New-York tribune., 1884-11-17
4 FlGHT WiTH 4 DEER.
ANDREW oRoUcn's rXrLous IN THE BLACK LAKE
REGION.

ANDREW CRuUCu's EXPLoIis ~ THE BLACK LAKE
REGION.
BETHEL, Nov. l6.-Andrew Crouch, the
hunter ani guide whose feat Of killing two deer AT one
shOt in the Black Lake region made him suddenly
famous besides being Ovcrrun with applications from
city sporsmen for his in hunting expeditions,
has received q proposition from the proprietor OF %
museum exhibit himself with the mounted skins OF
the two deer Others II the original bodies can
not be had.
Remarkable the killing OF the two deer was, II Is
surpassed by another exploit of Croachs which required
the exercise only of all his skill woodsman. but
an extraordinary degree OF endurance and courage.
The Black Lake woods filled all through the hunting
with sportsnien for distance VINO remain ddy
at time IN the haunts. party of men from
Monticello having secured the services OF Crouch rs their
guide were driving" the ridges Black Lake.
Crouch standing the same runway. and nearly
On the spot where he shot the two deer at once
The day his dogs had started two deer but none
OF party succeeded in getting shot On the day
i'm que ,tOn they started buck, and drove directly
toward the spot where Crouch WAS standIhg Anxious
tua some one OF the visiting sportsmen should have a
Crouch hred one OF his barrels in front
OF 1t a. 1t came bounding through the brush Win ne m
tention Of turning toward another runway The deer
stopped short aud ut t seemed undecided what TO do
ran directly toward Crouch As it approached him, the
hunter fired the remaining barrel at 1t to XIII. ana II
drew his knife cut its throat As he was stopping
over the PROSTATE buck, it sprang TO feet and
ferocously attacked the hunter Crouch had his empty
h his hand. lie jumped quickly To one side rs tue
the air and struck at him with its fore feet
the sharp hOOrs struck MIN on the LETT shoulder
turning hrL half round. and nearly knocking him down.
buck gathered itself Tor another leap the hunter
dealt 10 a blow the head with the gran. The blow
had little effect the buck, but broke the breech OF
the gun the barrels The deer renewed Its attack.
and this time succeeded in planting Its fore feet square
Crouch's shoulders, knocking him down. Before 1t
could lean upon him with It's hO0fs ln the hunter
reganed his feet and knowing that his only hope was
keep himself clear OF the bucks hDOfs. casped the
nurated animal around the body, with It's two lore legs
his shoulders. Blood streaming freely from the
rltc-hal wound in the bucks breast, ana Crouch felt
that it would he only question OF time when the deer
would succumb The wound did not prove tn be as serious
as tue hunter had believed it and after nearly
quarter of hours wrestling with the buck In which
the hunter trlmpled twice beneath ftS rect, ana
badly cut and bruised. he said that unless he could
make decisive movement lie would De unable 10
hold out against the enraged brute 49,
At the buck. after the breaking OF the
gum Crouchs hunting knife had been knocked from MS
han and the clOseness of the struggle rendered the
gIn-barrel useless and he had thrown it to the ground
The struggle finally brought the contestants to wthln
few feet where the gun barrel lay Crouch dsengaged
hin self the buck. and sprnging forward regaIned
possession the weapon lie mad barely time TO rise
erect again before the buck was upon hlIn Crolch
brou ght down with all his strength on the
deers head. striking IL back o the anters Ihe Duck
dropped 20 its knees. The hunter follower up hls
advantage quickly, and two more blows crushed the
animals skull, aud ended the combat The hunter Tell
exhausted mt the side of the dead deer. Ihe other
hunters half hour after hearing trouc TWO SHOTS
went 10 his run what the result or the shoot
inr had been and found hunter and buck lying side by
slr Crouch had managed his silo OF the ngnt 80
sfulv that few scratches and bruises were the extent
of his injuries but he nearly exhausted to hunt
any more that dJy. The buck Que OF the largest
killed In sullivan County for years.