Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-01-18
Deer-Hunting with Daniel
Webster.

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Deer-Hunting with Daniel
Webster.
In the witer of 1891 deer were
quite p,enty in Plymouth woods.
Daniel Webster was then at Marsh
field. Word was sent to him that
the Kingston gang was going on n
deer hunt the day before Thanks
giving, with an invitation for him to
join us. and all were to meet at the
old faxing place at Smelt's pond at
sunrise, sharp. BY S O'Clock his
honor appeared with a gentleman
friend; and Samuel and Waldo f.,
Uncle Thomas b, and my father
aud myself. We all had old FASH
ioned kings arms, pcrcussioned, ex-
eept Mr.. Webster and his friend,
who had donble guns. 1t was a
fine, frosty morning and our party
lively. We had two good hounds,
Samuel and Waldo were to take the
hounds and drive Watson's valley
Uucle Tom was to drive over and
take Nick's rock stand. The rest of
us were to hurry over to the Carver
road and string out at the guide
board crossing.
We had scarcely reached our
places before we heard the welcom-
ing voice OF the hounds in full cry
and soon the laundering echoes of
two kings arms at the head of Wat
son valley, and then echoing
down the valley came, "Whoop oh.
Whoop-oh! Look out, look out!'
The hounds were coming directly
toward us. | soon detected some
thing coming down the blind road
at my right. and when within forty
yards it stopped behind a bush. |
shot at the fellow ! saw, when al
most Immediately two deer came
out of the bushes at my left and
crossed the road within few yards
of me. My father, who stood on
mig right, aud Mr.. Webster and
friend, who stood ON my left, all fir
ed and one deer fell. ran into the
woods where / had shot, and not
finding anything, returned to find
that Mr.. Webster and friend had
jumped into their wagon and ran
their horse to West Pond road to in
torcept the other deer ut the cross
ing, as the dogs had gone on in track
of tie other. Father advised me TO
hurry Oh and he would stay there
with the dead deer, and wait for
Sam and Waldo to come up. Uncle
Tor. had come up and kept on in
his carriage toward West Pond, end
while he was driving, the deer came
within gunshot, and he shot at i,
from his wagon. The deer, slightly
wounded, now came back directly
toward the guide-board crossing
again. l, hearing the dogs, hurried
back. The deer jumped into The
road some ninety yards off, and we
all fired. The deer fell, but gaineo
his feet and bounded away, falling
at every jump. Running up th'
road we all chased it except father
who reloaded, and running the ole
mare overlook and shot the deer.
We now had a joyful lunch
washing it down with somethin,
good from Mr.. Webster's lunch bas
ket. Then we concluded to star
for home, as it was about 2 O'Clock
We decided that Mr.. Webster an'
his friend had shot the buck and m
father had shot the doe. Mr.. Wei
ster gave us 81 each, and he and hi
friend took the buck, which was
nice one, and father gave the othe
. two men 80 cents each. and took th
doe, as three Of us were at my fail
er's. l, feeling little dissatistic
at my first shot, took one Of I'll
{ hounds and went up the blind roa
O where l first shot. The houn
Q snuffing around, soon found larl
= red fox dead within ten feet /
= where / shot at him. We now too
our bells from our wagon boxes AN
i returned home jingling, as was Il
y custom If successful. CDR. Forest a,
( S,sm.