tie chatting
of his three friends sorely angered him.
He retired to bed that night with conf
dence somewhat shaken in his shooting
proves. The next morning, while PIE
pairing 10 try again his hand at fishing,
he was waited upon by NJ officer Of the
law, who had a warrant for his arrest. |
was explained to him that the gentleman
who owned the pond was a crusty sort OF
fellow, that he had obtained the OF
the party who invaded his prem
ises and made such an Internal
racket with their guns, and that
he had brought a suit for trespass. Smith
was much cast down at this, but then he
had the sympathy Of his friends, as they
also were under arrest. A consultation
was held, and IL was decided TO send r.
New London for counsel. The hearing
was to take place that evening before the
Justice Of the Peace, n Jolly, good ma
tured man. The day was spent in pre-.
! Darins for the conflict. Both parties Sc.
cured legal advice. and each, by o singu
lar coincidence, employed An attorney
more noted for CAB than anything else.
| At six o'clock in the evening, both par
ties to the suit, with their friends, met al
the Squire's. The case was promptly
called. Smith and his friends had to ad
init that they had invaded the premises Of
the prosecutor, and that they had dis
charged their gums at a duck In his pond
but they pleaded that they were not a WAR
that the grounds were posted, and tha
they had no intention Of committing 4 tres
pass. This much admitted, there was liz
tie need Of further evidence, and SO th,
case resolved itself into & war Of words
between the opposing lawyers. Fol
something IKE four hours the attorney
badgered each other, and poured streams
| Of eloquence into the ears Of the Justice
Finally they exhausted themselves, anC
both sat down. But before the Squire
rendered his decision, one of the defcns'
arose and asked the privilege Of introduc
ing an important witness--a witness tina
hitherto had been overlooked. The pros
! c~cutiug attorney Indignantly protested
against this, but the prosecutor very gen
erously insisted that the witness snoult
be heard. One Of the gentlemen ther
quietly stepped into another room, and
returning with something in his hand
grayely addressed the Justice Your Hon
or, the witness ! wish TO introduce, ans
which all have consented shall be intro