Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-24
LOST IN THE WOODS.
Thrilling Experience of a Deer Hunter
on Turtle River

on
DoCroRTowN, GA, Oct. 2l.-Editor
Morning Ne,os: have just returned from
a trip in Glynn county, this State, and
while there had some experiences which
may prove interesting to your readers.
l arrived in Brunswick on Oct 0, and
took a small boat for plantation on
Turtle river called ''The College," owned
by Mr.. James Livingstone, to look at a
valuable bed of mari situated on part of
his land. After finishing my business
was invited by him TO join party, him
self included, in deer hunt the following
morning. Accordingly on Saturday
morning, Oct. 10, just after daylight, we
started toward his pasture, tract of land
containing ut least 1000 acres. We had
not gone more than mile from the house
before | was placed on 'stand" to wait
the approach Of the deer. | sat on a stump
and waited patiently enou h until COM
menced to feel as though dinner time
could not be tar off, SO, disregarding my
instructions to wait until they blew their
horns before leaving my stand, ! started
back for the house, and, unfortunately,
missed the road and had to take the
woods in as near the right direction as
could, having 10 sun to guide me.
walked steadily for upwards of an hour,
when it began to dawn on me that | was
completely lost, with nothing to guide my
course, and swamps on every hand AS
soon as this fact was fully established IN
my mind, | knew my only hope to get out
was to take some straight course and
follow it rega dless OF distance and water,
which | might have to wade. | chose a
direction and began walking as though
for very life, and suppose | must have
covered at least 10 miles by time dark
ness overlook me. When it did ! was
between two large swamps, and choosing
the dryest spot ! could find prepared to
spend or endure the night. built me a
fire, but the rain soon extinguished
it, and had to make myself as comforta-
BILE as wet clothes ana circumstances
WOULD permit. A few minutes after dark
the rain, which had been sprlnkling in the
afternoon, came down in torrents and the
wind howled among the trees in fearful
manner. NY feelings can better be imag-
ined than described, but | managed 70
survive, and as soon as there was suffi-
Gent light next morning for me to navi-
gate continued the course | had chosen
the night before, and started out through
the binding rain. Every swamp was a
veritable lake of water, and sometimes
thought ! would have to swim or drown
in keeping my course. | walked and
waded steadily until, having crossed al
least fftv swampS of various sizes, |
struck the first road l had seen since the
previous morning, and, although l am
not devout man, think | offered up an
earnest prayer of thanks, for although 1t
was then u O'clock, and no house in
sight, l knew l must come TO
some place of shelter before night
fall. l walked down this road
for two miles, when blessed sightl q
house appeared before my tired vision.
was kindly received by the owner,
courteous gentleman, Mr. Nicholas
Boone, who saw to my wants aud kindly
drove me back, although still raining, to
my friends house, then seven miles dis
tant.
My experience will be a warning TO me,
and / hope may prove one to other anna
teur deer hunters to never leave the stands
on which they are placed when on strange
ground. AMATEUR HUNTER.