The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-04-22
UNCLE ABB.
IOpelousas Courier.1

UNCLE ABB.
IOpelousas Courier.1
Uncle Alb was in town on Tuesday
night, and throng of friends gath
cred around him to hear him recount
some Of the thrilling adventures of his
life. Some of these episodes sound
more like romance than reality; but
those who know our old friend would
not think of questioning hts veracity,
or Of charging him with using "fgu-
rative language" He is too matter-of-
fact for poesy, or drawing upon the i'm.
agination. Allusion was made to the
herds of deer which had been seen
around town since the presence of the
floods; the number that had been
killed by spot hunters despite the
game law and the regularity of the
male deer shedding. his horns every
year, etc.
Uncle Alb condemned the practice of
killing deer out of season, and said
that no true sportsman would ssbutch-
err game IN any such way. He then
told how, In the "loDg ago when he
was young" and deer abundant-he
would mount his fleet mustang, and
with nothing but his trasty lasso secur-
ed to his saddle, he would seek his
quarry on our broad prairies. 1t re-
quired but short time to select
noble buck, with ssbrushheap on his
head" when he would pat his favorite
charger ON the neck, and say to him,
ssnew old fellow let out your speed like
creased lightning" He would then
pick him lightly with his jingling
spurs to awaken his FULL momentum,
and then circle around the game to get
near approach and drive it from the
timber. Then with lasso adjusted in
easy folds, and reins gathered we'll in
one hand, the race began which was
to be one of life to the deer. At a
signal of speeds the horse like the
wings Of the Winchester, faster, fas-
ter, until little distance intervenes be-
tween pursuer ana pursued Uncle Ab
watches the opportune moment, and
whirling the lasso around until the
proper impetus was gained, with prac-
ticed eye aud skilled hand, he sends
the beautiful coiling folds on its mis-
sion of strangulation, and the fatal
moose settles over the antlers of the
deer. The we'll trained horse comes to
quick halt, the deer is thrown a
somersault by the throttling rope, and
In few moments lies limp upon the
grass. The knife finishes the work,
and the chase is over.
But says Uncle Alb: "The greatest
fun Is roping alligators. Here your
aim must be as true as rifle, and the
lasso must be kept taut despite his SER
pentine gyrations and his 40 bull power
This is fun, excitement,
and energy you bet. Why sir, he will
lash the water so furiously and rapidly
with his tail, that you imagine a heavy
shower of rain is falling overhead.
When you get him on land he cuts
so fast that you fancy you
have got a circular saw made Of alliga
tors. Sand, leaves, and sticks fly in
such clouds that you almost believe
that you have roped the spirit of the
tempest itself.
Uncle Alb continued: "Boys did
you know that alligators shed their
teeth every year? Well they do, and
the ivory is the finest in the world. a
man ought to make money on the Lac
cassine, gathering alligator teeth for
the Market" We havn't tho time now
to 60 on with Uncle Abs thrilling re-
citais, but may do SO in the future.
Suffice 1t to say that he is IL native of
st. Landry, and that his adventures
during the war-as Il solder in the Nir-
gtnta army-would fill a book.
A WELL. DEVELOPED EAR.