The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-07-18
A TURKEY HUNT.
By OIL COOMES.

1t is back to the early days of Ken
tucky-wheu D. Station was one of
che most advanced posts of civilization
that | would lead the reader; for ma
ny are the incidents and adventures
still unrecorded that go to make up the
mwritten history of the early days of
that region of our country.
After Colonel Boone had opened the
way into Kentucky it was only by the
rifle and the indomitable courage of the
white man that he was ever enabled tC
enlarge his dOminiOnS: for, inch by
inch, the willy red-man disputed his ad-
vance. AS natural consequence that
age developed a race Of wonderful
marksmen. By his rifle every MAJ de-
Tended his freSide and furnished his
table. His rife WAS his companion
when he went to the field to work, and
when he went to the house of GOD ts
worship.
D. Station bOaSted of some fine
marksmen, and among the number was
young Nirgimiam named Jonathan
Statelerr.-za lineal dgscendarannfy re2
| cord. Jonathan WAS real y fine shot,
but lie was vain and egotistical, and not
only boasted Of his superior markham
shin. but of his blood and intellectual
acouirements, also, much to tie disgust
Of his neighbors.
There had been 4 shooting match at
the station one day, and Jonathan had
carried off the prize. OF this victory
he seemed never to grow tired OF boast
ing, and one day when Il number ol
the men and a couple of strangers from
Boonesborough-the guests of one OF
the settlerS-were gathered together
inside of the stockade, Jonathan WORK
ed around and brought up his faVorlte
subject-the shooting match.
There was some splendid shootln
done that day, lie said, Though | was
! never more Indifferent in all my life
1t is singular how easy it is for a natu
ral-bor marksmau to handIea rifle ant
send home his bullet every time. Some
men might practice all their lives an'
! not be ANYTHING OF shot then; other
Il by adherimg to set forms and rule
shoot purity well. There are mechahl
calmarksmen-mach markSmen, 10
; if cog gifts out of place they couldh
o hit that block-houSe. And It's III
? same way in humtin'. Some men ca
never l'arn to hunt deer and turkey, nC
even squirrels. It's not slch gre;
thing TO l'am TO call turkeys, and y
n thars some that can't DO it moren
"a a9 cat, nor even discriminate between IL
It. 'gobble' Of a turkey and that OF an II
gin. Jist see how many old turke
r hunters have been killed of late by l
40 gin turkey-hunters."
- Tile very best of men Git taken
some time" said Dick Bracebridg
.Tonathan's rival for the championsh
ny of the station. ,
ID ,@@ ..Wen. I'd like to see the lngin Il
e, could fool me by imitatin' turkey,
"o- a man that can beat me shootln'."
Zones never so good but that tha
-, some me just rs good" Dick replied
Thc "Wen, trot them out, colonel,
Young Nirginian exclaimed,
young man. said one OF the str
! ! gers III the croWd-ah elutilS -iool>I
hunter with calm, unobruSlVe
meauor. and face denOting great 10
ms, ms of character, as we'll rs keennesS
,iar mind, "if YOU will name the game I
" the day will Try you turn"
Nls. "Hello, ,colonelm exclaimed Jonath
>, for everybody was colonel" with h
K, THAT means a challenge, don
Well, sir, tomorrow Is the day,
SQUIRRELS and turkeys are the ga
8 How'll that suit youY"
"Thatu do; give me your haIu
that. Young man" and the matter
settled.
- Bright and early the next morl
~, the two We're off into the great, II;
less woods. 1t was November, and
-''''s sun came up warm and bright.
Ire Its a good mornin' for SOUR
. suit Jonathan" the Old hunter remar
as they moved along together.
"Very, ;" responded Jonathan; "a
-. tell you, colonel, it's divine sport
in squirrels out tall tree; thou
keep won't shoot at one unless l can Sc
head. Then l drawa bead on its e
, so 81 .,I-,s :, col sho, IN do that
large. ~ t'NN' " = ''o - w
,laims time. Jonathan"
money "Well |, jonathan Stateler, ca
, it."
sfN> They walked on, and when a
ent miles from the post, the old Aunte