St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-20
SCIENTIFIC sPoRTsMEN.
Young Men Who Make a Good In
come Hunting Rabbits With a
Ferret.

Dung Men w no Make a GOOQ IN.
come Hunting Rabbits With
Ferret.
The Fort Smelling electric car turned
into West Seventh street about II
O'Clock last Saturday. The usual quota
OF shopping housewives. weighed down
with their purchases for their morrow'S
dinner, boarded the car. Two young
men from the vicinity of the Kansas
City railway shops slouched through
the car and threw themselves into seats
at the extreme front of the car. One
of them carried an Old-fashioned double
barreled shotgun, looking as if it had
been in two or three Indian wars. The
other carried small black box under his
arm, held in place by a strap passing
over his shoulder. The GLOBE writer
was going to Fort Smelling, and the two
young nimrods continued TO the end Of
the line. AS they were about to alight
the conductor asked one of them what
rabbit hunting ?" the conductor sem
tentiously inquired. "Yep." the box
carrier replied. Rabbit hunting with a
ferret! Here was an opportunity to
participate in a novelty. The GLOBE man
entered into brief colloquy with the
hunters. Did they object to his going
with them for a short time to view the
modus operandi? Not at all. He fOrti-
fed himself and the hunters with a few
cigars as an additional welcome, and
followed them down the bluff and along
the river bottom. The snow was very
deep in the lowlands. But as the party
skirted along the base Of the bluff
the walking was more solid. In
less than 500 feet from the bridge
rabbit tracks were discerned. They
were followed to hole in the ground,
the ferret was taken from the box, nluZ-
zled, and down he went. as eager. APP
parently. for the sport as his owner. He
returned almost directly. 'There's no
rabbit here!" one of the lads exclaimed.
But the other thought differently. The
ferret was sent down again and ordered
to make better search. The hunter
held his hands over the hole, and in less
than a minute rabbit bounded upward,
was caught by the practiced hunter.
How the little bunnie struggled and
and exclaimed aloud in his grief and
terror Holding the victim aloft by his
hind legs, the hunter threw bis right
hand downward with quick motion,
striking the animal sharp blow on the
back of the neck, diSlocatpg the spinal
column. The rabbit was dropped in the
snow, and the hunter STOPPING down
ward placed his mouth at the hole and
initiated the cries of rabbit in distress.
This brought the ferret to the surface
again. and he was placed in the box
and the trio started along the bluff
in search Of fresh indications of
game. While the GLOBE man remained
with the party - perhaps an hour
and quarter four rabbits were cap
tured. 1t was the quickest and most
had ever seen. The boys stated that
they had captured about 800 during the
present winter. They receive 80 cents
pair for them at the markets, which has
Melted them about SIS thus far.
THAT'S pretty good" the writer sug-
gested. What are you going to DO
with the money!"
DO with it? Say, boss, we've al
ready done with it-that is, most of it
We's seen Corbett every night dis week,
an we're goin' to take in de show at
Minneapolis all next week. An den
dere's Kinks, an piles O. other things
where a teller can blow in his dust.
See?"
But should think you would feel
like getting some good out of your
money. With S2250 each you could lay
the foundation for a good education.
Now, there's the law. Such adroit trap
pers as you boys appear to be ought to
make admirable lawyers.
DE law Say, Gully, dere's too many
lawyers in dis town now, an so far S
educashin goes, Wot does Teller want
wild educashin when he's got good fer
ret an knows de ropes O. de rabbits? HI,
PiIl1 bprn'S q fresh track -
The GLOBE man departed. About
half-past 5 O'Clock in the afternoon he
noticed two young men aligbtlng from
a Smelling car at the corner of West
Seventh and WabaSna streets. They
had about a dozen rabbits OH buck
skin cut at either end into strings.
pretty good luck?' the writer suggest
ed.
"Jest fair, only fair, but we gifts a
parket seat at de theater tonight, jist the
same"