Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-12-01
A Hunters Fight for Life.
ANDREW CoUcH's DESPERATE
STRUGGLE WITH A WOUNDED

ANDREW coUcH's DESPERATE
STRUGGLE WITH WOUNDED
BUCK.
A Monticello IN Y J letter to the
New York Tribune gives the follow
Ing vivid account of a desperate bat
Tie between Andrew Couch, noted
hunter and guide, and a wounded
buck:
Couch is one of the most noted
hunters and guides in the county.
lie was engaged by Monticello par
ty to drive" deer for them. They
started two on the FIRST day but did
not succeed in getting a shot. On
the second day Couch drove Big
Hill for them. The dogs started
buck in the afternoon and drove it
toward Couch. AS it came over the
ridge through the scrub oak, the
guide saw that it was an enormous
buck and desiring that the visiting
sportsmen should have shot at it,
he discharged one barrel of his gun
in front of the deer, with the inten-
tion of turning it off in the direction
of thu other huntsmen, who were
stationed at different ''run ways" in
the ridge.
The deer did not change its course
as Couch supposed it would, but it
turred and made directly for him.
He discharged his remaining barrel
as it came bounding toward him,
and it fell almost in its tracks. Mr.
Couch ran to the spot and drew his
knife to cut the deer's throat, sup
posing that it was dead. As he was
bending over the deer, it suddenly
sprang to its feet, knocking the knife
out of his hand, and attacking him
with fury, ieaping in the air, and
striking viciously at the hunter with
its sharp hoffs. Couch jumped
quickly aside and escaped the full
force of the deadly strokes of the
wounded bucks forefeet. One OF
the feet, however, struck him on the
left shoulder, spun him round like a
top, and cut through the sleeve of
his heavy hunting shirt from shout
der to wrist. Couch had his gun In
his hand but it was empty. Before
the deer could gather itself for an
other attack the hunter dealt it
powerful blow across the neck with
the stock Of the gun. The blow
staggered the buck and shivered the
gun to pieces.
Recovering quickly, the buck once
more sprang at Couch, and planted
both fore feet on his shoulder, fell
ing him to the ground. Knowing
the great danger he was in, it lent
agility to the hunters movements
and before the buck could deal
blow upon his chest with its hoofs,
that would have doubtless proved
fatal, Couch regained his feet and
instant ~ closed with the buck shout:
ing to his companions for help.
Couch believed that the deer had
been MORALLY wounded by the rifle
ball, for the blood was flowing in
great stream from its breast, and he
hoped that If he could himself hold
out long enough and prevent the in
furiated animal from striking him
with its hoofs he would in a short
time see it succumb. The bucks
vitality, however, was wonderful,
and it seemed rs strong and fresh |
after quarter of an hours wrest-
ling among the scrub-oak, as he was
at the beginning of the struggle.
Couch had twice been beneath the |
deer's forefeet and had received bad |
cuts and bruises. His clothing was
nearly all torn from him and he was
covered with blood and nearly ex
hausted. 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
to 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 reached.
BY quick movement he disenga-
nr..d hiaxnnalf frn.,a 4ho H.. |