Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-12-08
HUNTING IN DISMAL SWAMP
no" Deer, Coons, squirrels and Oppcs
sums are Brought to Book.

no" Deer, COons. Squirrels and Oppcs-
sums are Brought to Book.
Lake Drummond is, and has been for
years, favorite spot for deer. They are
hunted with dogs, still hunter being an
object of aversion to the natives, and he
IS lucky II he escapes without having the
tails of his shirt nailed to tree as a
warning to the next tenderfoot who i'm
AGNES that still hunting is the only way
to shoot deer, says a writer in the New
York Journal.
The "cattIe BEAST is the local name
given to the sturdy wild cattle which
roam about through the Businesses ofthe
swamp. They are small, understood
animals, as swift and shy as a deer.
When the farmer Wishesa fresh beef he
takes his gun and his dogs and runs the
animal to standstiil. The ''cattle.
BEAST is a favorlte meat for bear, and
ottentimes carries the marks of severe
encounters, says Frank A. Haywood.
1t IS the height of fun, if not exactly
true sport, to attend coon or opossum
hunt in the Dismal. Both are universal
favorites for the table, and nowhere
can be found fit companion to the
'possum (unless it is a young pig,
which, after, fattening on milk, emerges
a perfect roll of butter,') and in point
of favor and delicacy cannot be sur
passed.
Both of the animals are rich in fight
ing qualities. A high-spirited coon will
lie on mis- back and whip almost any
thing that comes along; but in the
branches Of the persimmon the 'possum
is king. He is subject to nothing but a
"nigger." His throne is the branch
from which he hangs by the tail and
from it he swings and reigns.
For coon and 'possum bunting pro-
vide yourself with plenty of Triggers"
and coon dogs and start into the swamp
Immediately after dark. 1t will not be
long before the dogs have q coon freed.
Then comes the fun. The coon is in
the tree, the dogs are at It's foot. The
great moon silvers the green branches.
Muscular negroes attack the tree with q
sharp steel or mount into its branches.
Torches of light wood glare brightly.
The hunters gather about. The tree
falls or the coon is shaken from the
branches.
In either case there is d conglomerate
mass OF negro, dog, and coon. Thump J!
The dog has him and tussle occurs, but
the dog wins. Thump again A negro
has smitten brother in his anxiety to
strike the coon. Yah A negro has
caught a 'possum, and inserting the
beasts tail in the clevis of hickory
stick, starts for home, the envy of his
sable companions. The light of the
full moon, the flare Of the pine knots
shining upon the black countenances,
form pictures never to be forgotten. Off
start the dogs through the fields Of corn
or reedy marshes, and on good coon
night within fifteen minutes the scene
will be repeated.
Before the war 'fox-hunting" was a
very popular sport with planters who
lived about the Dismal Swamp, but of
late wears has sunk into an almost lin
nocuous desuetude." In the ante-bellum
DAYS ANYONE who was anyone" kept
a pack of hounds and could furnish a
DAYS sport equal to that furnished by an
English lord. But at present there is
very little "tox running" and should
have entirely forgotten the existence of
many packs of hounds hut for the recent
action of a Philadelphia drummer who
reioices in the sopriquet o. "Tomb b.
stones" who, in fit induced by look
inc upon whisky cocktails with "cher-
ries" in 'em, drove into Norfolk from
Ocean View footing necessarily upon a
huntsman's horn and followed by about
$50 baving hounds, which 1t took the
owners week to recover.
/ suppose about every section OF tide
water in Virginia and in Eastern North
Carolina affords good bird and squirrel
shooting. l have driven hundreds OF
miles in both sections, but have found
nothing better than in the Dismal
Swamp. 1t is the winter home of the
black bird and robin, and blackbl
pie stuffed with Lvnnhaven oysters is a
dish for the gods.
The Swamp is the scene of the re-
velries of the squirrel and rabbit. Then,
too, it has the enchantment OF silence;
the glistening of trees and reeds ana
grasses; deep, soft mooniignt ana STAR
Iignt: and. best of all. the heavens of
sentiment and tenderness opening to
Won az somehow they do not or cannot
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