Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-10-21
For the SPECTATOR.
A Mint Spring Sensation.


MINT SPRING, VA, Oct. 18th, 1879,
Spectator. N othing excltes. or inspires
the human breast quicker than the apparent
cries Of One in distress. This self-evident Act
was fully demonstrated on the morning of the
18th inst, near our little village.
The sun rose on joyous wings, bringing
with it the pleasant memories of the past and
the dawn of some of our brightest and ever
wished-for anticipations of the day, but ali. toe
| soon to be blighted- by what afterwards proved
to be mere farce. Mr.. F. the subject of our
| article, is of a heavy built statue, his height
would not exceed i've feet eight inches and re-
| minds us very much of the Dutchman's horse.
just as high in reclining condition, as when
standing erect, and noted for his celebrity ofstep
and the keen penetration and alertness of his
eye.
On the morning of which we speak ere the
| sun had gilded the hill-tops two hours, Fisher
shouldered the "woodman's axe" with alacrity
and started forthe woods. whistling his favorite
song ofjoy, unaware of his unsought for dis
cOveries and innocent as to the sad thrill which
was soon to disturb the quiet and peaceful
meditatiOns Of the citizens of Mint Spring.
Scarcely had he reached his destination before
the frolicking of a squirrel on a towering oak
| arrested his attention; glancing eagerly around
| in quest of more he deserted three coons on a
| tree and hard by was the fourth cozily nestled
| In its bed. Being some distance from house
and anxious to become captor of the great prize
| he began hallooing 10 John" in hopes of OBJ
| tanning assistance from some quarter. Possess
ola fine pair oflungs be inflated them repeat
eddy with air to their utmost capacity (say a.
bout one hogshead,) SO strong and SO forcible
did these deep, grum Numbered tones come
| forth, that tits said they were distinctly
| heard three miles off. Like the solemn tolling
| bell of death. it reverberated against the vine
clad hill in rear of the village such as to strike
the Inhabitants with awe and terror. Far down
| among the deciduous trees. that voice rang
clearer and louder. till at last it feared that
F. had unfortunately cut vein whilst chop
ping and the life blood fast ebbing away soon
| to pass to the
.'Undiscovered world from whose bourn,
No traveller returns. = y"
| With this sad. melancholy supposition en-
craven upon the hearts of our citizens even af-
fecting the sensation of several travellers, they
proceeded towards the spot from whence the
cry arose as rapidly ss possible, pouring in from
| all directions the men, women, boys, negroes
and dogs pelI-mell, heller SHELTER; the doctor
| was summoned; the women carrying great
| bundles of cloths to dress the cut and thought
| full enough to take little camphor but mary
drop ofwhiskey the undertak er's services were
engaged Such hurry. furry, skurry kind of
time never befores visited these parts. The
summit of the hill was reached from whose top
could be viewed the cause of such intense ex-
citement. "Here now is F. he 'aint bleeding,
nor he 'aint dead worth cent" exclaimed the
crowd as they gasped for breath. Lord fellers
cum hear you never seed sich four big ooons in
yure life,'' said F. as he wiped the persplra-
| ton from his brow.
Yes, If these women had not have been so
| completely exhausted, F. would have seen a
larger coon than either of these get an everlast-
ing larrupping. F. succeeded in capturing
his game, but it would be advisable for him to
keep mighty scarce with his striped backed COM
panions at least till the anger of these women
subsidies. OMEGA.