Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
HUNTING THE COON.
A FaVorite Sport of Southern Gentle
men Before the War.
MAKING READY FOR TIE CHASE
Uncle Jack Leads the Way to Good Nights
Sport.
THE TRIUMPHANT MARCH HOMEWARD
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.s
In ante-bellum days the favorite sport of
the sons of wealthy planters, barring the
fox chase, was hunting the raccoon and
opossum at night under the chaperonage Of
a trusty old slave with five or six younger
slaves and two or three trained dogs The
night selected for the hunt would be clear
and cold enough that the exercise of tramp
through the woods would not be fatiguing-
generally from the middle of October till
the last of November. The game then is in
fine condition, the plantations of corn,
skirted by dense forests, furnishing the
'coons with sumptuous feasts, while the
'possum would fatten on ripe persimmons
in every field and thicket.
Though but lad, 1 frequently enjoyed
the fun, and, dressed for the hunt, would
repair to Uncle Jacks cabin, where the
preliminaries would be going on, the
younger men preparing bundles OF light
wood that would readily blaze when the
match was applied, collecting the best axes,
filling jug with water, and sometimes one
with persimmon beer. The dogs in the
meantime would be evincing their under
standing and appreciation of the proceed
ings by frequent barking and many lively
antics. When all ready the old hunter
would give the word to start, and everyone
must implicitly obey his every command,
for upon his knowledge depended the suc-
cess of the hunt.
Leaving the cabins, or quarters, the party
made for the forest in the direction pointed
out by the leader, the well-trained dogs fol-
lowing closely behind. When the forest was
reached the old slave called halt, examined
the sky to see where certain stars were and
noted the direction of the wind. If, from
his representations, the signs were pro-
pitious. the torches were lighted and the
dogs called and separately instructed as
though they were rational beings. At the
word from their master they would spring
into the woods and
THE HUNT BEGIN,
The hunters following and picking their
way where the underground was dense or
wet places encountered. Soon the dogs
would be heard, and the old man expressed
pleasure or disappointment at their peculiar
cry. We proceeded just fast enough to
keep in hearing of the dogs, for sometimes
they only barked at intervals and in differ
ent directions. If the hunt was progressing
tavorably 'twould not be long before "On,
Ring would tell de news" the other dogs
would draw on his trail, frequent yelpings
would be heard and the pace of the hunters
Quickened. For half mile, possibly, the
chase would be kept up-the forest resound-
ing with the cries OF the dogs and the shouts
of the hunters, and made luminous by the,
blazing torches. Finally the dogs would
cease for moment, then all break out at one
spot, then @e knew the game was ''treed,"
and hurry scurry now to reach the place.
When the dogs were reached they were
furiously barking aud running around a
huge gum tree. Ole Ring, in particular,
was springing as far up its sides as possible
and biting the bark. Uncle Jack snuffed
his torch and prepared 'ter shine he eyes"
When it was blazing brightly he held it
above his head walking around the tree and
peering up in its tall branches. After go.
ing around several times he gave a grant of
satisfaction and exclaimed: "Dar's two
big 'coons up dar." Had there been
but one the tree, no matter how large, would
''varm1nt" it was climbed and Messrs
Coon shaken out one at time, that none
might escape, and the dogs have fair
chance at all. Up started a good climber
and the lowest coon shaken out. Such fun!
The dogs were on him when he touched the
ground. He was large fat fellow, and fought
bravely, the excited hunters, each with
blazing torch, forming circle about the
combatants, cheering the dogs.
AN EXCITING SCENE.
Over and over the dogs and coon would
roll, so rapidly and amid so much confu-
sion, gnashing of teeth and growls that it
was impossible in the dim light to dis
tinguish dog from coon. One indscreet
hunter got so near he tripped and fell, and
for while the darkey and his flaming light
wood were badly mixed up with the strug-
Cling mass. He was soon rescued, however,
the coon dispatched and hunter No. up |
the tree, told to shake out the other coon.
Down he came with thud, and in falling
must have struck his head against root
adding him; for the dogs had him killed in
no time with little of the fun and excite
ment of the first battle. The painting dogs |
were allowed moments rest while |
the hunters refreshed themselves with water |
or beer and prepared the game for carriage.
This was done by splitting four-foot stick |
about six inches from the big end, so the |
split would not run out, through which the |
"Yarmint's" tail was drawn. The wedge |
caused the sides to 60 together |
again, thereby clamping the tail firmly. |
From this performance is supposed to |
the expression "his tail in a split |
stick" These sticks were shouldered by |
the darkles, the torches snuffed and the dogs |
again put on the hunt.
Ten minutes passed before the dogs
''treed" again. This time;it was 'possum
up a large oak. The tree was soon cut
down, and as the opossum makes but little
resistance. the fun was quickly over. Again
the dogs were put out, leading us still
farther into the depths of the forest We
were having good luck and the hunters
were in high spirits, so did not pause to con-
slider the probabilities of long tramp.
sole Ring" could be heard in the distance
and in ten minutes had 'treed' again. 1t
proved another coon up tall poplar. The
axes were soon ringing on its sides and it
fell with a fearful crash, swapping
and breaking other trees in its
course to the ground. The dogs were
1t the top in an instant scenting the game.
but not In time to catch him. They pressed
him so hard, however, that he ran up the
nearest tree-a small sapling not over 20
PAGES from the poplar, and not 10 feet high.
Around 1t the dogs and hunters gathered.
rhe coon was shaken out among the dogs
md killed by them after another tough
,attle.
A GOOD NIGHTS SPORT.
The hunt was continued until two more
possums were caught. BY now we were
ome miles from home, had crossed large
ract of forest and near the road on the other
ide. We reached the road, and Uncle Jack
canned the heavens "ter find de seben stars
n ellen yards" When found he pro-
lounced the time to be zone hour past mid
light"-which was within few minutes of
he correct time.
Well satisfied with the hunt, the dogs
Tere whistied. lights extinguished and our
tep turned toward the plantation. When
he cabins were reached the fires, always