Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-02
A COON ANDACOMMoDORE.
Surprising Adventure ola Well
known New York Gentle
man.


man.
New York sun
JurtrER lNLEr. Fla. March Com
modore Thomas Jefferson FALL, Of New
York, ran up 10 the lighthouse here in
his tiny yacht, the Louise, u week agc,
aud anchored. The Louise is twenty
one feet long and niue feet wide. At
night the boom ia hoisted aud a tent Ia
thrown over il and buttoned down at
the scuppers. A Andily bar isdropped
irum the top Of the tent, the Commo-
| dore tugks the ends under his cork mat
| lress, aud seeks his rest. One morning,
while anchored near the light, he awoke
| and Was surprised To- SEE coon sitting
astraddlc the center board aud regarding
him with steadfast eyes. The coon had
a nose like a snipe, aud the luminous
eyes set very close together. lie had
been fishing at night. Being surprised
at the dogs, no had taken to the water
and boarded the Commodore's craft for
protection. Edwin Snow, the Commo-
dore's pilot, caught the animal by the
scrut Of the neck aud threw him over
board. The dogs lined the shore await
ing his landing. The coon took In the
situation at u glance, swan 10 the side oi
the yacht, and silently appealed to the
Commodore for succor. Moved by his
plying glances, Mr.. Falls put out an oar.
The coon seized ii and ii was drawn ON
board. The Commodore fed him, and
the two beings became friends.
A barrel was procured, small square
holes were made In its sides, and it was
set apart Tor the use Of the coon. Blue
fish and other dcllCacies were set before
him, and he thankfully dcvourcd them.
In the afternoon the little yacht was
drawn up To the wharf and tied. The
Commodore climbed the winding stairs
81 the lighthouse and gazed over the
stretch Of country bordering the Ever
glades. Hearing great racket below,
he glanced ut his yacht and saw slngu.
lar sight. One Of the dogs had lcaped
on the Louise aud was smelling ut the
holes in the barrel The coon resented
tho intrusion aud fastened his teeth in
the dogs nose. In an instant the bar
rel, coon, aud all were yankcd ON deck.
| The dog tried to back himself on the
wharf, missed his footing. and barrel,
coon and dog went overheard. The
coon released his hold and the dog swan
ashore. His indignant antagonist re-
/ manned la the barrel aud Heated toward
| the inlet. The Commodore ran down
/ from the lighthouse and rescued him In
a small boat. lie brought the coon To
| the beach in the barrel, aud five dogs
/ attacked him. ID was u hot fight. The
| coon would not break cover, AMI was
/ whipping the dogs one after the other,
when Mr.. Armour, the keeper Ut the
\ light, dumped hun cut on the stand.
| The hair ON the cOUn's back stood up
| like the quilts on pOrcupinc, and his
teeth showed like the guns OF water
batter.
/ Seeing the Commodore, on the wharf,
/ and apparently mindful oi his former
/ kindness, he ran toward him Tor protcc-
/ ton. The Commodore, however nisun-
derstood his intentions. The little
/ yacht was swinging from tho wharf Tie
/ got on the bobstay. pirouettcd along the
| bow.prit. caught tho jib hnlliarls, and
reached the deck. The coon followed
/ suit, aud the i've dogs cSsayed Ia follow
| the coon. Terror stricken, the COmmo-
/ dnrc ran around the center board hall u
| dozen times, with the coon and dogs at
his heels. Finally hc jumped overheard,
| scattering an immense school oi mullCt
/ that were coming IN with the tide. The
coon and dogs plunged after him. The
| Commodore reached the shore utterly
exhausted. The coon, apparently dis.
| guslrd at the man \ hcartlcSsness, struck
| out iur himself and sought shelter IN a
| cluster Oi mangroycs u hundred yards
south ui the light The dogs followed
the Commodore, aud shook their wet
hides in his face.
The Commodore put on dry clothes,
and mathematical the coon IN the
strongest terms. While he was venting
| his rage the coon came out OF the cover
| Oi tho maugrOyvs, rat down on the sand
and began To- make faces at him.
"Scck him, shouted the Commodore,
aud tue dogs went for him like Noiun-
tcers on a bayonet charge. Tho quad
rupcd stood his ground like an Irish
soldier, The leading dog threw him six
feet in the air, aud while the Others
were looking for him no fell on the 7
backs aud took them In the flank. lie
made some ugly wounds, but the pack
closed in on him aud he was finally
killed. Talk about Davy Crockett ut
the Alamo" said the Commodore, while
standing over the msngled body, che
wasn't a marker to thls coon. He ought
To have monument
-
nha Capitalization.