The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-13

HOW Deer, Co0ns and Oposuns Ar,
Brought TO Book.


Brought 10 Book
Lake Drummond is, and has been %,
years, favorite spot for deer. They ara
hunted with dogs. a 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 a tree as a
warning to the next tenderfoot who i'm
agines that still hunting is the only way
10 shoot deer. says a writer in the New
York Journal.
The "cattle-beast" is the local name
given to the sturdy wild cattle which
roam about through the Businesses OF
the swamp. They are small, understood
animals, as swift and shy as a deer
When the farmer wishes a fresh beef
be takes his gun and his dogs and runs
the animal to a standstil. The cattle
beast is a favorite meat for bear, and
oftentimes carries the marks Of severe
encounters. says Frank A. Haywood
1t is the height of fun, II not exactly
true sport, to attend a 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 il Is young pig, which, after
fattening on milk. energies perfect
roll of butter'). and in point of flavor and
deicacy cannot be surpassed.
Both Of the animals are rich I'm fighting
qualities A high-spirited coon will lie
on his back and whip almost anything
that comes along; but in the branches OF
the persimmon the 'possum is king. He
Is subject 10 nothing but a niger" His
throne is the branch from which ne hangs
by the tail, and from il he swings and
reigns.
For coon and 'possum hunting, provide
yourself with plenty of 'niggers' and
coon dogs and start into the swamp i'm
mediately after dark. IL will not be long
before the dogs have a coon freed. Then
comes the fun. The coon is in the tree,
the dogs are at its foot. The great moon
silvers the green branches. Muscular ne
groes attack the tree with a sharp steel
or mount into it's 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 a conglomerate
mass of negro. dog and coon. Thumpl
The dog has him and tussle occurs, but
the dog wins. Thump againl negro
has smitten brother in his anxiety 10
strike the coon. Yah! A negro has caught
'possum, and inserting the beasts tail
in the cievis of a hickory stick starts for
home. the envy Of his sable companions
The light Of the full MOON the fare Of
the pine knots shining upon the black
form pictures never 70 DO
forgotten OFF starts 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 running" was
very popular sport with planters who
lived about the Dismal Swamp, but of
late years has sunk into almost "innocu-
Gus desuetude." In the ante-bellum days
any one who was any one" kept pack
Of hounds and could furnish a days
sport equal to that furnished by an Eng
ish lord. But at present there Is very
title FOX hunting" and l should have
entirely forgotten the existence Of many
Jacks Of hounds but for the recent action
II Philadelphia drummer, who rejoices
n the sobriquet OF "Tombstones," who,
n tit induced by looking upon whisky
cocktails with Cherries" in 'em, drove
nto Norfolk from Ocean View footing
ncessantly upon a huntsman's horn and
Ollowed by about $50 baying hounds.
Which IL took the owners a week to
ecover.
l suppose about every section OF Tide
,ater Virginia and In Eastern North
arolina affords good bird and squirrel
hooting / have driven hundreds OF miles
! both sections, but have found nothing
etter than in the Dismal Swamp. IL Is
no winter home OF the blackblrd and
obin, and blackbird pie stuffed with
ynnhayen oysters is a dish for the gods.
The Swamp is the scene OF the reve-
les Of the squirrel and the rabbit. Then,
DO. IL has the enchantment OF silence,
ne glistenlng OF trees and reeds and
raises; deep. soft moonlight and star
ght: and. best OF all. the heavens Of
and tenderness opening 70
on. as somehow they dc not or cannot
nywhere else.