Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-18
The Champion Bird story.

The rice bird season, which has now
opened, Is ever welcomed with pleasure by
the epicurean lovers of these delicate, juicy
birds, but fails to create the same feeling
among the planters, who, according to sta
tistics carefully compiled by experts, are
laid under tribute of gill of rice per bird
in fattening the little fellows. We men
ton this as an appropriate predatory to a
Wsshingtonisn bird story, narrated at a
gathering Of Savsnnahians, at the Clsren-
don, at Saratoga, few weeks since.
Mr. Luke Z. and number of other gen
tlemen from this city were discoursing with
a party of gentlemen from the Hub
on various matters In the South.
The latter opened their eyes when Mr..
g. told them Of the crops made this
season, and about rails ing three to four tons
OF hay to the acre. This statement pro-
duce0 a prolonged Whewl from the aston
ished listeners, and the subject naturally
turned from hay fields to rice fields.
Mr.. r, Of Boston, dilated on the delicious
rice birds he had eaten In Savannah, and
turning to Mr.. c., remarked that he under
stood they were very plentiful and easily
killed, and asked him how many he had
brought down in single shot. "Well," said
Mr.. c., 81 have killed three Dozen"
A look Of incredulity spread over the faces
of the gentlemen from the Hub. Mr..
noticed this implied doubt as to his VeracitY
or Workmanship, either of WI ich was not to
be tolerated, snd offered to back his state
ment by bet Of 500, to be decided by IN
doubted evidence to be produced next
summer, when they should meet
again at Saratoga. just as the stakes
were about to be put up, the
rice bird cham )ion, observed Captain David
D., an eX Savannahian now residing In
New York, passing by and summoned him
IS a witness in the case. Captain ID. being
put On the stand, as 1t were, thrust his
thumb in the arm hole OF his vest, adj
vsnced his left foot, pushed his hat
back over his Totund forehead, gave
his unlit cheroot angle of fOrty-tive de-
grees heavenward, on having the subject
explained to him, and being asked ii he had
ever killed three dozen rice birds at single
shot, said no; he never shot st them that way.
but always let go both barrels. He said he
often went out in the rice field, and took
with him his negro man and his dogs. As
the birds rose he would let go both barrels,
and the darkey would pick up three to four
bushels Of dead birds; and the dogs would
bring in dozen more wounded ones-this
was not his best shooting, either. This
declaration settled the wager, and the gen
tlemen from the Hub had nothing more to
say. The little summer episode was told
on SATURDAY at MI. Us slaDi6S3
and a gentleman present, another
son Of the Emerald Isle, stated that it re-
minded him of an snecdote of a Southern
planter, who had great pride in his skill as
a marksman, and in a party asserted that
he had fired at 8 deer once, striking It in The
hind hoOf, and the ball passing through
into the ear, killed it.
OF course, the planters story could not be
doubted, but some Of the party expressing
the opinion that it was certainly marvel
Gus case, the planter brought out his col
ored boy Sam, who was an eve witness to
the shot. 'Sam," said his master, edo you
remember that day 1 shot a deer in the hind
foot and the ball passed through and
into its ear2" Sam hesitated an In
slant and then, his face lighting up,
said: sob, yes, Masss, 1 member it
purfeckly." One Of the gentlemen inquired
how It was. Sam replied: "Well, you see,
boss, the deer had jest raised his hind foot
to scratch UNI ear when massa fired" This
was accepted as a satisfactory explanation,
but when Sam found himself alone with his
master he said: eur de Lord sake, massa,
de mex time you tell about any shot don't
hab your bullet holes so fur apart"