The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-03-06
A WHITE DOE.
The Superstitions About 1t Among
Pennsylvania Hunters.

Silas Rohrbacker, who lives alone
with his 15-year old son on his clearing
in the Hunters Range Mountains, near
| Scranton, Pa, was in that city few
days since for the purpose of having
some auction posters printed, giving
notice that he would offer at public sale
| certain household goods and personal
property. To brother-in-law he gave
| as a reason for desiring to dispose of
his property that he could never have
any luck again ON his farm because he
| had killed white doe, which, accord
! ing to the superstition among the hunt
ers of Northern Pennsylvania, is
crime sure to be followed by disaster,
in one way or another, to the perpe-
| TRAITOR 1t seems that last week Rohr-
| backer and his son were on their way
! to part of the woods where they have
been at work getting out railroad ties.
While passing along the edge of laurel
thickct large doe sprang out but
few feet away. The snow was covered
with a stiff crust, upon which the deer
could secure no foothold, and it instant
| ly fell on its side, and was unable to
regain its feet.
Rohrbacker saw ut once that it was q
specimen of that rare animal, SO sacred
in the eyes of all hunters, white deer.
He resolved at once to save its life and
place it where it would be secure. He
got feed bag and n rope, and, after
tying the does legs, drew the bag over
its head and carried it to his cowshed.
1t was the intention of the humane
woodsman to keep the deer until spring,
and then free it. On last ThursdaSMhe
went to the shed to throw down hay
for his cattle. Rohrbacker had his
| hayfork in his hand. When he opened
| the door of the shed the wind caught
it and blew it wide open and the doe
made a dash for it. ..... ..H
AS it leaped past Rohrbacker he me-
chanically raised his hayfork and made
lunge at the deer. The tines sank
into the deer's side. and the impetus of
the animals flight broke them off.
The doe fell at full length dead on the
snow. The tines of the fork were i'm
| bedded in her heart. Rohrbacker at
first thought he would bury it in the
woods and say nothing about it, as no
one in the neighborhood was aware
that he had had the animal in custody.
| Arguing, however, that such course
would not relieve him from any evil
consequences that might follow his un-
fortunate act, he carried the news to
some lumber choppers in the woods.
One of these, not having any faith in
the white deer superstition, carried the
carcass from Rohr backer's premises,
removed the skin and sold it the same
day to a commercial traveller for $40.
In spite of his great regret at having
killed the deer, and his fear of the con-
sequences, Rohrbacker, upon hearing
of the sale of the skin, demanded half
the money, and finally accepted 81.
AS proof of the bad luck sure TO fol-
low person who has killed white deer,
he narrated several stories: In 1872
Hornbeck Sinner, OF the Exchange
Hotel, Wilkesbarre, and two friends of
his, a man named Beavens and one
pamed Haney, killed white deer in
Pike county. This was followed by
Sinner becoming from a rich man and
one of giant physique a bankrupt and
n helpless invalid. Haney failed in
business and died of the smallpox.
Beavens, then leading merchant, be-
came reduced to bankruptcy, and shot
himself in an outhouse. James Van
Gorden did not believe in the sacred
ness of the white deer. He hunted one
ridges, but never could hit it. Then
he made silver bullet, with which he
killed it. He died with wasting
disease before the season was over.
Judge Westfall, of Pike county, shot
twelve times at = white deer one fall,
and. although he did not hit it he was
never able to kill deer OF any other
game after that, and died after being
defeated for the Legislature. james
Brink. Tho shot q red buck, and sent
the bail clear through the buck and into
Il white deer that stood beyond it, died
of consumption in five months, and a
man named Griswold. who was with
him, was killed afterward by load of
stone falling on him.
Rohrbacker's brother-in-law failed to
convince him that there was anything
in the superstition, and finally pur-
chased Rohrbacker's property himself.
Rohrbacker has gone to Monroe county
to work in a tannery, firmly believing
that he will die or be killed before the
year is out. The son does not share
his fathers fear, and will remain on
the old place.-M Y Sun.