St. Landry democrat., 1893-07-08
A BLIND SPORTSMAN.
Remarkable Second Sight of Connec-
ticut Farmer

Many stories are told of the wonderful
things done by persons who have lost the
sense of sight, but it would be hard to
find in the common walks of life blind
person who could successfully compete
with William Hill, blind farmer of
Hamburg, Conn, in the performance of
strange acts, says the Boston Globe.
Hill is about thirty-fou years old, and
with the exception of being blind, is in
perpcct physical condition. He lost his
sight in strange way when he was a boy
of sixteen years. In company with
number of his associates he was bathing
in a mill pond.
A thunderstorm came up suddenly.
The bathcrs did not leave the water. A
flash of lightning came and struck the
water near Hill, who was partially para
lyzed by tae shock. His companions got
him ashore and he recovered, but his
eycsight was affected and in few weeks
he became totally blind.
With the loss of the sense of sight his
other senses became more acute, cspe
cially that of hearing, until it became
possible for him to measure long dis
tances by the sounds that he heard.
He recognized his friends readily by
the sound of their voices, and he could
distinguish the COWS and oxen about the
farm by their lowing.
When Hill was twenty-five years old
his father died, and the work Of carry
ing on the farm devolved upon him. He
directed the planting of the crops and
ploughed the fields himself.
He developed talent for woodwork
ing and made many pieces of furniture
that it would puzzle an accomplished
workman with perfect eyes to duplicate,
He built an OK cart and a sleigh equal to
any ever turned OUT by professional
wagonmaker.
Even in his earliest boyhood Hill was
very fond of outdoor sports. For time
after his sight was destroyed he was
obliged to abandon the field, but he
couldn't long contain himself.
Two years he stood it. Then one day
he surprised his mother by saying that he
and see if he couldn't hook few trout.
His mother tried to dissuade him from
doing it, but he was determined, and
getting his tackle he started out.
Mrs. Hill sent one of the farm hands,
unknown to William, to watch him, for
fear that he would become lost, or fall
into the stream.
Hill was gone three hours, and then
returned with a string of fine trout. He
was elated over his success, and from
that time he has followed the sport as
fearlessly and as successfully as he did
when boy.
He says that he feels as confident of
himself in a locality with which he is
familiar as he would if he could see all
the objects about him. He seems to be
guided by a sense to which he was a
stranger before he became blind. In
strange locality he is Influenced by the
same sense, but realizes the necessity of
being cautious.
B. For some reason the domestic animals
about the farm show a regard for the
man that seems like sympathy. The
sound of his voice brings them about
him and when he goes into the field to
yoke the oxen he calls the animals by
name and they obediently take the place
under the yoke assigned to them.
He rides horseback when travelling
long distance. He never attempts to
drive horse to wagon unattended, for
fear of runaway In the saddle he con-
siders himself capable of governing the
beast.
Perhaps the most wonderful thing Hill
does is to shoot birds. In the season for
quail and partridge shooting and duck
hunting he is in the fields or meadows a
good share of the time, and often alone.
There are extensive hunting grounds
on the farm, and with them he is very
familiar. Partridge and quail are the
birds that he hunts most successfully.
These he always shoots on the wing,
judging the distance and the direction
in which they are flying by the sound
they make.
His aim seldom fails him and the game
that falls Under the gun is brought to
him by thoroughly trained retriever.
He frequently brings home from days
outing string of dozen birds.
When duck shooting he is accompanied
by other hunters. This sport is popular
one in the marshes along the Connecticut
River.
The most favorable hour for shooting
is at twilight, and on such occasions Hill
is valuable adjunct to hunting party,
for his acute hearing enables him to
announce the approach of a flock of
ducks some seconds before they are
sighted.
IN shooting this kind of game he his
guided by sound, as in the shooting of
quail and partridge.
AS an amateur checker player he has
never met his match. This game is
popular one in the country districts of
Connecticut, and in the country grocery
stores good many men can be found
who are expert players. For miles around
Hills home his fame has spread, and
frequently he is challenged by some
player who thinks that he is able to de-
feat him.
He has the record of winning every
game played during the past five years.
He plays the game slowly, carefully feel
ing out the position of the men on the
board with his fingers.
VIII Good Roads Paw?