The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-04-21
MILLIONS OF PIGEONS.
A Roost Many Miles In Length-A T0rchlight
Shooting Expedition.

A Roost Many Miles In Length-A T0rchlisht
Shooting Expedition.
MOSCOW, PA, April A.-A wilderness
known as the Beech Woods covers
large portion OF Western Pike County
and Northwestern Monroe County, this
State. Ike Bennett and Clint. Waters,
bark peddlers, were in the depths of the
woods on Friday last, when they were
startled by sudden darkening of the
sky and noise like a heavy gale of
wind. At the same time the trees about
them began to fill with wild pigeons.
Tney CAME from the northward, and as
far as the men could see in that direc-
tion the air was black with the birds.
They settled down in the trees as thick
as bees, and In an incredibly short space
of time the woods seemed to be living
mass of pigeons. They lighted in the
trees in such numbers that large branch.
es were broken by their weight. They
seemed to take no heed OF the men, and
crowded the trees under which they
stood, occupying branches almost within
reach OF them. Nearly half an nour had
elapsed before they all found resting
places in the woods. The bark peddlers
killed hundreds OF them with clubs, ana
walked five miles through the woods
without reaching she end OF the rO0st.
The men say that with one sWoop OF O.
long club they could knock dozens to
the ground, creating only q temporary
panic among the pigeons, and that only
among those directly attacked.
The lumbermen and others, when told
by Bennett and Waters of the wonderful
sight they had seen, organized a night
hunt. Dozens OF men, armed with poles
aud ~guns, started for the woods, and
reached there after dark. They carried
torches of pine knots. The pigeons,
| alarmed by the noise Of the guns and
the glaring of the torches, rose from
their perches, and flew biindly about.
| For two hours the poles and guns made
sad havoc among the roosting birds
| The roar Of thousands OF wings, the
cracking OF branches, flashing torches
swashlng poles, and reports OF guns
formed scene wild and terrible. Thou
sands OF pigeons were slaughtered be-
lore tine lawless and ruthless destroyert
were glutted. Each one brought away
as many as he could carry, which was {
small portion compared with the number
left on the ground to feed the foxes ant
wolves.
On Saturday morning another expedi
ton started out for further slaughter o
the pigeons. The birds had eVldentI,
sought the roost for the purpose OF nest.
ing. The woods swarmed with bunter
on Saturday. The great flock fnall'
rose en- masse, and in a snorL time ever,
bird had disappeared. The direction
: Of the flight was westwar
toward the Susquehanna. 1t is estimat
/, ed That the flock was iull twelve mile
long and four or five in width.
About four weeks ago an enormou
flock OF wild pigeons passed over SulI
van County, N. T., and settled In tn
wilderness III the northern part of tina
county, near the head waters of tn
Beaverkill. 1t is believed that this wa
the same flock mentioned above. 1t ex
!, tended from Giliman's, Sullivan County
. to point thirteen miles to the easl
ward, and was several minutes in pass
ing over, flying very high.