River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-24
LIGHTHOUSE HUNTING.
The IntermIttent Light Serves to sho'
the Game to the Hunter.

The Intermittent Light Serves to show
the Game to the Hunter.
Not only is Saugor Island beacon
light of great use to our pilots as they
take their charges in and out through
the intricate channels leading between
the roaring breakers on the sands, but
it also serves the purposes of the
sportsmen. employees of the lighthouse
and the telegraph Office in procuring
fresh supplies of good venison when
perhapsthe stores of provision in their
larder have run low. but which they
would not so readily get were the light
fixed, and necessarily a much DINNER
one, instead of flashing one.
This light oscillates over consider
able arc and throws a concentrated
beam across the roadstead about every
half minute which is of sufficient
brightness to throw the shadow of
ones hand against the cabin bulkhead
even off in the roads at a distance OF
two and half to three miles. Now.
in the dry season of the year, as at
present when all the rainwater pools
have dried up, and the salt water from
the sea contaminates all the water of
the tidal creeks, the deer, hogs and
tigers. with which all these low-lying
Sunderland islands abound, get hard
pressed for drinking water, and conse-
quently are rot slow 20 discover the
whereabouts of the reserve tanks which
have been dug in the vicinity of the
station.
So the lighthouse people, taking ad.
vantage of this fact, do little shikar
after nightfall, and for that purpose
have built small hiding-place in the
shape of loopholed mud hut on the
eastern edge of the tank, the tank be
ing between them and the sea, and the
lighthouse being some four hundred
yards off. The hut is just large enough
for two men to stow themselves away
in, and the darker the night the better
for their purpose The deer, though
naturally timid animals soon get used
To the regular bright fash of the bea-
con light as the rehectors swing round
and round, and with cautious tread
they wend their way generally toward
the far edge of the tank.
Meanwhile the two occupants of the
hut are ON the alert, and as they OBJ
serve their prey approach hardly dare
draw a breath for fear of the smallest
sound alarming them, for the deer
have very acute hearing. Their guns
are grasped and ready, and their eyes
are eagerly watching the deer's cautious
advance toward the tank each time the
welI-timed flash lights up the dark
bodies. 1t nears the long-coveted
draught and stretches forth its neck,
hut inst as it famished lips are dipping
into the cool water there is another
flash from the light.
Now is the moment for action, and
lust as the timid creature raises its
head to stare at the light two triggers
are pulled. and ere the quickly recur-
ring dark period has had time to swing
round again. and the echoes of the two
gun reports have had time to come
from the ship at anchor, while the puffs
of smoke steal slowly away over the low
Jungle scrub, the next flash of light
discloses the form of fine spotted
deer stretched lifeless on the grass by
the edge of the clear water which had
lured il to its fate. Sometimes hogs,
and but very rarely, even tiger, put
in an appearance, to be bagged in like
manner Calcutta Asian.