Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-03-28
some More wonderfuI sAOOting.
SALvIsA. RYs January %.

SALvIsA. RY: January %.
To the Editor Of Ike ,IiecIy Tines:
| have Just read in the last issue Of the Times
an interesting but brief article signed J. II. 5.
WAS much pleased with the writer's account
Of those little circumstances attending couple
Of shots from a riae. am now going to give
an accurate account Of an incident that occur-
red to the writer Of this, ana hope that J. II.
S.. as well as everybody els, will read ii.
When the incident refer 10 occurred l was
living in the Far West Hunting was my IA
yorite pursuit, and perhaps if this incident bad
not tran,pired nigh, have been hunter to-
day; bu. there is a turning point in every
mans life, aud so il was with mine. ] had
rife considered i, an exception among ri
flcs because had raised it myself yes, | had
watched over aud protected II ever sinceit
was a wee small pistol; watched over It with
the utmost care, especially when it was pointed
toward game Of any value. considered tiny
most trusty friend, and never doubted is f.
deity toward myself.
Well, one morning, one clear, bright, lovely
morning in the month of October, shoulder
ed my inseparable companion imy rife, l
meau,) and calling my favorte dog, Hun
ter" set IN foot in search Of whatever game
could fud worth shooting. After tramping
several miles and finding no game Of any value,
began to think Of going back home, when |
suddenly came upon one Of the mos, tempting
sights had ever seen. II was high ledge
Of rock, and at The very top Of this ledge re
posed an old og upon which was perched at
least twenty of as fine wild turkeys 'as one
would wish to see Under cover Of some
bushes | crept up quite. close 70 tho. end Of
the log. | had noticed that the. turkeys had
their heads all the same way thus forming q
perfect line Of heads from one. end Of the .og
to the other After breathing moment
raised my rife, took deliberate aim at the eye
Of the turkey on tho end Of the log next to me
and fired Result: that bullet passed through
the head Of every alternate turkey on the log,
then striking hard limb. it glanced up, and
come 10 contact with the head Of q squirrel,
which was sitting on a boush in the top Of
hickory tree it killed the squirrel, which was
50 fat that 10 Glliugit brought down. about
half busbel Of hickory-nuis with it.. These
nuts fell with such force as 10 kill . covey Of
par,rjges that happened TO be under the tree.
Meanwhile the turkeys commenced such a
vigorous topping that they started the old log
from its resting-place, which went tumblng
over the ledge falling into the midst Of a herd
Of deer that my dog was pursuing Half a
dozen of the deer were killed, aud " Hunter
ran against a sharp snag, which split him open
from the end Of his nose 10 .he tip'of his tail
This made him mad, aud as the two halves
scrambled to their respective feet. .,one-half Of
him pursued and caught deer, while the other
chose a fox for It's victim (which il secured
The old log, IN falling, burst open, revealing
several large snakes which bad sought shelter
in it. The shock Of tue fall killed the snakes,
out Of whose mouths crept several large toads
that had been receptly..swallowed. These
were killed by shower Of dirt that followed
the log. Nor was that all-my gun, having
been oyercharged kicked 50 violently that
it knocked mc over, aud thought it kicked
several times after fell. In scrambling a.
round to get out Of the way Igot into a nes. Of
hornets, and as they stuug me started to Euu,
but stumbled and fell upon a rabit, killing it
and also spraining my arm severely;
My game summed up as follows: Twenty
turkeys, one squirrel, half bushcl Of hickory
nuts, five partridges seven deer, 'plit-open
dog, one fox, three snakes, three toads, an empty
gun, forty siiugs from tho horncts, one rabbit,
and a sprained arm. leltsl but my arm and
tbe hornet stings aud came to Kentucky. A
good plan, wasn't it?
KENTCCRIAN.