Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-06

lighted to bssk in the luster shed by his
friends glory.
One day a dog freed a coon In a tall cot
tonwood, down in the lowlands, q short
distance from the fort and the dog not
being able TO climb the tree, Commence
barking to attract some ones attention
ihe story goes that the coon, sitting in a
crack OF a limb. looking down in supreme
contempt at his poweriess foe. at last
grew tired OF the monotonous yelping Hs
failed the dog and told him 70 shut his
jaws. as he had not the slightest intention
OF coming down This made the dog moro
sl hsis, ana ne continued his yelping. Again
me econ called to him and ironically warn
ca MN not to break a blood vessel and
the coon was SO overcome with his own
VII tnat he wrapped his tail around a limb.
swung himself in the air and laughed untfi
ne showed every tooth in his head
lou VIII laugh on the other side Of your
mouth soon. hcwled the dog; -and here
I'm, ,pinf one VINO viii make You do IL, you
,nes ing chlcken-ste2ling. carrion- eating
ioud-smeliing old varminL YOU
W no Is ne. You bandy-legged, stumped-
tailed, egg-sGcking reptIle?" cried the COON
Is ne rel'alred 10 the shelter OF the tree
II Lieut.. Van Swearingen." growled the
exaspeTated canire.
The coon smiled until his eyes disap-
peared In the wrinkles of his face. Little
tan." he grunted, derisiyely. wen he nav
shoot and be BANKED. IN bet INV yaIua IA
hide against your NANCY pelt that he don'S
get me out OF this tree"
Van swearingen appeared. and bla.ed
away at the coon. who did not even conde-
scend to hide behind a branch Having shos
All MS ammunition away. the quarterrnaster
retired, In high dudgeon. shortly aftes
ahother ngure doomed upon the scene and,
pouring some fresh powder in the pan pro.
pared TO fire.
Who's that7'' inquired the coon.
scott, yelled the dog. triumphsnuy
WhoT' demanded the now agltated coon.
Lieut.. Scott" bayed the dog
Martin Scott" squealed the animal I'm
gone COON Cap'n Scott Cap'n Scott
Don ire. m coming down" So saying,
ne folded himself in a ball and dropped IL
the ground and yielded his life TO the dor
without a struggle.
Ii Is needless to describe here that coon
hunt One hunt Is 50 much like another
that one has but to recall some experience
OF MS own TO know what ours was-the only
point OF difference being the locality. In
our case IL was over a Route no sane man
would try. even In the daytime. The wflds
OF Hatteras comprise half swamps half
tbickets, ana 10 attempt to travel ON q
dark night through such a labyrinth Of
sioushs and eopse was really foolhardy.
Our party CT three struggled over prostrats
timber whose branches were festooned with
miry trailing vines. scrambled through
felled trees and matted briars; we forced
our way amid a Jingle Of mixed bamboo
and wild grape vines. as strong as whip
cords. or run into the pr.ckly pear, with its
needle-like points. end occasionally. by way
OF variety. going up to our armpits In some
a
"chevaux de frise," composed Of every kind
OF vine. each seemingly as strong as MANILA
temp and as elastic as india rubber; every
variety OF trailing creeper, with thorns and
spines innumerable. We were obliged 70
literally cut our way out with our kniveA
and spent, breathless and In tatters, made
the best Of our way back to our quarters.
Did We catch the coon? Not much: and
not for every coon in Hatteras would I
take that trip again. and the capens said
Il told you So"
The Presidents Visit.
Yachting trips and fishing excursions are
favorite modes OF recreation among the
sportsmen OF Washington. A fishing ana
hunting cruise along the Carolina Atlantic
coast is Of very rare occurrence, however
owing 10 the inaccessibIlity Of the place and
the time necessary to reach IT. In addition
to this. The mosquitoes. sandfieas and midges
make the trip one OF real hardship. not to
be Invited by any save those who are hard
ened and well seasoned by experience; but
they are rewarded by getting such fishing
as they never md in inland waters. and
the hunting, at certain seasons, is of the
finest When Presiden. Cleveland with
Secretary Carlisle, came here last May, no
made the trip in the Violet, from Norfolk,
In little more than two days. which 10
very good time, when IL is considered that
one day must be taken TO get through the
Chesapeake canal The Pre- sident clad In .
sportsmans suit, wandered around In the
vicinity OF the light house, sat In the
porch chatting with the islanders. There
Was no official dignity there. We may 10
sure. The President did not attempt to
ascend the tower, though Secretary Carlisle
did, and expressed himself as enchanted
with the glorious view.
Our party was fortunate In being the in
vlted guests of Capt Payne Of Curr1tuck,
n. c., who sailed his own sloop. we. OF
course. supplying the commissariat IL II
astonishing how quickly men on such trips
throw of the veneer OF civilization and be-
come more and more like the original noble
savage that he was First coats are dis
carded: then vests: then shoes and stock
inge and so on until their usual costume be-
comes one which would cause them to be
speedily arrested IL adopted on the streets
at home. 1t was no uncommon sight TO see
an erstwhile Chesterfield wandering up and
Gown the beach. clad in a single abbrey1-
ated garment, a hat on his head, a pair OF
blue spectacles on his nose and a fishing rod
or sling line IN his hand. In conclusion. to
the naturalist the tourist ana the sports
man who have plenty OF time 70 spare. Caps
Hatteras offers many attractions.
ALEX HUNTER.