Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-02-27

EMIN SCIENCES.
Am am OId-Tinle Deer Hunt.
BY a BERKELEY Roy.

I
nostrils and Gathering hoofs, draw
ing after them the ponderous cars,
that nowadays make the spurs of
North Mountain resound SO inces-
sanity at the bid and beck of trade
and traffic, there was nothing to
break the stiffness of the forests of
Berkeley, for many miles away to-
ward the Sleepy Creek and Third
Hill mountains. Then the deer
heard nothing to start him from his
lair, save the occasional " tongue
of the hound, given forth in the
chase, or the sharp crack Of the ri
file held ready along the "pass' to
the Potomac, to arrest his flight to
the cooling and protecting waters,
that is, protecting against the dogs,
rather than against the guns, as
the result of deer hunt | am
about to describe, will show
At the time / refer to quite
number of farmers in the Valley,
near the North Mountain, kept
deer hounds a joint hunt on a
large scale brought several packs of
these hounds together, when it was
interesting to see how well they
harmonized i'll the chase. They
chimed in, the moment q deer was
put up, as if they had been trained
together all their lives. And there
was no sight more exciting than
that of one of these canine combi-
nations in full chase after a full
antIered old buck, with his tail up.
his horns thrown lack, and every
muscle, sineW and nerve strung to
its utmost tension.
Well, the day appointed proving
to be bright and balmy Autumn
one, the hunters of the party were
on hand at Hedgesville-if the
spot could be said to have assumed
that dignity then. Thence some of
them proceeded toward the hills
skirting the Meadow Branch,
where the deer usually frequented,
taking the dogs with them, while
the rest ranged themselves along
the well-known deer-pass''-for
the deer, generation after genera
ton, adopt the same path of travel
from hill to vale, in search of salt
at the click, )" or some favorite pas
ture or feeding place, or for water
in dry season. There the latter
anXiously awaited the advent of
the game which the dogs were eX-
pected to start up in the far-off for
ests.
The pass struck the Potomac just
opposite the romantic ruins Of Fort
Frederick, a short distance above
the mouth of Back Creek, and not
far from what fisherman, since the
advent of black bass, have been ia
miliarized with as Jenkins Falls.
AS the dogs were heard to "give
tongue" in accents indicating that
the deer had ceased doubling"
and commenced straight run for
the Potomac, the gunners put spurs
to their horses, in order to reach
the river in advance of the game.
We had just arranged ourselves
along the shore, some on the Viz
ginia and some on the Maryland
side, rifle in hand, when in plung-
ed the poor overheated and imper-
illed animal, barely escaping seiz-
ure by the leader OF the pack, as it
did so.
AS is the habit Of the 9nimal UNI
der such circumstances as l am de-
scribing, II SWAMI with every part
of its body but its nose completely
submerged. This made it difficult
to shoot in, especially as it kept
constantly in motion, as if instinc-
lively endeavoring to prevent stea-
diness of aim on the part of the
gunners.
The firing became at once rapid
from nearly score ofrifles, sever
al of which would be discharged
simultaneously frem either side of
the river. Swimming up and down
the river, it soon got jut of rocks
between it and the Virginia party.
Then commenced a most exciting
scene. Some of them waded out
into the river, up to their Waists,in
order to get within range again. -
There they stand, firing away in
utter reck lessness, while the balls
from the Maryland side were actu-
ally blowing the water around
them, or splashing it almost into
their faces rs they glanced upon
the surface only to be stopped by
the adjacent rocks. Scarcely could
men have become more excited in
battle with each other than they
seemed to be, or more reckless of
peril.
After some time spent III waste of
powder and ball, at length shout
went up, indicating that the fatal
work was done. The poor deer
turned over upon its side and float
ed to shoal water. There it was
reached and drawn ashore. 1t was
now ascertained that of several