The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-11-09
DIANA OF CONNECTICUT.
Lena Beeman, the Crow Hill
Coon Hunter.

Coon Hunter.
A queer girl lives on Grow bin, in the
western part Of Connecticut She has q
passion for coon hunting. and her success
in this line has won for her reputation
that extends beyond the borders Of her
state. She is young girl. She Was 10
years old LAST month, but she is an in
trepid hunter, and, in company with heE
dogs, she scours the woods and sEzmPs
around Grow hill between the daylight
hours as fearlessly as any Oft hunters
in that locality. Her dogs are especially
trained for the work Of hunting cOons.
There are two Of them, and Miss Beeman
that is the name of the huntress-rais-
ed them from Puppyhood and trained
them for the work in which they excel.
She calls them Razzie and Dazzle, and
when they get after coon they lead him
a merry waltz.
Lena Beeman began coon hunting
when she was Is years old. Her father,
Who is farmer, complained that kall
that coons were playing havoc in his
corn fields Lena heard the complaint,
and one night she left The house without
the knowledge Of her parents, and, in
company with her two dogs, which were
then young and inexperienced, she went
into the woods Back Of Crow hill IS q
dense swamp that covers a wide area In
this swamp Lena and her dogs spent the
night hunting coons. There was late
moon and the light Of is-helped the girl
out considerably. Though inexperienc-
ed in woodcraft, the dogs intuitively did
good work.
Lena, from the age Of IL, had handled
a gun, and when she was u years old
her father made her 3 present Of dOu-
bic barreled shotgun, handsomely noun
ted. With this Lena became an expsr.
shot, and it was 10 uncommon sight to
see her testing her ability as marksman
at the Thanksgiving shooting matches in
the neighborhood where she lived.
On the morning following the girls
first venture as a coon hunter her par
ents, surprised that she did not pat in an
appearance at the breakfast table, went
to her chamber to call her and found it
empty. There was CONSERVATION in the
Beeman household, but while her excit-
ed parents we're hunting for some clue TO
her whereabouts Lena walked into the
yard with her gun on her shoulder and
two big eoonS in her hand.
She Ieft five Others in the swamp, as
they were too heavy for her to bring
home. The girls parents did not ap-
proYe of her conduct and forbade her go
ing into the woods alone again after
dark. The command had no effect on
her. Every opportunity that she had
she would take her gun and dogs and
stray away for a night 5 hunt, until final
" her parents withdrew their opposition
and allowed her 70 go and come As she
pleased. Up to The 18th day Of last
month Miss Beemzn had killed POS coons
and one night last week she went out
and beat her previous record by slzy ing
I2 of these willy creatures
She had made herselfa hunting suit Of
tanned ooon's hide. It's simply mss
cnline dress-close-ftiing trousers, frOck
coat, calf-skin boots and cap. Around
her waist she wears a cartridge belt, aad
in the skirt Of the coat are = number Of
capaeious pockets, in which she carries
yictusls and drink and two or three bot
ties Of liniment and antidotes for scratch
es and bruises, to be used on herself and
her dogs in cass Of accidental injury.
She also carries a bulls eye lantern. This
is used TO reveal the location Of a coon
when it has been t-eed.
Miss Beeman has met With several &C
eidents during her career as a hunter,
aud she hiss had several experiences that
would cause nine men in ten 20 abandon
the sport The swa amp back Of Crow hill
in many places istreacheFous. The mud
IS deep and Of the nature OF QCicksand.
lena fell into one Of these qnsGnires one
night, ani but for her faithful dogs
would probably have died thers. The
dogs had treed a coon kad Miss Beemaa
was hurrying in tho direction of their
voices when she stepped into q mud
hole, from which she Was unable to e1-
trisaie herself She Vas gradGally sink
ing into the mire, aud realizing her help
lessness she flashed her lantern over her
head to see If there was not something
that she could get hold of 10 support her
until help should come to her.
Fortunately the end OF the limb of a
swamp elm hung within her reach, and /
srasping it she hung on desperately, sus-
tanning herself by main strength. She /
called the dogs to her and sent them
home. she knew tha. the appearance Of I
the animals st the house unsccompanied |
by her, would have the effect Of bringing /
help. Obeying the command Of their |
mistress, the dogs went hons. When /
the dogs came home without his daught- |
er Mr. Beem.n suspected thatall was not |
well with her, and, aTousing the neigh /
bors, a party Of searchers struck into the l
woods. The dogs led the men directly /
to their mistress, who was rescued from /
her dangerou. prediosnent, muddy and /
almost exhausted, bat not in the least .
frightened. The following night she was
in the swamp with ber dogs.
The coon sometimes does not quietly 1
submit to persecution. It not infre- /
quently shows fight when treed, and I
when It's mad Is up it viii make as hard 1
: scrap as man or dog cares to get into
Mss Beeman came into contact with
case Of this character last fall. The dogs /
struck : track on the edge Of the corn
field and followed it into the swamp. Il
was about midnight when their barking I
indicated tha. the game had been corner /
ed, and Lena hurried toward them she |
found the dogs at the foot ofa large yell
low birch tree. She flashed the lantern I
into the branches to locate thegsme, but /
she had hardly done this when the coon
spra7g upon her from directly overhead
and knocked her down. In her aston
ishment the girl dropped her gun and
the lantern went flying ten feet away.
The coon's claws dragged through the