The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-26
n FATAL OLD SWIVEL.
The Rine to which IRA Crissmnn Lays the
Scnrceness of Deer In Pike.

MILFORD, Pa, Nov. 1s.-An Anticipated
rife stands in corner OF the gun room in NJ.
c. wcstbrook's house in Blooming Grove-a
house once famous as sportsmans tavern.
The rifle was made years ago by gunsmith
in the central part OF New York. for Solomon
Westbrook father OF the celebrated Pike coun
ty deer slayers John c.. Nose" and the Hon.
Lafe Westbrook. 1t has the old-fashioned
swivel breech. and is known all over the coun
try rs Old Swivel" The original owner OF the
gun killed more than n score OF deer with 1t.
He died thirty years ago; Then LATE West +;
i aside rs worthless. He couldn't hit any
thing with it. he sail. Then Uncle Ira Crisis 8;
Moscs's household. took it up. He said the
gun was worth all the rest OF the guns in Pike
county. and that the reason LATE couldn't kill
anything with 1t was because he didn't know
how to shoot. Uncle Ira hns hunted with 1t
every season since. and no one else ever thinks
OF touch ing IT. 1t stands in the corner wating
until he goes up to take his annual hunt, he
having come to Milford n few years ago to be
Justice Of the r Pen here ana to help Frank
with Old Swivel" says Uncle Ira, - and I've
shot 'em at short distances and at long dis
tsness can only get that gun on em once nee:
year and give all sorts of reasons for it. but the
main one Is the bringing Of Old Swivel into the
county When die and they lay that gun to
rs plenty ~ ever.
II remember few years ago q party OF York
ers came to Noses for hunt; One OF the party
WAS Tom Winchester. the hotel man. LATE
took charge OF the party, and me and old Swivel
went out to do the killing We were hunting
one day over along the Shohoa. The dogs had
sent big doe within something less than half
u mile OF where stood on tho runway. and Old
Swivel hollered at it and it stopped right in its
tricks. hung 1t up and was dressing it, when
heard n big noise in II deep hole in the creek
| looked around. and there was the biggest
buck l ever saw. swimming across. picked
up the gun. md gave the deer a chance by let
ting it got good 300 yards start, and then |
downed him. finished dressing the doe, and
went to bring in the buck. He was so big
that couldn't bulge him. and 1 had to
go up the creek and get one Of the
New York party to come and help
me. When he see tho buck he said that il 1t
wasn't for its horns he'd n taken it for Il horse.
i was so big. That day buck was put to Tom
ten feet of him He fired both barrels at it and
never touched 1t. and he had II gun with more
improvements on 1t than 'twould take to make
the Republican party honest. But 1t missed
the deer all the same. Next day all tho same,
Old Swivel brought it down at five hundred
yards. and IL was going through the scrub oaks
like a railroad train. i don't know how many
deer I've killed with that gun. but tell you l
big n house it would take to hold EN-. You can
all have your fancy forgery in the way OF guns.
! but give me this old shorter that no one will
hunt with but me. I'm going to Blooming
| Grove rs soon rs LATE is ready and you'll hear
d little further from Old Swivel"