The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-07-11
The Last Deer Killod in stark County


The story published in the DEMOCRAT
ed In Stark county, has excited GU
riOsity as to the time when the last deer
was killed. .rf o. It.T' "t
The best authority on this question is
Jerry Lind. He is the last of the deer
slayers, and knows more about game in
Stark county than any other man living,
unless 1t be Sam Stoyer, of Lawrence
township. In an interview with Jerry
on the subject, he makes the following
statement:
1t was in the winter of 1912, over 40
years ago. Aleck McCully, of MassillOn,
then Auditor of the county, was on his
way to Canton, when he saw a deer
Cross the road on the Lahm farm, going
south. AS no deer had been killed for
several winters, the impression became
general, that they had sought less
thickly settled country. McCully, on
his arrival in Canton, mentioned the
fact Of his having seen deer on his way
over, and 1t soon came to the knowledge
Of the hunters. Starkweather and Doc.
Stidger started out with a pack of
hounds. Bob. Montgomery and Charley
Burr followed after. They recOnnOitered
around Buck Hill until evening without
striking the trail. There was from to
10 inches of snow on the ground, with a
thick crust on top. Next morning be-
fore daylight, Philip Danner and Jerry
Lind started out, reaching Buck Hill
just at daybreak. Here they met Adam
ShOrb, who had started in advance on
horseback. After a brief discussion of
the object OF their movements, they de-
ctded upon plan of operations. Ex-
amining their rifles to be sure they were
In proper order, they started in different
directions, agreeing to meet at a certain
point. 1t was not long before Danner
struck the trail, which he followed with
out difficulty until he came in sight of
the deer, which proved to be large doe,
Securing favorable position for a sat
isfactory ann he fred, when the cylinder
Of the lock blew out, making the dis
charge failure. The deer bounded of
at brisk gait, and passing near Shorb,
he fired and missed. Danner, provoked
at his ill-luck and unable to repair the
damage to his rifle, left the field. In
less than half an hour after Adam had a
second shot, when, as he expressed il,
"the flag went" by which he meant he
had struck the deer, as flirting the tail
was evidence Of being hit. It was evil
dent the deer was much fatigued, as
when next seen she was lying down,
and when in the act of springing up,
Shorb fred for the third time, with a
eAOAA AAAoop % .tlO AooA
harmed. Jerry Lind then took the trail
and followed 1t to the Wirebaugh farm.
where It became mixed with sheep
tracks, and from which it could with
difficulty be distinguished. Then Jerry
commenced chasseing around the farm.
keeping a sharp lookout, until finally
he spied the deer standing perfectly
still In the corner of an open field, with
her head turned directly toward Jerry.
apparently saying, "FiTe away; I've
stood four of your shots and can stand
another" Jerry was about $50 yards
distant and had clear view. Taking
deliberate aim finland at the forehead
OF the deer, he fred and the animal fell.
By the time Jerry reached the body he
read In the expression of the eye, ''You
are g sure shot," As was the custom
with Hunters, he cut her throat, that the
carcass be drained Of all the blood possi-
BILE. ShOrD soon came up. They threw
the carcass astride the horse and started
for home, but It was impossible to keep
1t on the horse, as 1t would slide of.
Then they dragged 1t to the Bethlehem
road, and there were met by a farmer on
his way TO town with load Of hay.