National Republican., 1883-11-08
A EIGHT WITH A nuc1,.
The Terrible Struggle ofn Sullivan County
Guide I'm tho Woods.
Nan Yart Jrjhyns

Guide In tho woods.
NeD York Tribune
Old hunters agree IN saying that thoy would
rather meet and battle with any other wild
animal in the woods than a wounded buck
and Andrew Couch, n famous hunter and
guide of this county, is to-day more than ever
convinced that the old hunters are right.
Sportsmen of this place who have lust re-.
turned from n weeks hunt in the Black Lake
region, relate an exciting adventure of tho
hunt Couch is one of tho most noted hunters
and guides in the county. He was engaged by
the Monticello party TO drive deer for them.
They started two on the irst day, but did not
succeed in getting q shot. On the second day
Couch drove Big hill for the hunters. The dogs
started a buck in the afternoon and drove it
toward Couch. AS IL came over tho ridge
through the scrub oak the guide saw that IL
was an enormous buck, and, desiring that the
visiting sportsmcn should have shot at it, he
discharged one barrel Of his gun few feet in
front of the deer, with the intention of turn
ing IL off in the direction of the other hunters
who were stationed in different run ways "
on the ridge. The deer did not change its
course, as Couch supposed 1t would but
turned and made directly for him. He dis
charged his remaining barrel as the deer as il
came bounding toward him, and it fell almost
in its tracks. Couch ran to the spot and drew
his knife TO cut the deers throat, supposing
it 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, leaping in tho air
and striking viciously at the hunter with Its
sharp hoofs. Couch jumped quickly aside and
escaped the full force ofthe deadly stroke of a
wounded bucks fore feet. Ono of the feet
however, struck him on his left shoulder
spun him round like top, and cut through
the sleeve of his heavy hunting-shirt from
Il - lad 1t.
hand, but it was empty. Before the deer
could gather itself for another attack, the
hunter dealt it powerful blow across tho
neck with the stock of the gun. The blow
staggered the buck and shattered the gun to
pieces. Recovering quickly, the buck sprang
at Couch again, and planted both fore feet on
his shoulders, Telling him to the ground.
knowledge of tho great peril he was in lent
agility to the hunters movements, and before
the buck could deal blowupon his chest with
its hoofs that would doubtless have been fatal,
Couch regained his feet and instantly closed
with the buck, shouting meanwhile to his
companions for help. Couch believed that the
deer had been mortally wounded by the rifle
balls, for the blood was flowing in a great
stream from its breast, and he hoped that If
he could himself hold out long enough and
prevent the infuriated animal from striking
him with its hoofs he would in q short time
see it succumb. The bucks vitality. how
aud fresh after quarter of an hours wrest
ling among the scrub oak as it was at the be-
ginning of the struggle. Couch had twice
been beneath the deer's forefeet and had re-
ceived 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 ap-
pearance 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 course of the
struggle, tho spot where it lay was
once more reached. BY a quick movement
he disengaged himself from the deer, and
sprang for the weapon. He had scarcely Sc
cured IL and risen to his feet before the buck
was once more upon him. Couch raised the
gun barrel in the air and putall his remaining
strength in tho blow he dealt the deer. 1t
| struck the animal back of the antlers and
feled it TO the ground. The skull was crushed,
and another blow ended the contest Couch
then dropped to the ground from sheer c1-
haustion. The othor hunters, not having
heard anything from Couch after his, two
shots, came upon the scene in about half an
hour to sec 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 deer was the
largest that has been killed in Sullivan
county in many years. 1t weighed 210
| nounla