The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-20
a DUCK HUNTERS YARN.
A Wild Cat, q Buck, Three Offers,
and Rattlesnake in One Day.

1t has been good season for the sports
men and they have some good stories to tell
about their expeditions up the Savannah.
Ducks have been coming into market pretty
freely Of late and the hunters are realizing
well on them. One duck hunter, who took
couple of young men up the river with
MIN six weeks ago, came in the other night.
As he drew his boat up to the market dock a
crowd gathered about. A big gun and its
equipage lay in one end of the boat, and in
the other lay monster deer, wild cat,
three offers and the boat besides was almost
full Of ducks. The hunter had hardly
reached the market before he got his price
for all of his game.
Quick businessp
"You bet"
The hunter rested a little, and throwing
himself down in one of the market stalls,
he began the story Of his last days hunt on
the river.
1T was heavy fog and when the boys
and got out two hours before day, we had
durn sight of trouble to see our way along
through the swamps. We were on our
way to the boat at the river for ducks. 1t
was splendid morning and we wanted to
get there about the time the ducks were get
ting out. We Numbered through the bushes,
slipping in the mud till we got nearly to the
river bank. What did we Seeg A big wild
cat running on log not twenty-five yards
away with a squirrel in his mouth. We
stopped. The wild cat kept coming When he
got little closer he threw his head up and
began to scent. He smelled u.s. and when
he saw US he squatted on his launches as a
cat does when it is charming a bird. /
sighted, and when pulled the
trigger the "critter" started to run.
1t was a minute before the smoke
cleared away. We went up to the place
where the animal had been, but we couldn't
find anything. Missed himl Must have;
and we started on, the boys in front, and
stopped to reload my gun. Before got
loaded l heard whoop, and the boys came
running back. They said that big bear
had possession of the boat. had killed
moro bears than you can shake stick at,
| and it was fun for me. We crept along
cautiously back TO the boat. had my gun
| cooked, ready to blow hole in bruin. The
boat was swinging about in the water, and
the cham was rafting. 1t sent cold chills
courslng through the boys, butt only served
to excite interest in me. We got down to
the boat and what did we find but the wild
cat lying dead in the bottom with the squir-
rel still in his mouth. 1t was fun for the
boys, but it was great disappointment to
me. We threw the cat on the bank and
washing the blood out of the boat, started
for the duck ground"
"How about the ducksm
ut was the biggest day for ducks ever
knew. The topping of the ducks wings
made the boys fairly dance The first flock
we drove up made a terrible noise. We
rowed along, and ducks kept flying up all
around us. Finally we rowed by a small
flock and they would not fly. That did me
good. That was the result Of not firing
into them. Around a swamp head
heard the quack of an English drake. It
We 4 ,Eez
cautiously around the head, stopping be-
hind clump of bushes in the water. The
stream was full of ducks, and I thought
the boys would have a duck fit We
padded along up toward them, keeping the
clump of trees between us until we got in
good distance, and then we opened on
them"
"How many?'
Nineteen big English ducks. Killed them
at one shot. II / could have seen to put in
another shot l believe l could have killed
half as many more with the second barrel.
Never heard such a noise in nv life
as they got up out of the water and shook
themselves and left for Florida. The flap.
ping OF their wings, the quacking and
| splaShlng OF the water, made a loud row
We started back, and as we were rounding
the head of the swamp, l saw a ripping in
the water just ahead of us. | thought it
was drove of summer ducks but when it
got nearer | saw it was three offers. |
| stopped the boat, but the animals saw lis
and turned around the clump of trees.
Whirling the boat around we turned. too.
and all that could see in the bushes was a
black spot. L cut loose at it.
| found all three of the offers dead.
We lugged them in the boat and rowed
pack. just as we got in sight of the bank
| we encountered a deer, which the dogs had
| just run into the river. He came swimming
with the tip end of his nose out of the water.
turned the boat aud padded swiftly until
we got alongside of the animal, when we
made a lasso of the boat chain and threw
! 1t over the horns of the buck. One of the
boys held the chain up to the side of the
boat and reached down and cut the bucks
throat. We carried him into camp.
ut was the biggest haul l have ever
known. Our camp was very poorly built
shanty, with boards stretched across pine
poles for beds. We were provided with
blankets which served as a mattress. Our
| coats served as pillows. The game was
| slowed away in the shanty. and toward
| midnight / was aroused by something
under the blanket. 1t was breathing, and
at each breath it raised me up. That is. it
raised my hair up, for It was under nv
head. l confess that for the first time in
my camp experience / was frightened.
lay sulI without turning over or moving
a muscle until day. 1 counted every breath
that the thing drew. When the boys woke
up and begun to tumble and roll about I
| told them very easily to get up and open
the door and pull the cover off of me and
clear the way-that there was something
the matter. I was mighty pale, they said,
and they suspected that had nightmare.
They did as l directed, and 1 made a tri-
umphant leap, shouting to the boys to run
for life, and we piled out Of the shanty
together
"What was it under your head?'' :
What do you thinks A monster rattle
snake. We killed it, and it had three OF
the ducks and the squirrel in its stomach. u
TO-DAY'S MILITARY DISPLAY.
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