Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-04
A FLORIDA COON HUNT.
Incidents, Accidents and Fun to be
Found in an Old-Fashioned Way.

"Come," said the Major, Tipping the
ashes from his cigar, "let's go COON
hunting tonight"
why, certainly; when do you start"
81 will come for you at p. m.," he an
swered. at is ten miles to the planta-
tiOn-our starting point for the hunt. FL
ride Selim, and bring my black mare for
you. She is a daisy, if she is a little
risky. Good day"
At 4:30 p. m. we mounted our horses
and rode out toward the setting sun. 1t
was beautiful afternoon, with just
suspicion OF fall in the cool, sweet breeze.
On either side were tangled masses OF
wild and shaggy underground, the tlotsam
aud jetsam OF the redundant Life of nature.
Giant oaks and stately pines stood guard
over these and lofty bamboo vines climbed
to the top for a more extensive view
Sometimes the road ahead of US
would seem to come to an abrupt con-
clusiOn, the overarching trees appear
ing to form an impossible barricade. AS
we approached they would open ranks
and onward we would go. About five
miles out we came to little stream and
stopped to water our horses. This little
branch was clear as crystal, the bottom
being of hard clay. ltslipped out OF the
woods in the cutest manner and, spread
road, sparkled and glittered, then dashed
into the darkness of the other side.
SOME FUN TO BEGIN WITH.
mile further on a little episode oe-
Cured that afforded me considerable I'M
easiness and discomfort, and the Major
ike quantity of amusement. | was rid
ing along, carelessly cOnVersing, paying
but very little attention to my horse, when
a little spotted fawn ran across the road
My horse stood still about one second,
trembling in every limb, nOstrils dis
tended, wild with terror, and then made
tremendous leap to one side, throwing me
half out of the saddle. Here my Indian
experience came in band and l soon re-
covered control. There was a series of
plunging. kicking and rearing, desper-
ate effort TO rub me off against the trees,
and then Kitty, having found ner master,
settled down to quiet again.
AN OLD TINE RUINED HOME.
Passing through one large, well-culti-
waited plantation we came to a second
one, and here our journey ended. A long
avenue, lined with Spanish bavonet, led
to the old mansion, once a stately edfice,
but now almost in ruins. 1t was nearly
IN the centre of a grove of immense live
oak, hung with masses of soft, gray moss.
Tangled vines and creeping roses hid the
rotten planks of the wide piazZas. On
the second floor but two rooms were habi-
table, one being occupied by the bachelor
overseer, the other was the guest cham
Der. The only furniture of the latter was
cot and some chairs. A wide, open
fireplace gave an air of comfort to the
large, dingy, shutterless room. This
dIlapidated mansion had once been the
summer home Of one of the wealthiest
planters in the county. What scenes of
merTlment the crumbling walls had wit
nessedl What shouts Of joy and laugh
teri What strains of lOng-forgetten
music, to which tiny feet kept time! In
these rooms the wall of the new birth has
been heard! Here the fair young bride
has stood upon the threshold of a fateful,
untried life. From here, too, the dead
have been carried forth, for the tomb
stones CLEAN white in the grove some dis
lance in the rear of the house. Here it
was the handsome, stalwart, chivalrOus
| owner donned the Confederate gray and
went forth to battle for the cause of his
| people. Here, also, was he brought back
! cold and still, shot at the head of his regi-
ment, died on the field of honor.
A SOUTHERN SUPPER.
From some hidden recess the young
oYerseer brings forth a corpulent bottle.
We half fill our glass with a reddish
looking fluid-I am positive it was not
miik-and then take seats at the supper
table i'm the lower room. 1t is a bachelors
repast, for we are all bachelors, and we
enjoy it, tor good old Aunt Jenny knews
exactly what we want. A plate
of biscuit, plump and snowy white.
a large dish Of chicken fried to a delici-
Gus golden brown, boiled potatoes,
bursting their brown jackets off in their
eagerness to be eaten, coffee, strong as
Samson, and black as Niggerdemos round
ed out the meal. After supper we lit our
pines and sat out on the rumbling porch
while waiting the preparation OF the hunt
ing armament. The night air was full OF
sound. The grOtesque laughter Of the
mule came to us from the far-off stables:
the chattering whirr Of insect life made
the darkness melOdious with mOnOtOny of
sound. Sometimes shadOwy flap of
wing and a harsh note showed where
some belated bird was going YEARLY
hOmeWard.
WE HUNT THE COON.
"Fall in" said the Major, and off we
started JOSIAH and his son Ike, both of
the color warranted TO keep in any
climate, lead the column. They have
torches made Of fat pine aud carry under
the left arm bundles OF the same. The
oyerseer follows, equally well equipped.
The Major ana ! follow MIN. We leave
the plantation and tramp through an i'm
mense field or brown sedge. Circling
around US, Obcdient to the call OF Josiah,
are the two famOBs coon dogs, "BilI' and
"Shep." At the word they forge ahead
eagerly, aud on we 90. After
weary trail through the tall grass we
come to an immense oak tree and josiah
halts with a smOthered ejaculation. There
is cleared space under the tree and
signs Of a recent camp. Wenotice traces
OF fire and see huge pile Of cOrncobs and
some few bones. What is il, Josiah -
the VI aiOr asks. muffin but err ole camp
oh dem repgee niggers. Been gone er
bout week, low. Wush I'd cOtched
'em. dOggone dere trllin' pOtlickers skins!
Nus bin three or TO- oh 'em. OATS
whar my big rOOs'e or went las week" Now
we have to cross swift, rubbing stream,
showing darhly green under the flaring
light or the torches.
The bridge is a homemade, homeo-
pathic one of two rails width, supported
by ricEety, swaying poles, guarded by an
equally rickety hanG-Tail. The water
looks 10 be OF fathOmless depth. The
negroes and the Oyerseer 20 over the
bridge as carelessly as il IL was AZ stable
and solid as the connecting link between
New York and Brooklyn. The Major
ewes IL obviously and tells me 10 70 first.
With snail-llke pace / cross il safely.
Now he tries 1t, first picking up a pole TO
steady his path. In the middle Of the
bridge the pOle-which proves 10 be a
reed-breaks; be makes a misstep and In
be goes. How the OYerseer and laugh, for
the water. deemed a1moat "a IN tlf la d.pfh