Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-06
SYKES WENT HUNTING.

THE SORROWS OF A YOUNG HUN
TER WHO WENT OUT WITH A
NEW GUN.
Henry Sykes, a young man OF
this town, went hunting a few days
ago. He bad a flne new double
barrelled shotgun, and wished TO
distinguish himself. He concluded
to try his hand at shooting Wild
ducks, about fifteen miles below
here. A friend told Sykes OF this
place. The railroad runs near it,
and Sykes went down IN the morn.
ing before day. He hired a coun'
tryman to take him ont in a small
skiff, and at dawn they we're watch
ing for the ducks. They padded
around quietly for about two hours,
but saw no ducks. Sykes began
to grow impatient, but the monot'
ony was interrupted 10y an event.
The boat was old and the timber
was rotten. The country man In
cautiously ran 1t against a snag.
A big hole was stove in the bot.
tom. and it Immediately filed and
sank. The water was not over
waist deep, but Sykes in his tum.
BILE dropped his fine gun. After a
half hour cropping in the muddy
water it was found and they waded
to land.
Sykes drle6 his clothes and his
gun, put in a new load and con-
cluded that he had enough Of duck
hunting. lie thought he would
try squirrel shooting, as the forest
ran down to the waters edge, and
his boatman told him squirrels
were abundant IN 1t. He entered
the forest and hunted until noon
without seeing a.squirrel. Then.he
found that be was lost. After two
hours wandering and nothing to
eat he came to a house and was
told how to get to the railway sta
ton. He was also informed that
in the fields on the way there was
some good quail shooting.
Sykes came to one of the fields
described, and thought he might
yet redeem himself by popping over
few brace of quails. He climbed
over the fence and made his way
through some stubble, expecting to
scare up some game. A herd OF
sheep were feeding In the field.
An old ram was at the head OF the
herd, and when he saw Sykes he
opened hostile demonstrations
With head down he started on
run for the hunter. Sykes was
badly frightened. He thought 1t
would be better to kill the ram
than be killed by him. So he
raised his gun and discharged both
barrels At the coming catapult.
His hand trcmbled so that all the
shot flew wide. Then he turned to
run and the ram struck him q
glancing blow, which tossed him
into the stubble on his face and
sent bis gun flying from his hands
Abandoning his weapon he sprang
to his feet and ran for the fence
pursued by the ram. He was
knocked down again, but finally
managed to reach the fence and
scramble over into safety. Ht
found that he was considerably
bruised, but not hurt.
Sykes threw, stones at the ram TO
awhile and wondered how he wa'
going to get his gun back. Ate
considerable searching he found
the house of the man who owne'
the field. The farmer sent IN
hired man back with him, and the.
obtained the gun. 1t WAS tw
miles to the railway station. Syke
shonldered his gun aud started fo
if. still aching from his adventure
He determined to sell his gun g
soon as he got back TO the cit.
and to never 60 bunting again.
, Fe came in sight OF the static
lust in time TO see the last Bal'
more train pass. He yelled an
worked his handkerchief, but Il
train did not stop. At this la
misfortune he broke down. lie 8
on the depot platform and actual
n shed tears. There was no hotel
a the little station, and he spent u
% night at little farm house ne
i, by. He did not sleep any, Tor u
musquitos nddled his uuprote'
~ ed face, and 1t was covered vi
bumps the next morning. de
N up at day Wight, determined not
ia miss the the first Baltimore tr'
although il was not due Tor Tn
.o hours. and waited in the depot
p, ill It arrived. Then he came
Baltimore, hunted up doct
l.. Naa.