Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-11-02
a TUIsKEY HUNT.
By OIL cooMEs.

tucky-when 49, station was one
of the most advanced pests Of civil
zation--that l would lead the rea
der; for NAVY are the incidents an.
adventures SSH unrecorded that %
10 make n, the unwritten history o
the early days of thas region OF ou
country.
After Colonel Boone ahad opened
the way into Kentucky, it was only BY
the riff, and the indomitable courage
OF the white man that he was ever
enabled to enlarge his dominions; for,
inch by inch the willy red-man dis.
lrited his advance. As natural con
sequences. that age developed race
of wonderful marksnen. BY his rifle
every man defended his fireside and
furnished his table. His rifle was his
companion when he went to the field
TO work. and when he went to the
house of God to worship.
D Station boosted of some
fine marksmen, and among the mum
her was Young Virgiuian named
Jonathan Stateler-a lineal descend
ant of the Mayflower, according to the
family re -ord. Jonathan was really
/ fine shct, but he was vain and ego
tistical, and not only boosted of his
superior craftsmanship, but of his
intellectual requirements, also, much
20 the disgust of his neighbors.
Thee had been shooting match
at the station one day and Jonathan
had carried off the prize. OF this
victory he seemed never to grow
tired of boasting, and one day when
& number of the men and couple of
strangers from Boonesborough-the
guests of one OF the settlers-were
gathered together inside of the stock
AIDE, Jonathan worked around and
brought his favorite subject-the
shooting match.
"There was some splendid
shootin' done that day" he said,
''though | was never more Inditfer-
ent in all my life. 1t is singular how
easy it is for natnral-born marks
man to handle a rifle and send home
his bullet every time. Some men
might practice all their lives and not
be anything of shot then; others by
adhering to set forms and rules shoot
purity well. There are mechanical
marksmen, machine marksmen, for if
cog gets out of place these couldn't
hit TINT blocil-house. And it's the
same way in huntin. Some men
can never l'arn to hunt deer and tur-
KEY, nor even squirrels. It's not
SIGH a great thing to Farm to call tur-
keys. and Wit thar's some that can't
do it nore'n a cat, nor even discri-
inmate between the gobble of tur
KEY and that of an .Ingin. .Jist see
how many old turkey hunters have
been killed of late by Ingin turkey
hunters"
THE very best of men get taken
in some time," said Dick Brace
bridge, Jonathan's rival for the cham
pionship of the station.
swell. I'd like to- see the Ingin
that could fool me by imitatin' tur-
kew, or q man that can beat me shoot
ing"
Ones never so good but that thar's
some one just as gooi," Dick re-
piled.
'Well, trot them out, colonel"
the Young verginian exclaimed.
"loung man" said one of the
strangers in the crowd-an elderly
looking hunter with calm, unobtru
sive dcmeanor, and face denoting
great force oEcharacter, az we'll as
keenness of mindtl ''if you will name
the game and the day will try you
IL turn"
''Hello,colonel ~ exclaimed Jona-
than, for everybody was colonel
with him, ''that means challenge, |
don't it ? well sir, tomorrow is the !
day, and squirrels and turkeys are
the game. How'll that suit YOU ~
'.That'll do; give me- your hand on
that, young man," and the matter
was settled.
Bright and early the next morning
the two. were off into the great, track
less woods. 1t was November, and
the sun came up bright and warm.
ats good mornin' for squirrels
Jonathan" tlie. old hunter remarked,
as they moved along together.
Very" responded Jonathan, ''and
/ tell YOU, colonel, it's divine sport
pickin' squirrels out a tall tree:
though | won't shoot at one unless
can its head. Then | draw a
bead on its eyes,"
1T takes a-good shot to, do that |
every time, Jonathan
We'll L. Jonathan StateIer, can
do it,
They walked on and when a few |
miles from the post, the soldi hunter |
saw squirreland pointed it out to-.
Jonathan. 1t was about one hun
slred yards away, and in the very top
of tree.
BY request of the old hunter, .fona-
than leveled his gun upon the little
animal and fired. True to the mark
the bullet went home, and the squir-
rel came tumbling down among
the branches to the earth. The hun
ber advanced and picked it up. The
ball had entered the left eye and had