The Indianapolis journal., 1893-08-06

carrying one or more turkeys. which were
labeled and thrown into the other pile.
The brought things to a crisis. and
charges OF stealing and the like were
very earnestly, until each side con fessed.
and the secret was ont. / was o beardless
boy. and q stranger to all. but gathered
from what was sald that. according to the
custom OF that period. there had been, that
day. hunting match. composed chiefly of
town chaps. though Q few county people
bad taken . part. White river had been
made the dividing line. and men were ar
ranged on sides. as men were chosen those
days at husking matches. by the captains
OF the opposing forces. do not know who
tho captains were. but il would be Just like
the Tom" Morris and the bob" Duncan
of that period, for them to have been the
leaders of the gangs. and just like each Of
pile of wild turkeys AS / remember 1t
after fifty years. each of the captains
chose men alternately, and then tossed
MP" for choice of sides-that Is. east or
wost of the river. A turkey was the
unit of value, and so many SPUR
rels. or 80 many quail or pheas-
ants were to count one turkey. and
deer was to count for 20 many turkeys
wildcats had no ratabls value. but they
were to be killed If found ss o matter of
public interest. The game WAS to be
brought to Brownlng's Hotel. not then
quite UOloueQs Dut 30 At u8b IL W 86 6lLe8uY
ono of the grandest ''taverns" in the West.
and likely to be too large by far for any
possible business in the future. Mr..
Browning was to take charge OF the game.
and cook it in the best style of the art fur
nIshing all the necessary ct ceteras. and
there was to be grand supper the next
night. Ir was before Christian people had
taken to eating dinners after dark, and tho
losing party was to pay the bill.
1t had not been good day for hunting.
ha ri hau I'm M
bridge over 1t except the white bridge on
the National road, then only four or five
years old. SO there could be no poaching on
the others preserves. AS the tired gang.
with few trophies. csme in from the east
they came by the homo of Governor Noble.
who had just closed his second term of
office. and lived on his farm east
of the town. He was the personitioa on
farming then went In the woods. near bis
house. was q large flock OF well-grown.
hOme-raised, black. shining turkeys. and
he had fallen into the gang that was on the
east. As they wero trudging along. tired
nearly to death. be turned to bis comrades
and said: Boys. we've not had very good
luck to-day: so far as we know. less than
q half dozen turkeys have been taken.
Suppose we load up from these. They are
81 black and shiny that no one will over
suspect they are home raised. Now take
good aim at the largest" And In less than
ten minutes dozen or more young and old
gobblers were swung over the shoulders Of
the gang. and they were on their way TO
Browning's Hotel, sure thes they had tho
scoop on the west.eiders.
The west-siders had no better luck, but
it 90 happened tbaG Nathaniel Bolton. who
lived where the Hospital for the Insane
now is was q mem ber of that gang. He. too.
was q model farmer, or rather his wife was.
for be was too much engaged in politics
and newspaper work to give much aJten.
tion To the farm; and flock of full gro wn
black turkeys was just coming In from the
woods TO roost, for turkeys raised them
selves in those days IL they had O chance.
Boys" said Mr.. Bolton, as he looked ov or
his fen ce at the fat birds, I've got the
worst In the divide. The east side 10 the
better hunting ground. Turkeys down on
the Bluff road are as thick as hops. and the
other fellows know how TO take them in.
Let Us supplement- our pile with a,dOzen or
so of my wife's turkeys. I'll make 1t all
right with her, III. indeed she will not enjoy
the fraud es well as any of us." That was
enough. and In "a few moments a dozen or
more OF Mrs. Bolton's Turkeys were on the
way 20 Browning H0fe;. to be placed to
the credit OF the west-siGers.
Which side beat l never knew. / only
remember that each charged the other with
fraud and soon each proved the fraud on
each enjoyed the joke. and. as it vas be-
fore the days of total abstinence. they
went TO the bar and drank t1 each others
good health. and when left. in the stage
for Pufnamvilie. about 10 o'clock. tho mt
most good feeling existed. l presume the
supper ca me of the next evening with all
the necessary Accomplishments.
4. A. GOODWIN.
INDIAsAPoLIs. Aug. ,.