Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-11-22
How Smith Shot q Duck.


How Smith Shot n Duck.
SOME clever wags reside on the coast of
Connecticut, in the County of New Lon.
don, and near the little town of Jordan.
vile, and now and then they perpetrate
practical Joke. Lounging in the room of
an old mansion built one hundred and
fifty years ago, and looking through a
narrow window and mist of rain out
upon the turbulent waves of the sea, we
listened, few days ago, to the narration
of story that had It's comical side. A
young gentlemen from New York, who,
for convenience sake, we will call Smith,
was on 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 guns
and go after ducks. The proposition was
received with favor, and in a short time the
party were equipped and on their way to
neighboring pond. An old mill stood
at the head of the pond, and into this one
Of the gentlemen crept with the avowed
object of commanding the water from
that point. The three other gunners
were to take sheltered positions further
down. As they stealthiy approached the
banks they discovered what they sup.
posed to be fine teal swimming in the
water Smith was all excitement now.
Lifting his hand as a signal for silence,
and with whispered, tremulous hush
upon his lips, he advanced cautiously in
order to secure 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
dived at the flash, and the shot whistled
harmlessly over the water. Smith was
much put out at this miss, and
fearing that one of the other gen.
tlemen would get a 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
1t with the second barrel. Again the
duck dived, and no crimson trail was left
behind to tell that the shot had taken eff.
feet Smith loaded his gun, and while
doing so, each of the other gentlemen
blazed away at the teal But the bird had
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 as he saw the bird
the duck reappeared, he fired rather
quickly, but without effect. He now was
mad with disappointment, and swore
roundly at the gun. Gritting his teeth
after the fashion of thoroughly vexed
man, Smith loaded once more. But both
barrels failed to bag the obstinate teal.
The small supply of ammunition was
now exhausted besides, it was growing
dark, and the hunters were obliged to re-
trace their steps to the house empty
handed. Smith did not bear his misfor-
tune very gracefully 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
prowess. The next morning, while PIE.
pairing to try again his hand at fishing,
he was waited upon by an officer of the
law, who had warrant for his arrest. II
was explained to him that the gentleman
who owned the pond was crusty sort OF
fellow, that he had obtained the names OF
the party who invaded his prem
ises and made such an internal
racket with their guns, and thai
he had brought 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 it was decided to send tc
New London for counsel The hearing
was to take place that evening before the
Justice of the Peace, a Jolly, good ma
tured man. The day was spent in pre-
pairing for the conflict. Both parties Sc
cured legal advice; and each, by a 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 a
the Squlre's. The case was promptly
called. Smith and his friends had to ad
nit that they had invaded the premises o
the prosecutor, and that they had dis
charged their guns at duck in his pond
but they pleaded that they were not awar
that the grounds were posted, and tha
they had no intention of committinga a tres
pass. This much admitted, there was lit
tie need of further evidence, and so In,
case resolved itself into a war of word,
between the opposing LAWYERS. Fo
something like four hours the attorney,
badgered each other, and poured streams
of eloquence into the ears of the Justice
| Finally they exhausted themselves. ant
both sat down. But before the SOUR,
rendered his decision, one of the defens
arose and asked the privilege of introduc
ing an important witness-a witness tina
hitherto had been overlooked. The pros
ecuting attorney Indignantly protested
against this, but the prosecutor very gen
erously insisted that the witness shoulC
be heard. One of the gentlemen thel
quietly stepped into another room, and
returning with something in his hand
gravely addressed the Justice: "Your Hon
or, the witness | wish to introduce, anC
which all have consented shall be intro
duced, is before you. This is the duel
that MIR. Smith fired at so often, anC
which he failed to kill" And then h,
thumped heavily down upon the table
wooden decoy. Smith grew very red il
the face, and all laughed except himsel
and the two lawyers, who began to sc,
looming up before them huge practjca
joke. The decoy was well peppered will
shot, showing that Smith had not fired al
wildly as he had imagined. When ordel
had been restored, the Squire decided
that the costs of the suit should be divid
ed, that the defendants should cook th,
! duck i'll dispute, and that they shoul(
then invite the prosecution to eat it will
| them. This decision was eminently salts
factory to all but the attorneys, VIII,
swore roupdly at being so victimized; bu
as each was paid the fee agreed upon
they were somewhat Modified. The de
ception was then explained to Smith. b.
means of stake, ring had been fastened
in the center of the pond, under tn,
water. A cord was attached to the decoy
and passed through the ring. The oper
ator was screened by the mill Wheneve
any one would fire, he pulled the cork
and, as a matter of course, the duel
dived. The Squire was into the secret
and he consented to assist at the mocl
trial. The only persons sold were tn,
lawyers and Smith. The latter has growI
older and wiser since then. He has Gu
his wisdom teeth, and now when ou
shooting ducks he takes good look be
fore lifting the gun to his face, ,-TWJ
Field and Farm