Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-07-16
A TOUGH YARN.
Short on Guns But Long on
Wild Cats.
Story of a Controversy With a Fe
rocious Varmint In the Wilds OF
Sullivan County, N. Y.-He
Earned tho Bounty Ha
Received.
[Deckertown IN. " Special. ]

[Deckertown IN. " Special
Il meyer had such q brush afore in
my life,' exclaimed rough looking
specimen of Northwoods lumberman
us he stepped into the Treasurer's office
in Monticello, Sullivan County, just a.
cross the York State line. The man
carried double-barreled shotgun, a
horn powder receptacle, ponderous
gamesack, a leather shot-pouch; and he
wore big, broad slouch hat, and coat
and pants so patched it was difficult to
tell Of what they were originally made.
But | fetched 'em dead sure, and
here's there skelps, too, and | thort I'd
jist step in, Mr.. Treasurer, and git the
bounty on 'em, seein' as l needed some
change to giG Il little stock of am'nition
for them bar up on Clinton Holler.'
what have you got now p 1'ye got
two wildcat skelps and my name isn't
George Sackrider if they didn't come
mighty nigh onto hevin' mine. They
got poor Jack's-that's my dog-as it
was. 'Twere a mighty close tussel for
me-
He drew out the scalps of two wild
cats and handed them to the official,
aud then sat down.
You see, had seen bar signs lead
in down to'rds the Holler, but hadn't
gone fur afore we discovered plenty OF
wildcat signs, and Jack took the track
and went to'rds the swamp. While
waitin' fur, the yarmints to come, big
henhawk settled down into an old tree
list in nice range. He sot there so
temptin' that I ups and knocks him
down, kerfop, deader'n a doornall.
'Twarnt two minutes afterward and a
fore | had time to load the empty bar'l /,
when | heard Jack maxim fur me,
lickety split. l jist had time to jump
into pCsish, when [ heard rushin' in
the dry leayes, and then tarnel big
wildcat were seen maxim straight fur
me. When it seed me it started kinder
thunderstruck, as though it had best
dodge around the corner. Pullin' up,
list gavesit one bar'l, and over it roll
ed. But the next second'twere up and,
with blood in its eye, it made fur me.
1t jumped for my thloat, and 1 struck
1t back with my gun. [Gosh but
didn't wish that hawk hadn't come
foolin' around 50 soon j 1t kept CON-
in at me, clawin' and tearin' like mad
spilin' my broadcloth most shameful
like and projucin' the claret outen my
my legs and arms dangnation fast. Jist
as had given the varmint a stunnin'
blow and set my No. IFS onto its
throat, gosh-a-neddy it there didn't
come anuther cat, bigger'n the furst.
But, l kin tell yer, there was clawin
and yellin' come around there bout
that time ! The fresh cat he jist jump
ed fur me and tore round like all fury
and feared I'd haye to knock my gun
all to pieces on his blamed ugly old
head or else git tore to strings. Mighty!
But, didn't he claw, though
But the Lord alters was on my side,
and list at the last moment, when |
was a-fightin' one with a gun bari and
a-holdin' of the one down with my feet,
and hevin' him tear my legs into shoe
strings. up comes Jack-poor, old Jack
and he grabbed the loose cat. 1t
didn't take me long, then, to finish out
that cat under my heels, but l hadn't
done it none to soon, afore 'tother was
at me agin' it havin' torn the skin all
often poor Jacks face and noddle.
Poorly soon got in square blow and
broke the darnation varmint's back ,an'
1 kicked the stuffin outen of it in short
order, then, you kin bet. Poor Jack. he
were done fur, though
well, George, here's your bounty fol
the scalps.' The hunter took the mon
ey and strobe out with self satisfied
air, that seemed to indicate his entire
willingness to attack half the wildcats
in Sullivan County, if only both barrels
of his gun were loaded and no hawks
were to appear.