Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-28

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A Monticello (N. W special says
Reports Of deer and other Wild aH'rais
having been driven IN from the woods
10 farms. and even villages, IN tins
county, by the intensely cold weather
rnd hunger. have been received nearly
every day during the past week. The
snow is three feet deep on the level IN
the woods. and the thermometer IN these
high localities has for two weeks regis
tered temperature averaging below
zero. In Bethel township one farmer DIS
covered three deer at one time eating
with his cattle in the barnyard. They
ran TO the woods at his approach, but
have returned daily TO the same place.
Another farmer living near Black Lake
saws buck and doe have made them
selves at home with his cattle for over
two weeks, flying TO the woods at the
sound Of any one approaching,
but soon returning again. "A large
buck entered the open barn door
Of a farmer in the same neighbor-
hood. and having been seen by the
farmers son, the latter ran into the
barn and closed the door. The buck
was eating hay from manger with a
COW, and hearing the noise outside
jumped over the manger and attempted
TO escape by leaping through a small
window which was open six feet from
the floor. lie deity guided his antlers
through the opening, but his body was
too large TO pass through, and he was
held suspended, struggling violently.
A rope was thrown over his horns and
board was knocked off from the side
of the window. thus lowering him to
the ground. He was led into wagon
shed and securely fastened. When the
farmers hired man went out to feed
the cattle in the evening doe was
standing in the barnyard. 1t ran half
way across field and then stopped to
look back. Hearing a commotion in
the wagon-shed, the man went in and
found that the buck had entangled him
self in the rope, and was lying on the
floor kicking and struggling. The
farmer, fearing that the deer might in
fIict injury on himselfwhich would make
it necessary to KILT, cut therope from It's
horns and with much difficulty olsen
tangled it from the bucks legs. The
deer sprang out of the open door and
bounded away across the field. The
doe and the buck disappeared in the
woods together. In spite of his expe-
rience at the farm, the buck was dis
covered with the doe in the barnyard
the next morning, eating the fragments
Of hay and cornstalks which were scat
tered about. Since that time the farmer
has thrown hay and fodder in the yard,
and the two deer may be seen every
night gliding stealthily across the fields
TO the yard for their fodder.
a few DAYS ago George i. Stanton, a
farmer living on the plank-road near
Mongaup Valley, saw from his window
a large buck Looping down the road
toward the house. 1t came
within rod of the house. and bound
ing over the fence was making for the
barnyard, when young hound, which
was lying on the back porch, saw the
deer and started after it. This changed
the deer's course, and it ran across
lots toward Mongaup river. The
snow being very deep, with light
crust upon its surface, the progress
Of the deer was so hampered that the
hound overlook it when it was still
some distance from the river bank and
fastened his teeth in one Of the ami
mails hind legs. Two sons of Mr..
ran to the spot with rope.
The deer dragged the dog to the banks
Of the stream, where the two men
reached it, and after severe struggle
they bound it securely with the rope.
Half dragging and half carrying the
buck they took il to the barn and i'm
prisoned it. Then the rope was re.
The deer dashed wildly about
the barn for short time, but at
last became reconciled to its situa-
ton, and now eats heartily of the food
with which it is abundantly provided.
The buck is of unusually large size.
but was gaunt with hunger when it was
captured. Old hunters say that the
bold appearance of ordinarily shy AMI
mails at the farms and settlements indi-
Gates that the latter part of the winter
has been a very severe one for them.
Undoubtedly many animals have perish
ed in the ice and snow-bound swamps.