The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-02-09
THAT COON HUNT.

A Description of the Sport by one who |
was There to Sec ii.
1t was announced on Monday that |
there would be a coon tree cut
Tuesday on the Cottonwood near Ran
dolph's hog yard. The cutting was
postponed from morning until afternoon.
About O'Clock there assembled on the
banks of the Cottonwood river about |
forty individuals anxious 10 see the fun,
and a dozen dogs were with the crowd,
) In short time all were rowed safely
across the river, and the old cottonwood
tree on the opposite bank that had
stood there long before the foot of a
white man had pressed the wild soil of
Kansas, was selected to be sacrificed for
a little fun for the boys. At the
first stroke of the axe it was
discovered to be hollow, and
with anxious willing hands at saw and
axe itsoon was lettering to the fall. Then
the hunters and dogs were scattered out
to watch for the game that might run
out in the fall of the tree. None ran out
and the keea.scented bird dog failed to
locate any in the tree, and it was sug-
Gested that Joe Randolph wanted the
tree cut for wood and that w. A. RAN
dolph was party to the fraud. He being
present suggestions of ducking him in
the Cottonwood were INDUCED in, but he
was firm in the faith that the game was
there. Soon Tom Fleming's bull dog
was induced to smell in q hole, and he
stuck, showing signs of the presence of
! the game. A hole was cut in the large
limb and the bull dog went in, and soon
the dog and coon were at It. A man
reached in the hole, caught the dog by
the tail and drew him out, but there
was no coon at the other end,
though he was bleeding. and clearly
showed that he had been with the game
Another hole was cut, and coon ran
out. 1t was noticed by the dogs A
ring was formed by the hunters around
the game, and the fun commenced. The
bulldog here got bitter revenge for the
treatment he received IN the hollow limb
from the ceons. Capt. Warren, who
occupied an elevated stump, directed
the proceedings. He was furnished
with the only gun on the ground-a
double-barreled shotgun-and it was
unanimously voted that in case of foot
race between him and coon, in case
his (Warren's) wind gave out (as il was
liable to) before he overlook his game
he might use the gun, but under no 9th.
er circumstances.
The whooping and yelling of the
men and boys, the barking of the dogs
F and the squealIng of the coon during tho
fight made the hearing of one,
own voice impossible. After the frs
coon was dispatched il vas vetsl that il
did not have fair chance, and thai
for the rest of them but one dog should
be used at a time Pretty soon anothe
coon came out, which was taken by
: Charlie VOLTS dog and the fun began
again. The dog fought well but hal
r had no experience. Before he go
: perience. Sometimes the boys hisset
e the coon and again the dog. and it wa
found necessary 10 turn loose q fresl
J. dog before the coon was killed. A COO
!. is wonderful prompt in coming to th
scratch, and always welcomes his adEel
+ sary with open arms and mouth.
the same time the second coon ran on
q 3 third one made his appearance whicl
o was taken charge of by other dogs fo
whom he soon found himself more tina
match. Charlie Cooper got him b
the tail and he allowed him to sway 1
near his body when Mr.. Coon nabbe
Charlie by the leg. Charlie, to II
lease him, went down on ii
ground and grabbed at the necl
= OF the coon. but instead of getting Il
neck hold he got a jaw hold on the COO
on the inside of the jaw with bot
thumbs. There he held the COO
n At least there he stayed, and yelle
! for some one to cut the coon
throat, but it was al once
= clared that the coon must have chanc,
! 50 Jim Kirkendail got stick and prize
m the jaws of The vigorous little creatu
=. open so thai Charlie might be let loos
q which he promptly did. Then he wan
ed 20 jump on the coon, but it was vot
unfair to strike il when down BY Ii
- time the other one was finished. Vol
he dog came for the third one and went
ct him in earnest but cooney took il co,
70 and was very calm and collected in |
" he did. The dog was tired but full
ed | fight 90 was The coon tull Of fight
OF fought for bigger stake than the dc
no and seemed all the while to spprecis
u the fact. He would rear On his hi
legs and 90 for the dog with = yigor u