The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-31

ATTACKED BY WOUNDED BuCK--ANpRl
COrCn's DESPERATE STRUGGLE AMONG 81


LIvAN-coUNTY SCRUB OAK.
A Monticello (N. " correspondent OF
the Tribune writes: Old hunters agree In
saying thar they would rather meet and
battle with any other wild animal in the
woods than wounded buck, and Andrew
Couch. famous hunter and guide Of this
county, is to-day more than ever convinced
chat the old hunters are right. Sportsmen
OF this place who have Just returned from
weeks hunt in the Black Lake region
relate an exciting adventure oil the hunt
| Couch Is one OF the most noted hunters
and guides in the county. lie was en-
gagged by the Monticello party to I" drive J"
deer Tor them. They started two on the
/ first day, but did not succeed IN getting a
shot. On the second day Couch drove Big
| Hjll for the hunters. The dogs started a
| buck In the afternoon and drove 1t toward
| Couch, As il came over the ridge through
/ the scrub oak the guide saw that 1t was
/ an enormous buck, and desiring that the
visiting sportSmen should have shot at 1t,
he discharged one barrel OF his gun few
/ feet In front OF the deer, with the inten-
/ ton 81 turning It of in the direction OF
the other hunters. who were stationed in
different "run-ways" on the ridge.
ATTACKED BY THE BUCK.
The deer did not change It's course, a.
Couch supposed it would, but turned and
made directly toward him. lie discharged
4 his remaining barrel at the deer as 1t came
/ bounding toward him, and il fell almost in
/ its tracks. Couch ran TO the spot and drew
his knife to cut the deer's throat. suppos-
| ing that il was dead. AS the hunter was
! bending over the deer It suddenly sprang
to its feet, knocking COUGHS knife from
his hand. and attacked him with fury, leap
Ing in the air, and striking yiciousy
at the hunter with its sharp hoofs.
Couch jumped quickly aside ard escaped
the full force OF the deadly stroke Of
1 a wounded bucks fore-feet. One OF the
| feet, however, struck him on his left Shout
der. spun him round like top, and cut
( through the sleeve Of his heavy hunting
shirt from shoulder to wrist. Couch had
/ his gun in his hand, but IL was empty.
! Before the deer could gather itself Tor an
other attack the hunter dealt it it power
| ful blow across the neck with the stock OF
the gun. The blow staggered the buck
and shivered the gun TO pieces.
THE HUNTER on TIE GROUND.
Recovering quickly, the buck sprang at
Couch again, and planted both fore-feet on
| his shoulders, telling him to the ground.
knowledge Of the great peril he was in
| lent agility TO the hunters movements, and
/ before the buck could deal blow upon
his chest with its hoois that would have
| doubtless been fatal Couch regaincd his
( feet and instantly closed with the buck.
shouting mean while TO his companion for
help. Couch believed that the deer had been
MORALLY wounded by the riile-ball, for the
| blood was flowing in great stream from
| its breast, and he hoped that ii ne could
/ himself hold out long enough and prevent
the Infatuated animal from striking him
with its hoofs he would in Il short time see
| it succumb. The bucks vitality, however,
was wonderful, and it seemed as strong
aud fresh after IL quarter of an hours
wrestling among the scrub-oak rs it was at
the beginning OF the struggle.
IN DESPERATE STRAITS.
| Couch had twice been beneath the deer'S
f0re-ieet and had received bad cuts and
bruises. His clothing was nearly all torn
from him. and he was covered with blood
and nearly exhausted. He felt that his
only hope was either in the appearance Of
the other hunters on the scene or in some
decisive movement of his own 10 get the
better Of the deer. He had dropped his
gun-barrel when he closed with the deer,
but at last, in the course OF the struggle,
the spot where it lay was once more reach
ed. by quick movement he disengaged
himself from the deer and sprang for the
weapon. He had scarcely secured it and
risen to his feet before the buck was once
more upon him. Couch raised the gum
barrel in the air and put all his remaining
strength in the blow he dealt the deer.
THE STRUGGLE ENDED.
II struck the animal back OF the antlers
and felled it to the ground. The skull
was crushed, and another blow ended the
contest. Couch then dropped to the ground
from sheer exhaustion.
The other hunters, not having heard
anything from Couch after his two shots
came upon the scene in aborH half an houl
to see what the result had been. They
found Couch and the deer lying side by
side. The hunter was not seriously hurt
but was badly cut and bruised. The deel
was the largest that has been killed IN Sui
Ivan county in many years. 1t weighed
30 pounds.