Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-22
6, BLACK AND 2, aaAY
r.xes Is The Record Claimed BY Assusta's
MiqAiy Hunter Tor This Ssasen.

of busipess is on Water street, not more
than 200 yards from the first door south OF
.be Couy House entrance, who, though he
uroba bly, never caught fish or shot . bird
in his life, can tell the smoothest, slickest
hunting story that was ever heard. Scores
Of strangers have listened to his statements.
made without change Of countenance
or culver Of muscle, and have gone out
in perfec. amazement at them and full Of
admiration for the heap big hunter.
The GOODNESS and suavity with which be
relates his wonderful feats have often times
been known to mislead people Of long &C.
ouaintance. Only last spring young man
listened to his tales of monster strings of
fish till nothing would content him but a
promise to 90 on a fishing trip the next
morning. 1t was given and at the appointed
hour-ssy 4 A. M.-the young man aroused
the story teller from his slumbers. 1t took
the story teller some minutes 10 comprehend
that the Y. M. had taken the affair serious
", and he slammed down the window after
Yelling: CT, just run right home and
wait till send for you. Then we'll CO.
Hi, hobby this year has been fox hunting
According to his tell there should not be a
fox left within 100 miles of here, for he has
shot an immense number. One stranger
heard part of his story the other day and,
turning to a gentleman, said, "Does he
mean n:" He was told that he certainly
did. The stranger listened awhile longer,
qrsbbed his hat, remarked in stage whis-
per: 81 believe he's - liar" and went
out.
A JOURNAL man called on the Deacon"
the other day. The conversation was YER
batim as follows, and can be proven, even
if the whole Jones family has passed away.
"Well, how many foxes have you shot
50 far this season."
"Eighty-two in all. Sixty-one black and
twenty -one gray foxes"
Just think of that for J. fox story TO
be spIung on the religious editor by the
deacon" +. was swallowed, however,
and series of questions put that brought
out the following revised edition of the
most famous fo1-hunting stories in the
State
"As raid before, have shot so far this
season 50 foxes, 81 black and 81 gray.
Could have shot hundreds of gray ones but
don't care much for them. Prefer to shoot
nothing but pure black ones. l always
shoot them in the lower part of the neck
and in all those so skins you will find that
the bullet holes will not vary over half an
inch from the same place. The only time
ever tried to shoot them elsewhere was
one that was running across my path
and presented fair mark. aimed
at the ear, intending to get that. skin
without a mark on it, but the bullet
went in one earl saw it strickland out
the other and the fox kept right on going.
! suppose the bullet went so fast that it
didn't stop to hurt him. never shoot at
fox which is less than 200 yards away from
me and prefer to have them at least 400
yards away. It's more fun to shoot them
at that distance. The best shot I've made
this season was a splendid black fellow that
killed at Gl0 yards. | measured the
use . St. Bernard, l6 calibre
rifle in all my hunting.
II have plenty of use for the skins.
Never sell any. Have made rugs of all so
far, with the exception of nine. My house
and that of my friend W have rugs in
every room and I've lots to spare. They
make very handsome rugs.
The nine l spoke of belong to a set l
am getting to make into coat for my friend
X. You know it takes 10 skins for a
good coat. Well, went out one morning
early in December and got FIVE elegant black
ones and another morning got four more,
but that tenth skin does bother me. was
out the other morning-left home at 10
minutes past three--and saw q beauty of
black one near Togus pond. He saw me,
and Of course, knew in a minute that unless
he got under cover he was dead fox. on
he started, lodging this way and that till
he was just going over the top Of hill,
when fred. 1t was good chance for
shot but as fired, my foot slipped and l
should have missed him if he hadn't kicked
at the bullet with one leg, the ball passing
through the leg and tanning him.
Then l thought sure had him and
started in chase. followed him clear to
Weeks Mills, but be escaped me. was
at home and had breakfast by six o'clock.
IL mean to have that other black fox be-
fore the snow is gone, and then there will
be handsome black fox skin coat made.
have pledged my word and never trifie
with the truth
And yet, some people still claim that he
is liar.
There was tragedy enacted on Rines
hill Wednesday morning. The personnel
of it is unknown but the second man to
ocv,,a Ic~-c cvor tho hill in tho ,nornin0 eAW