The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-17
Old Siegel and His Son.
Ry THE MARQUIS OF LoRNE.


MANY years ago, while making a tour
through that beautiful tract of mountain
scenery in the south of Bavaria known
as the Saltzgammergut, I stayed for a
fortnight at Berchlesgaden. l spent
much of my time there in fishing for
crawling and in talking to the chamols-
hunters, with many OF whom had made
acquaintance during previous visit. l
used often to sit for hours listening. to
their hunting stories, and on one occasion
hunted with them. -,
The mountains Immediately around
Berchtesgaden are kept as a royal
chamois preserve, and as the King was
expected to arrive shortly, none but his
Maiestv's own iagers were allowed, dur
ing the time I was there, to disturb the
chamois.
Twas, however, very anxious to have
at least one days sport, and arranged
with old Siegel aud his son Franz,
ehamois-hunters whom had known tor
some time, and on whom I could depend,
to have "jagd" on the morrow. Siegel
persuaded Gottipg, friend of his, to
come with US. ,
We started early in the morning, and
after toiling for several hours up through
the dark pine woods, which became more
scant and scrubby the higher we went,
emerged at last on the open snow
fields.
We now separated; Franz and Gotting
made long detour to the left, while
Siegel and hastened on to reach some
commanding position above, In case any
chamois were driven up. After an hours
more climbing, we halted on the top OF
q precipice, which. shaped in the form
of a crescent, made complete cul de
sac for any chamois driven up by our
friends below.
We had badly been watching ten min
utes when two chamois appeared in
sight, bounding up the mountain side
and coming directly toward US. When
the foremost had come within range, l
fired and missed, as most men would
have done, firing as did at so small an
object from height almost perpendicu-
larly above it.
The beasts turned, and springing with
wonderful speed over the sharp rocks,
were soon out Of sight. fired second
shot just as they were disappearing,
and think l struck one of them, but it
contrived to get away, and we never
saw it again.
Siegel and /, somewhat crestfallen,
trudged on up the mountain, keeping a
sharp lookout on oil sides, and hating
now and then to give the others time to
overtake us.
Suddenly we heard, far down below
us, shot, and then all was again silent.
We were much surprised, as it is one OF
the first rules in this kind of hunting
never, except when absolutely necessary,
even to raise the voice, much less, OF
course, to fire rifle, which scares the
chamois completely.
We knew that Gotting and Franz, di-
rectly below us as they were, could not
possibly have seen q chamois, as our
Shots must have driven them quite out of
reach. After q minutes anxious listen
ing, we fancied we heard shouts, and
fearing we knew not what, called loudly
FranZ's name.
We then heard-and this time quite
distinctly voice of Gotting saying
"Come down come down It's all over
Franz has shot himselfm
Siegel and I were standing together
ankle deep in the snow. I glanced into
his face, and 1 think I shall never for
get the look of misery saw there. Be-
fore knew what he was about, he had
seized his ri:c. and presented the muzzle
to his head, and was feeling with his
foot in frenzed manner for the trigger.
snatched the piece away just in time
he did not try to recover it, but throw
ing himself on the snow, burst into 4
most passionate, most eloquent torrent of
praise of his sons many virtues. lie told
me what a good son he had always been
to him, anxious to fulfil his slightest
wish.
l at length succeeded in partially
soothing him, and in rousing him to ac'
ton. We scrambled down as fast as we
could, guided by Gotting's shouts.
1t was long time before VIC reached
them; to me it seemed au age. I ac
cused myself of being the author of all
this misery, and my anxiety was height
ened by the reflection that we were in
reality roachng. and we should very
likely, in consequence OF this misfortune
get into trouble on our return.
We found poor Franz lying shot
through the back and in great pain
among stunted "knie-holz" plant
something like our whinbush. 1t ap
nesred that he had, contrary to all iagel
rules, carried his rifle capped, and tha
in walking through the knie-holz, h'
had stumbled and fallen, and his rife hat
somehow or other exploded, causing
severe wound.
We stanched the blood as well as w
could with our handkerchiefs, and thel
held a consultation. Gotting said h
knew of chalet some way off to whicl