The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-12-09
WHOLE NO. 1870.
Shooting Ground Hogs.


George Taylor of the New York City
Press Association and Ed. Cahill, went to
Milford to fish for trout. They were
Joined there by Ed. Quick and Bub
! Wells, two professional rod-swingers.
On the way Taylor tried his revolver on
every chipmunk he saw. Pretty soon
Cahiil shouted: "Blazesl see that
ground hogl Let him have it, Taylor!
"Hes q beautyl" said Wells, and Quick
cried, "Sweet Christmas, but amt he
fatT' rtsa
The animal was jogging along leisurely
across field. Taylor acted upon CahilPs
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 revolver,
ready cooked. He gave chase to the
ground hog. His companions sat watch
ing him from the wagon, waiting to see
him kill the animal. 1t was a pretty
one, all over white and black spots.
Taylor was bound to have its hide.
When he got within shooting distance,
he stepped in bog hole, and down he
went. His fish pole ran about a foot in
the ground and broke off. His pistol
went off and blew the whole roof out of a
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 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 up to
fire. The ground hog suddenly turned
his white tail toward Taylor and disap-
peared in its hole. Taylor that instant
knew he hadn't brought enough Florida
water with him from the city. He knew
he hadn't struck 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 remarking 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 way Bob Wells thought he
would too. Cahill said he promised to
bring his wife some elecampane root, and
as that was good place to find it, he
thought 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 elecampane root, and
got back into the wagon. Quick and
Wells got tired, and jumped in again.
Taylor then thought he would ride
while. The boys began to think the joke
was as much on them as it was on Tay-
lor:
When they got to the creek Taylor OBJ
jected to going into the woods for fear he
might get lost Cahill told him to keep
half mile to the windward 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 Ay, but IS soon
as they got their noses out of water, they
dove down and rubbed them in the gray
el Taylor got disgusted, and went to
ind his comrades. He came up to them
near Mother Jagger's, where they stop
ped for dinner. Cahill took Taylor aside
and said:
Say, Taylor. we want to get something
to eat here. You mus go in with us.
or you'll kill the whole thing Well eat
first; then you come in. See?'
Taylor was hungry, and had to submit.
Mother Jaeger got the boys up nice
dinner. They ate it at their leisure.
Taylor sat on log about hundred
yards from the house and whistled Bury
me under the violets." The boys finish
ed their meal and went out. They told
Taylor to go get his dinner. He entered
Mother Jagger's kitchen and sat down to
the table The old lady began to sniff,
and, kicking the old hound that lay by
the stove, calculated:
"Git out, Ring I'll kill that internal
critter yet He's alters huntin' skunks!'
Ring "got out" Mrs Jaeger poured
Taylors coffee. Then she shifted again,
and looked under the table and on the
floor. Taylor fell to eating. Mother
Jaeger took down her horn spectacles
and put them on. She shifted and look
ed earnestly at Taylor Then she
squeezed her nose together with her fin.
fers, and said: -.sst
bod, rot be, blister, eff it aid't you'll
Jist help yerself; help yerself to eddy
thig you wadtw And Mrs. Jaeger sought
the outside of the house.
The party fshed all day. They got
back to Milford about tea time The pi-
azza at Dimmick'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 evening. Taylor's wife said,
"Oh. aren't they beauties but what
makes them smell so, George p
George said, THE creek in which they
were caught is strongly impregnated
with-aheml with hemlock, which gives
them a peculiarly pungent flavor; but it
is destroyed by cooking. Cooking
knocks it.
Strangers who visit Milford hereafter
may see mound in the Dimmick Hotel
garden. Beneath it is suit of clothes.
1t belonged to George Taylor He hunt
ed ground hog in it and destroyed its
usefulness. And SO he laid it away.