Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-19
AnImmense Robin Roost.
SIay1ng the Birds by the Thousands for
the Market.

Staying the Birds by tine VhOWSmn0s ZOE
the Market.
[Frorn the Charlotts On. C.l obssrverl
For several weeks past large bunches of
robins have been seen in the market, and in
qairy revealed the fact that they all came
from the robin roost near Mr.. Mack Stat
ford's house at Harrisburgh, Cabarrss ceun-
sy, where, for over three weeks past, large
parties have been making nightly war on the
birds with stick and TORCH. We heard great
deal about the roost and the people who gath
cred there to kill the birds, and ~ the eight
o'clock train showed up at Harrisburgh the
other night our reporter stepped of and
struck cut for the roost Getting down into
q lsmg stretch of bottom land, something
over mile from the depot the dull flaming
lights ahead piloted us to the roost. As We
n8ared the scene of action we found that the
roost was in an immense canebrake. A par.
ty OF perhaps forty darkies besides lot of
white people, were just emerging with their
sticks and torches and birds, the sport being
about over for the night.
The next afternoon about five o'clock Mr.
Stafford called to us to come out inho the
yard and ses what was going on, and it was
q sight to assonish From all directions great
focks of robins were Fl yin3 across the heav-
ems, all winging their way to the roost, which
was almost in plain view of the house. For
fully an hour one Aock after another went
by, until the whole canebrake was fairly
alive with the feathered tribe, and before it
was quite dark large party set out to make
war upon them. There were sixty eight
men and boys in the crowd, each carrying
stick and torch or lantern. The roost hav-
ing been reached and action commenced, the
reporter witnessed sight that he will never
forget. The canebrake is about mile long,
and extends a considerable distance on either
side of the creek. Il seemed that each iadi-
vdual cane was bent down with load of
birds. The reporter, getting just inside the
edge of the brake, struck at cluster of
birds, and the hutter that ensued was deaf
ening. From all sides hundreds of blinded
and bewildered birds few about, striking
against each other and against canes, making
a noise that resembled mighty wind. All
through the brakes torches cleaned, men
shouted and the deadly stick going right
and left. The birds never left the brake, but
few about in dire confusion, unable to escape
the weapons in the hands of the men, who
piled them for about an hour with terrible
effect. In the excitement of the battle hard
" anybody stopped long enough to pick up
all the slain birds, but went over their routes
when the sport was ended to gather their
game. Our party went into the brake at
seven O'Clock, and at eight all were counting
over their birds that lay in piles at each ones
feet. A young man named Query was the
most successful having killed 1856. The
lowest number killed by any one person was
forty y-seven The total number of robins
killed by the party in one hour footed up
2,11o. This was on Friday night of last
week. The nightly battles on these birds
have been constantly going on for fully three
weeks, and yet the number of robins that
swarm the reest does not seem to abate. The
birds fock there from the adjoining coun-
ties, and it Is, ON the whole, the most re-
markable robin roost ever known in this Sec
tion of the country, afording such sport as
it not INDUCED in more than once in life
time.