The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-09-02
Experience Of a city sport.man.


account of how a lot of city sportsmen
enjoyed themselves on a recent visit
to the country, and by the way, it is
singular the degree of Ignorance
people brought up on brick exhibit
Of rural affairs. Witness the expert
ence of George Taylor of the New
York Press Association and Ed. Ca
hill of the same city, Ed Quick and
Bub Wells who went out by Rail in
to the country a hundred miles or SO
to fish. The account says:
On Monday they started for Ding
man township to cast the fly. On
the way Taylor tried his S25 revolv-
el on every chipmunk he saw. Pret-
ty soon Cahill shouted: "Blazes! see
that ground hog: Let him have it,
Taylor p
8He's beautylp says Wells, and
Quick cried, "Sweet Christmas, but
amt he fat"
The animal was jogging along leis-
urely across the field. Taylor acted
upon Cahill's suggestion and got out
Of the wagon to shoot it. In his hur-
ry be forgot to put down his fish rod
and carried it in his hand. In his
other hand was his revolver, ready
cooked. He gave chase to the ground
hog. His companions sat watching
him from the wagon, waiting to see
him kill the animal. 1t was O pretty
one, all over white and black spots.
Taylor was bound to have its hide.
When be got within shooting dis
tance, he stepped in big hole, and
down he went. His fish pole ran
about a foot in the ground and broke
of. His pistol went of, and blew
the whole roof out Of bran new
straw hat he had purchased for the
occasion.
He was soon on his feet again, but
the ground hog had got clear to the
other side of the field and sat by the
side of hole, evidently waiting for
the anxious sportsman. Taylor caught
up to within few feet of his game
and raised to FIRE. The ground hog
suddenly turned his white tail toward
Taylor and disappeared in its hole.
TAYLOR that instant knew be hadn't
brought enough of Florida water with
with him from the city. He knew
be hadn't struck a mint patch, not
vet a bed of roses. He felt that it
wasn't good to be there, and he want
ed to 60 home. In short, it came ac-
ross him By degrees that the boys
had played a skunk off on him for a
ground hos. He returned to the wa
gon, and remarked that the ground
hog was too quick for him, got in.
Ed Cahill put his handkerchief to his
nose. Ed Quick said he guessed he
would get out and walk way. Bub
Wells thought he would too. Cahill
said he promised to bring his wife
some elecampane root, and as that
was a good place to fnd it. he'd get
out and look for some. Taylor
wouldn't ride alone, and made up his
riid to walk with the rest Cahill
couldn't find a1y any elecampane
root, and got back in the wagon.
Quick and Wells got tired, and jump
ed in again. Taylor then thought he
would ride a while. The boys began
to think the joke was as much on
them as it was on Taylor.
When they got to the creek Taylor
objected to going in he woods for
fear he might get lost. Cahill told
him to keep half mile to the wind
ward of them, and they'd be sure TO
know where TO find him. Taylor
fshed spring brook. The trout
wouldn't bite. They came to the
surface and looked at his fly; but as
soon as they got their noses out OF the
water they dove down and rubbed
them in the gravel. Taylor got dis
gused, and went to find his comrades.
He came up to them near Mother
Jaggers', where they stepped for din
ner. Cahill took Taylor aside and said:
"Sav, Taylor, we want you to get
something to eat here. You mustn't
90 in with US, or you'll kill the whole
thing. Well eat first; then you come
in. See ?r
Taylor was hungry. and bad to
submit.
Mother Jaeger got the boys up a
nice dinner They ate it at their
leisure. Taylor sat on log about a
hundred yards from the house and
whisteled "bury me under the vio-
lets.p The boys finished their meal
and went out. They told Taylor to
go and get his dinner. He entered
Mother Jagger's kitchen and sat
down to the table. The old lady be-
gan to sniff, and kicking the old
hound that lay by the stove, ejaculat-
ed:
"Git out, Ring III kill that infer
nal critter yit. He's alters huntin'
skunks ~
"Ring "got out" Mrs Jaeger
poured TayIor's coffee. Then she
shifted again, and looked under the
table and on the floor Taylor fell to
eating. Mother Jaeger took down
her horn spectaeles and put them on.
She shifted and looked earnestly at
Taylor. Then she squeezed her nose
together with her finger and said:
'Dod rot me, Mister, eff it amt
youl Jist help yourself; help your
self to emmy thing you want ~ And
Mrs. Jaeger sought the outside ofthe
house.
The party 6shed all day. They
got back to Milford about tea time.
The piazza at Dimmiek's was full of
ladies. They all rushed out to see
the trout. One by one they went
back, remarking how peculiarly balm
laden the zephyrs were that morning.
Taylor's wife said, ''0h, aren't they
but what makes them
smell so, George ?"
George said, "The Greek in which
they were caught is strongly impreg-
mated with ahem with hemlock,
which gives them a peculiar pun
geEt flavor; but it is destroyed by
cooking. Cooking knocks it."
Strangers who visit Milford here
after NAV see mound in the DIM