Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-15

STRoUDsBURGH, Penn, Nov. AN irish
man named Nike" Callighan owns
small and almost valueless farm in the
mountains. few miles north of Porier's
Lake, in Pike County. Penn. The land
being too stony to produce paying crops.
CaIlighan is obliged to turn his hand to
ANYTHING at which he can earn a little
money lie is quite expert with the rifle,
and during the few wears that he has lived
in the wilds of Pike County he has shot
large number of deer, several bears, and
"A few wildcats He has become so accus-
toned to seeing bears in the woods that
he says he has no more fear of meeting
them than he has of a COW. He has had
many hairbreadth escapes with bears and
catamounts within the past five years. but
always came out victorious. He had an
encounter-w which. had it not been Tor the
timely arrival of his daughter, might have
been his last-a few mornings ago.
Callghan arose earlier than usual. us
he desired to start early for bushkill,
about Is miles distant. While hitchng
his horse to the wagon he discovered u
large. four pronged buck deer grazing on
u small clearing a few rods from the
house lie ran to the house, seized his
rifle. and crawled on his hands and knees
through the woods behind stone fence,
until he got within shooting distance.
Then. to make sure of hitting the deer, he
placed the barrel of his rifle in the crotch
of a small chestnut, and taking deliberate
aim. fired. The deer gave an upward
plunge and fell to the ground, apparently
lifeless The ball had penetrated the ami
mails breast. from which the blood flowed
I,,I ,Inun his OH and
climbing the fence walked up to the
wounded deer with the intention OF cut
ting his throat As he was about to draw
his hunting-knite from his belt, the deer
gave a sudden and desperate lunge, catch
ing the hunter with its anters and throw
ing him several feet in the air When he
landed he struck upon his head and shout
ders, stunning him so that he lay several
seconds partially inscnsible When he
fully recovered the deer was still lying on
the ground few feet distant. Callighan
thought the animal had lost enough blood
TO warrant him in making a second attack
without danger OF being further injured.
He seized the diving buck by the antlerS
with his left hand. and with his right
drew the blade of the knife across the ami
mails throat with the intention of severing
the WlDupipt, Dul III tliiS Ut tuiN paul
succeeded.
This seemed to add to the fury oil the
wounded animal for it gave another pow
erful lunge. throwing the hunter with
great violence to the ground. The deer
began paving him with its front feet and
goring him with its horns. In the Strug-
Gle the hunter lost his knife. and. fearing
that the deer would kill him. he shouted
to his daughter. who fastened to her faith
er's rescue. She picked up the knife.
seized the deer by the antlers. and with
one thrust of the knife nearly severed the
head from the body. 1t gave one or two
kicks and died. Although Callighan's in
iuries are not dangerous, he will be laid
up for some time. His body was literal
ly covered with scratches, and his clothes
were torn into shrecds. The deer was a
very large one. weighing nearly 200
pounds. and was the third one the brave
yonng woman has helped kill during the
past few years.