The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-09-19
PRAIRIE CHICKEN HUNT.

q
Pennsylvania, who was acquainted with
everybody worth knowing in the southern
part of Chester county, and was also famil-
lar with number of Cecil county folks,
and who proved to be a genuine sportsman,
and could discuss the qualities of a setter
dog and the peculiar merits of the various
guns claiming the attention of sportsmen.
Mr.. B. entered into the project to get up
"chicken hunt" with the enthusiasm of
true sportsmen. Round about Topeka
not being so good cunning ground as
further west, he proposed Newton, and
gave me a letter to Judge Muse, who is a
man after a sportman's heart, and who has
one of the best settlers for chickens" in
the State. Our large hearted friend Boil
mar did not rest with letter of introduce
ton to the Judge, who is land agent at
Newton, but to make assurance doubly
sure, telegraphed him and received the
following reply:
"NEwToN, August 21st.
BoLMAR:-Will attend to Mr.. E.
r. w. P. MUSE"
Having made satisfactory arrangements
for first-class "chicken hunt" thor
ough-going in pursuit of pleasure as we'll as
business, our keen sporting friend, who had
enjoyed his first excitement over dog and
gun, about the head waters of the Elk and
Chesapeake, fitted me out with a complete
cunning rig, his own trusty piece, pair of
choice barrels made by Krider, of Third
and Walnut streets, Philadelphia, and pow
der, shot and wads in abundance, all nicely
slowed away in a leathern case.
Every arrangement, having been per-
fected to insure me field day among the
pinnated grouse when I reached Newton,
Mr.. Bolmar, brought up his buggy in the
evening and drove me round Topeka, af-
fording me a good opportunity to view the
city's beautiful location, on four long grad
ual swells of the prairie.
The next day at 3:25 P. NJ, with COM
plete cunning outfit, stepped on the cars,
bound for Newton, 1876 miles further west,
the land of promise for re-emptors, home
steaders and new settlers generally; and
the paradise of prairie chickens as well.
At Emporia Junction, at GAO P. NJ, the
train halted twenty minutes for supper,
and here the car happened to have seat
in was dropped, and the passengers bag
gage moved to the next car by the train
hands. The gun case was under the seat
nd hv in foy
minutes after this change, and before had
time to exactly comprehend the situation,
the cars started, leaving my cunning outfit
in the switched off car. Here, then, was
the proverbial mishap which befalls all
arrangements for a day of sport. Has
any one ever known it to fail? Fort
unately gentleman from the Office, Mr..
Cooper, was on board and returned from
the next station, plymouth" and he
very kindly took charge of the gun and
restored it safe to the owner. Newton
was reached at II o'clock that evening,
and the next morning I went in search of
"Muse & Spivy," where the firm conduct
law and land agency business. The
Judge l found a most genial gentleman
whose locks had been sprinkled with the
frosts of sixty or more winters, and who.
at the time of my visit, was in feeble
health, but whose hospitality reached out,
as with hundred hands to grasp and make
the stranger welcome. The Judges deli
cate health prevented his participating in a
hunt, but he soon had a company made up,
composed of Judge Ross, of Pittsburgh,
President of the Bank of Industry of that
city, who was staying with Judge Muse,
and making considerable investments in
lands about Newton, Mr.. Robert Harde-
man, hardware merchant of the town,
and Mr.. John Roberts. The Judges
famous setter, &c Brush,' most import
ant parsonage in completing the expedi-
ton, l am most inexcusably neglectng.
I" Brush composed the centre figure of
the group in the days sport, and to whose
"point" all eyes were instantly turned and
steps directed. Brush - met me at the
door of the Judges Office with a smile of
welcome on his benevolent countenance,
which said as plainly as language could
speak, 81 have been waiting for you.
knew you were coming"
In Kansas, and all prairie countries, a
horse and wagon is indspensably necessary
on hunt, and John Roberts soon had Judge
MUSES. dearborn hitched, and the guns and
ammunition slowed in, the Judge furnish
ing me with his trusty sporting gun, a
double barreled piece of Brussels manu-
was rather heavy and clumsy in hands
accustomed to use the light and handy
breech-loaders of the present day, but
found the old Brussels favorite of the
Judge, which he held in much veneration
for its accurate shooting and long range
killing qualities, all he claimed for it, after
getting used to "putting up" the weighty
weapon with the necessary precision and
quickness.
"Brush" was quietly contemplating
Johns movements, while the process of
"hitching up" went on, and when the
team was ready, he deliberately walked
out and jumped in. A drive of three
miles directed, brought us to the chicken
ground,'' without any event to note, except
the appearance of "Jack Rabbit" which
jumped out of the grass and cantered up
the road in front of US in full view. Harde-
man sprang out of the wagon and fired at
the retreating champion runner of the
prairies, but "Jack' was far enough
away by this time to defy all charges of
number seven.
The wagon was soon after halted and
"Brush put out to examine the grass,
which he proceeded to do with the same
methodical deliberation that characterized
all his actions. Soon he came to a point.
and crawled slowly on toward the concealed
game. In few moments up sprang three
or four prairie hens with a whiz, whiz,
whiz; and bang, bang, bang, went the guns,
but lack aday not feather appeared to be
touched, and the grouse sailed half mile