Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-30
A WILD TURKEY CHASE.
story OF Dog that Picked a Wild Bird
from n Flock of Tame Turkeys.
From the SDortsma's's Journal.

From the SDortsp1Qn's Journal.
Upon an intensely warm evening in the
latter part Of September last, neighbor
called at my house for the purpose OF get
ting a glass OF iced water, after we had
ridden together from our village. After
partaking Of this beverage, we walked
out into the yard ana seated ourselves In
a couple OF old spint bottom chairs. which
never see the inside OF the house from
May to October. About that time my
flock of turkeys came up, the largest that
have ever raised being over a hundred
in number. NV friend was noticing them
and remarking upon their very fine APP
pearance, they being nearly full bronze.
The turkeys were just over the yard fence
in the lot adjoining. At the same time
my old cOOred servant, Billy Carter,
passed through the yard. and as he reach
ed the yard gate he stopped and calling
me to him, said:
.'COme here, Mars William, / want to
show you something"
approached bim, and the old fellow,
pointing across the lot, said.
do you see that iellOw?"
| looked, and there, standing upon the
brow OF the hill, about eighty yards of,
was magnificent wild turkey g0bbler.
Said Billy:
''Is dc guu loadedV
NO" l replied, land what's more, !
don't think there's load OF powder and
shot in the house,"
.'My! what pity" replied the old fell
low how easy could slip around the
barn ana get him.
"Wen, never mind, ;" replied 1, ''don't
disturb him, Tor he will roost in the
orchard tonight ana will probably
come up with the turkeys again tO-mor.
row evening and we will be ready for
him"
So, my friend, DR.. Cabell. old Billy and
| stood looking at this grand bird, deplOr-
ing our inability TO capture him. While
we three were standing i'm the yard, in
tently gazing az the turkey, my Irish
bitch, Gypsey tup and come to where
we were. She at once tire W up her head
and sprang over the yard fence. 1 called
TO her very sternly to come back. and. al
though ordinarily she is under line COM
mand, she paid no attention 20 me, but
Duiged through the flock Of tame turkeys
and made directly for the wild one as fast
as she could go. As she approached 10
the turkey started to run. but was On the
wing In an Instant, the bitch after 10. IL
few across the orchard and alighted upon
the brow Of a hill about 500 yards or: but
it was no sooner upon the ground than
Gypsey was there. She whirled IL around
and II iiew hack aud lighted right in "a.
midst Of the flock of turkeys. Gypsey
was there In an instant. and bullying
through the flock with her eyes ever OFT
10, routed II again. IL then few and
alighted upon the roof OF my corn house.
BY tuat time we were, dog and all, IN the
widest excitement, and instead Of trying
TO call her on, were encouraging her. The
turkey was soon upon the wing again
flying in an opposite direction toward a
body Of woods, 400 yards of. II flew a
little over half tue distance and again
alighted and started TO run
but before IL had gone 30
yards ana before IL could rise again the
/ bitch had II, and, strange as IL may ap-
pear, when Old Billy Carter reached them
she was holding IL bv the neck, and 10 was
alive aud had not been bitten in the body
In the slightest. Billy brought 10 back aud
cut its head OIL with anaX.
Now, have given you a truthful ac-
count Of the whole affair, but what has
always staggered me was how that bitch
could have caught and distinguished the
difference In The scent Of that wild turkey
from that Of the entire flock Of tame ones.