Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-03
A Shot at a Ground Hog.

A MILFORD (Pa.) correspondent of the
New York San tells how Geo. Taylor -of
the New York City Press Association,
and Ed. Cahill, of Park Row, came to
that place recently to fish for trout
They were Joined there by Ed. Quick and
Bub Wells, two professional rod-swingers
On Monday they started for Dingman
Township to cast the fly. On the way
Taylor tried his $25 revolver on every
chipmunk he saw. Pretty soon Cahill
shouted: Blazes! see that ground hog
Let him have it, Taylor"
Hes beauty" said Wells, and
Quick cried " Sweet Christmas, but amt
he fat?"
The animal was jogging along leisurely
across field. Taylor acted upon Cahill's
suggestion and got out of the wagon to
shoot it. In his hurry he forgot to put
down his fish-pole and carried it in his
hand. In his other hand was his re
volver, ready cooked. He gave chase to
the ground hog. His companions sat
watching him from his wagon, waiting to
see him kill the animal 1t was pretty
one, all over white and black spots
Taylor was bound to have its hide
When he got within shooting distance he
stepped into a bog-hole and down he
went His tish-pole ran about IA foot in
the ground and broke off His pistol
went of and blew the whole roof out of
brand new straw hat that he had pur-
chased for the occasion.
He was soon on his feet again, but the
ground hog had got to the other side of
the field and sat by the side of hole,
evidently waiting for the anxious sports
man. Taylor caught up to within a few
n nd
The ground hog suddenly turned his
white tail toward Taylor and disappeared
in the hole.
Taylor that instant knew he hadn't
brought enough Florida water with him
from the city. He knew he hadn't struck
a mint patch nor yet bed of roses. He
felt that it wasn't good to be there, and
he wanted to go home. In short, it came
across him by degrees that the boys
played skunk off on him for ground
hog. He returned to the wagon and, re-
marking 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'd get out and walk a
way. Bub Wells thought he would, too.
Cahill aid he promised to bring his wife
some elecampane root, and as that was a
good place to find /, he'd get out and
look for some. Taylor wouldn't ride
alone and made up his mind to walk with
the rest Cahill couldn't find any ele.
campane root and got back in the wagon.
Quick and Wells got tired and jumped in
again. Taylor then thought he would
ride awhile. The boys began to think
the joke was as much on them as it was
ON Taylor.
When they got to the creek Taylor OBJ
jected to going in the woods for fear he
might get lost. Cahill told him to keep
half mile to the windward of them and
they would be sure to know where to find
him Taylor fished in 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 disguised and
went to find his comrades. lie came to
them near Mother Jagger's, where they
stopped for dinner. Cahill took Taylor
aside and said
Say, Taylor, we want to get some.
thing to eat here. You mustn't go in
with US, or you'll kill the whole thing.
Wen eat first, then you come in. SeeY"
Taylor was hungry and had TO submit
Mother Jaeger got the boys up nice
dinner. They ate 1t at their leisure
Taylor sat ON log about hundred
yards from the house and whistled
Bury me under the violets," The boys