Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-02-19
The Mountain Hunter.

Valentine Derry, commonly called
Felty, and Mollie, his wife, came to
Western Pennsylvania ut the time of
the Revolutionary war. They were
both Haytiens, and both belonged to
the British army. Derry, with his
wife, deserted and Joined the American,
side, and were under Gen. Morgan.
After the Declaration OF independence,
Derr.J and his wife found their way
over the mountains, and settled in
Georges township, Fayette county, Pa,
took up small tract of land at the foot
of the mountains, about half mile
south of where old Pine Grove Forge
used to stand. After building a cabin,
Derry epp!oped his after life exclusive
ly 10 hunting deer and bear, in which
he was remarkably successful. The
deer and bear were plenty, and he new
or went out without capturing just
what he wanted. 1t was thought by
many persons that he was a Wizard =,
and could charm the deer. lie some
times used certain ingredient that lie
rubbed OH his moccSsins and legginS.
He would then make circuit where
deer were plenty, and then take his po-
sition some twenty-five or thirty steps
at either side. Ina short time he would
see buck coming on slow trOt. When
at proper range he would blate, the
deer would stop, and he was always
sure of his meat. If he wanted another
one, he never had To wait long. He
once tracked an old she bear that had
cubs, in the rocks. After some delib-
Grafton, he concluded to crawl in and
shoot her in the den. She met him
half way, at a narrow passage. He
laying down, and she coming out, fast
ened on him and commenced eating
her way out; but before she had done
any more damage than tearing the seat
out of his leather breeches, lie got his
hunting knife out of his scab-
bard that was at his side, and plunged
it into her, behind the fore shoulder,
and she lay on him lfeless bear. Salt
was scarce, and they had to jerk their
venison. This was done by cutting the
meat off the bones in small pieces, and
stringing them on strings. They al
ways used the sinews of the hind and
fore legs for that purpose. They would
have slow fire to dry the meat. Derry
always tanned his own hides. He said
the brains of any animal would tan its
own hide. At the death of old Felty,
his mantle fell upon his son, BoltZer,
who has been as successful hunter as
his father, and is now living in the
same cabin, % years old. On the first
of June the hunting time expired. The
deer then lost their horns. Strange to
say they loose their horns every year.
At two years old they are called spike
bucks; at three years old, two prong;
and they get prong every year on the
new horn. No dog or wolf can scent
a fawn while the sprouts are on them.
During this interval the Derrys en-
ployed themselves in catching trout in
the mountain streams, and when fried
i'm bears oil made a most delicious
meal. This hunter had a wife and
children, who shared with him ife's
cares and burdens. This hunters wife
had (and who has not a history. She
was famous, not only in the neighbor-
hood, but in places more remote, as a
"Fortune Teller" Young men and
maidens, and those of more mature
age and wisdom, visited her mountain
home in hopes of hearing of something
that would help them to shape their
future course through life for either
ueal or roe. Was anything lost or
stolen, whether horse or COW, pocket
book, money, jewels, silver spoons, or
any other thing of real or imaginary
value, the powers Of this celebrated for
tune teller, having the well known
name of Moll Derry, were frequently
called into requisition. Many and
miraculous were the stories treasured
in the memory of the Oldest inhabitants,
and related for fireside entertainment,
CT her actually tslling, without any