, 1881-01-21
Among the Wild Turkeys.


REGIONS Of Schuylkill county, Pa, The
conntry IS wild and desolNte. TO the
northward is the land of black diamonds.
The fertile valleys of Lehigh, Scuylkill
onI Lebanon lie to the south. The
.now.covered hill-sides of the mountains
oro now ringing, with the crack of rifles
an1 shot guns. In thickct, glen and
Cnlcb fine traps of the backwoodsmen
ere sot. Wild turkeys are being shot in
rroat numbers, ard minks, foxes, racoonS
and other animals are caught in the
traps.
shots live in rude cabins along the base
of these mountains. Casper kiescwetler,
novr Conrad, Gotlieb Eckler, the
brothers Bill and George Mease, George
Gibson. and Jerome Walters are we'll
known to city sportsmen. Old Dave
Corell has a cabin furnished very
much like the cabin of Robinson Cru
SOC, During the recent cold snap two
lawyers and journalist lodged with
Corr,.l at the base of the hills His
cabin is built of logs and barricadei
from the wintry blasts by cordwood
piled toward its caves. A huge stone
chimney stands at one end. The cabin
contains a single room. Its walls are
smoky and brown. Herbs and imple-
ments partly hide the ceiling. The
floor is covered with the skins OF ami
mails A huge black fireplace contained
a back log, red embers, kettle and
chain. Two huge dogs were stretched
IN hearskins, ENJOYING its warmth.
They had just come in from q long
chase.
Make yourselves at home said the
-whiskered veteran. VI expected
You. Rather cold. You'll want more
fire afore night"
In five minutes n wild turkey was
broiling on the spit. The visitors sat on
low stools covered with skins, and chat
ted with Dave as he prepared supper.
ooh, yes" said he, I'm been here
thirty year or more. Lots o wild tur-
KEYS this winter. Some bear and deer,
and more foxes aud mink than for many
q season"
He was clad in brown carduroy, top
boots, and plush cap. His stores were
in ''tho cave" on the outside. A jug of
cider, loaf of bread, and some country
pudding were brought in. The wild
turkey was served on tin plates, Each
mans lap was q table. BY the light of
the fire savory meal was eaten. The
party were hungry. Tho old hunter
spun the story of his life until . o'clock,
when the door was barred, and all hands
were .'retched upon the floor with the
hn 10 81
rest for the morrow. Soughing pines,
hooting owls, and shrill winds lulled
them 10 sleep.
A kettle OF coffee was brewing on the
fire long before daylight. Bread and
remnants of turkey and pudding were
served for breakfast. The traps, rifles,
and shotguns were put into prime order
The mercury stood near zero as the old
hunter led the way up the mountain side
Pointing to lofty pine on the top OF the
mountain, he advised all to separate,
each to hunt for himself, and in two
hours rendezvous beneath the tall pine
His directions were followed.
Stranger, will you just keep back n
little while?" said stalwart hunter half
an hour after we had separated. "In
that clearing yonder I'm expecting a
flock o turkeys shortly. If you'll just
stop here behind this rock you can fire
when do, and we'll divide what drops
The old hunter was Casper kiesewet-
ter. He took drop out Of his visitors
flask and they waited.
eyes, they'll come in there to feed.
There's corn there, and they know it.
'Sh! Lay low. Hear 'em? How's your
gun-right? Ready-hre! Fire again
as they raisew
Three fine birds dropped out of the
4ock of fifteen One weighed twelve
I'D tho other two eleven pounds each.
"Tho5e birds are hard to kill unless
they're hit in the right side,' said the
hunter.
Their feathers" he continued, "are
close together and their skin is tough.
Oh, yes, turkeys are very plenty this
year. Take one of the birds if you wish
Come over and see me. The old man
knows where | live. Just mention my
name. No more, thank you. Whisky
makes me nervous; can't shoot, I'll wait
here for another shot. They'll be back
soon. No, not cent. We don't do busi-
ness that way up here. You're welcome
to both. Good by"
The old hunter remained for another
shot, and We made our way to the rem
devious.
"Regardin' turkey shootin', You got to
be mighty quick, said our hunter host,
under the big tree. They're about as
hard to get as any game / know on these
mountains. Their hearin' is very sharp,
they've got a quick eye, and they run
very fast They're not n smart bird.
You see many old hunters hereabouts
have their clearings where they gun.
We don't take particular pains to crowd
in on each other, but we take care of our
own. Nearly every morning the same
old flock will fly right into the place it
was shot at on the day before. They'll