Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-02
A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
how EX-PaESIDENT HARRISON WENT DUCK
SHOOTING.
Some Rare Sport by a Good ShOt-Ordsr Of EIG-
cises in the BoathOuss-An Afsir That
Was Not Disturbed by News
paper Men.
Sp.esal Co-r.,pOnd,nes Of the Rooster.

cient Illinois town, situated on the III
nois river between Peoria and ST. Louis
and within q short distance by rail-
from the former city, has been pleas
antly honored by visit from ex-Presi-
dent Benjamin Harrison. The kindly
faced ex-President, in company with
several friends from Pennsylvania, ln-
dianapolis and st. Louis, arrived In
Havana In their special car Wildwood.
The party were equipped for
10 days shooting bout along the
lagoons and marshes bordering the Iii
noIs river. Some Of General Harrisons
Indianapolis friends are interested In
some shooting preserves near Havana,
and the ex-President accepted the invi-
tation to shoot ducks from fine cover
during the early spring days. A quaint
little river tugboat called the City OF
Peoria, Of which the pioneer, John
Shuttle, Is master, took the hunters on
board and steamed away to Spring lake,
near a little fish mart called Liverpool,
a few miles from this place.
Arriving at Liverpool, General Harri-
son and his friends were transferred TO
the house boat Marion, q most primitive
and unique affair, owned by the Indian
apois Sportsmen's Club. The boat,
though rough looking, is fitted up neat
" and comfortably within, However, the
ex-President is true sportsman and
loves to rough il with the rest OF the
boys. On the journey up the river ne
sat on a harL bench on the PROV OF the
little City OF Peoria, and TO one who did
not know him the ex-Presldent appears
no differently in looks and actions
from any other gentleman sportsman.
1t was hoped that the party would get
into the shooting boxes at once, but
stiff norther set in. which sent the Wild
fowl scurrying southwark. Some good
shots were obtained, however, and the
party were arranging TO get after the
birds in earnest when the weather
turned very cold and the wind blew a
gale. The ex-President and his friends
were compelled 10 remain under cover
until the wind subsidized and the atmos-
phere modified. Old hunters say that
General Harrison came little too early
for good shooting, as the spring flight
northward had hardly begun. Then,
too, the very high water and ice jams
have made box shooting very difficult.
Notwithstanding these disbursements,
General Harrison was rewarded with
some rare sport. He was In the very
best OF health and spirits, and
Il seems strange how the re-
ports had gotten into circulation
10 the effect that the last days OF
his presidency had told upon him.
1t was the wish Of General Harrison
that his visit here be attended by as
little notoriety as possible. Newspaper
men have not found much TO write
about. All they could say was that the
ex-President was In the vicinity In
quest of ducks The natives did not
annoy the party by lettering around
the camp, and those people who did
essay to make a call were received very
courteously. On the 10th inst. the
Illinois eacampment Of the Grand Army
OF the Republic, In its session at Spring
field, wired General Harrison at Havana
that they wanted him TO come over and
see them. The ex-President responded
in a kindly dispatch 10 the effect that
he was there on hunting trip, In his
hunting gear, and was not prepared to
make visit OF ceremony. So the dis
The "order OF exercises" 10 vogue on
the Marion during the e1 Presidents
STAY were simple and methodical. Break
fast was usually had at an early hour.
and some mornings General Harrison
vas out long before daybreak, popping
away at the ducks as them swooped past
his box. General Harrison is an excel
lent shot He uses one OF the latest
improved styles Of breachloaders and Is
we'll acquainted with its use.
Shooting from box is not the easiest
method OF securing game. These boxes
are well concealed by grasses, yet In
the latter days the wild fowls are very
suspicious. Unless the conditions are
OF the most favorable sort, the sports
man will rarely get good shot into a
flock OF ducks as they are dropping
their wings TO settle. This Is the mo-
ment when the guns should speak.
Then as the frightened birds wheel TO
rise two more shells can be rapidly
slipped into the gun and two more
broadsides poured into them. The
locality visited by the ex-Presldent has
been famous for years for its excellent
shooting and hunting.
The Illinois river in this part Of the
State is surrounded on both sides by la
goons, marshes and small lakes.
Thompson's lake is the largest Of these,
and here is where some OF the best sport
Is obtained. During General Harrison's
| stay he hunted In various parts OF the
country contiguous to Havana. The
last few days OF his vacation were the
most successful, as the birds began TO
come In by the thousands.
II is n matter for congratulatlon that
this distinguished guest was enabled to
enjoy fortnight of true sport without
being compelled to resort to the meth
DDS in vogue in foreign country.
whore game must be propagated solely
for the use OF the royal sportsmen and
their friends. General Harrison grew
considerably tanned by the exercise
and the stiff winds during his outing,
and no doubt is in far greater health By
reason Of his visit up the Illinois river
marshes. GAY DAVIDSON.
COULDN'T Find the Will.