The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-23
DUCKING IN THE SIXTIES.
a MORNING ON THE CBEszPEhKE
HHEN GAME WAS PLENTY.

Eiehty-two Ducks KIiea ny Three Sports
-es IN n Few Hour--HardshIps or ths
TriP Repaid By the sport Obtained.
Duck shooting on Chesapeake Bay back in
the sixties" said an old hunter the other day.
-was shooting that was shooting" And then
letting his memory get the better Of his usual
reticence Charles Cohill recalled the following
tale Of a single days sport:
"Twenty-elght years ago. in November,
$780," he said. II was quail shooting on the
eastern shore Of Maryland in the neighborhood
OF Chestertown, and after supper. while we
were seated around the old fireplace enjoying
the warmth Of the log FIRE. the conversation
turned on duck shooting. One of the party re-
marked that the best duck shooting he ever had.
with the exception of sink-box shooting on the
Susquehanna Flats, was at Kent Island. where
he and q friend killed one hundred and thirteen
black heads, canvas backs. mnllards, and
widgeons Cbnld pates) in a day and a half. lie
said he would like to pay that place another
visit, and this was about the right time of the
year to go, and, in the course Of half an hour,
he had talked our host into the notion OF going.
1t was Tuesday a..E1 - - arranged to start
the next afternoon, and hoped to reach the
island early on Thursday morning. The next
day At noon we began our preparations; guns
were cleaned 1--WE all shot muzzle-loaders at
that timeD, ammunition pouches and TASKS were
filled. our boots received an extra dose OF grease
none Of us wore gum boots in those days., my
seven-gauge gun was overhauled and oiled, and
by 3 o'clock we were ready TO start.
Kent Island, our objective point Il don't
know by what name IL is called today. was q
lonely, dcsolste spot in Chesapeake Bay, unin-
habited save by an oil colored man. who eked
out . precsrious living by fishing and oysterirg
and entertaining occasional Runners who were
not overfastidious as to their accommodation
and fare. Duck shooters frequently visited this
place In the fall and winter. and. IL the weather
was rough and stormy, they were amply repaid
for any inconvenience they might suffer by the
great number Of ducks and geese they would
kill. The proprietor of the island was a kind
hearted. docile old fellow, always willing to &C
commodpte and oblige his patrons, but his
means for doing 90 were extremely limited. He
had two bed steads In his cabin. one OF which he
occupied himself and the other he reserved for
visitors. The spare bedroom also contained a
lounge, which was sometimes used as n bed. He
fed his patrons on slapjacks. oysters, and hsh.
provided the weather was not too cold and
stormy to catch the last. and II 1t was you had
10 be content with slapjacks, salt pork, and
coffee; such ~vanities as cream, sugar, and but
ter had not yet reached this isolated spot.
When the old man fried his fish and oysters he
used no lard. hut cut off II piece of fat salt pork
or Lacor. rendered it down to grease, and II there
wis any left after the FRYING process was over IL
was used in lieu of butter.
"The distance to Kent Island from my
friends was said to be forty-hve miles, and we
proposed to drive twenty-five at the start, then
rest and feed the horses a couple of hours, and
after that to push on to the island. The roads
were in good condition, and we accomplished
the first half of our journey by 8 O'Clock, and
after u short rest and feed for the team we were
OFT again. and reached the bay shore about half
past 10. There was a tolerably good house on
the main land. and we put up our horses and
wagon. and the proprietor told MS that there
were no gunners on the island at that time on
account of the mild weather, and he could put
us over there at once. but advised us to stay I'M
ill morning. Carroll, who had guided us down
10 the place and had shot ducks there before, in
sisted on crossing over at once, as the weather.
which had been very mild and warm for several
days-real Indian summer-betokened achange,
rs Il had become cold and blustery and the wind
wss blowing, in ftful. squally gusts from the
the assistance of one OF his men, the sturdy
owner ruwed us across the narrow channel, and
we shouldered our guns and ammunition. and
started for the old derkey's cabin. while the boat
returned To the other side.
Jake's cabin. and Carroll tapped on the door and
was quickly answered by Tie sharp arsIng Of
old man. Carroll replied that II was a party Of
three gunncrs who had Just crossed over from
the main shore. and desired TO know If he could
accommodate us.
I'VE heard footsteps upon the floor and the
n-ber yeard n word till ole Music harked reckon
de ole man must he a failin':' Then we heard
lar. he opened the door and stood before Us. 4
candle was burning upon a low table in a corner
OF the room. and It's rickering RAYS revealed the
feet nine or ten inches IN height, of a slightly
stopping figure, With broad. massive shoulders
of his lace. as he stood with his back TO the
light, hut could see that his head was gray, and
Ia ala - lii tara llnRE
"!Come in, genelmen. said he; HITS a won;
der ! neber yeard ye. was tired when ! turned
I'VE entered and seated ourselves, so ms 10
take up rs little room rs possible. as three men.
seated. Old Jake took charge Of our guns. and
In a little while had our sleeping, Apartment
! told my companions that preferred sleeping
on TIE lounge and they might occupy the ned:
the old man opened the door and asked II there
was anything we required. We answered that
S %s rniI u the we W S9qsn any sy dS atI"S about yet.
"I hnin't seed none Tor a week or more; said
Jake, but dar ,wor lots OF EN- we're IN De las
end wur kivered wild 'em-biack heads, mall
lards, an teals-all good mash ducks, an no.
.'Juft al that moment the moaning OF the
wind was, heard nnd the old man listened
norm, an den. look out fur a fight o ducks.
bsdr US good night and in a few minutes we
were all souni asleep.
Toward morning I was awakened by the
nois. ~ wind and rain and the roaring Of the
surf as ~ broke upon the beach. Now and then
could feel Il tutter aud expected that the crazy
structure would be blown from its foundation
and hurled into the bay. ! struck a light and
looked at my watch, and II wanted ten minutes
OF Q. but was as dark ms midnight My two
companions were sleeping sOundly, and their
snoring reminded me OF a sawmill, with a buzz
saw in full operation. The rain was pouring
down, and the wind howled and rOared and
shook the old cabin until everything within IL
ratified. There was neither candle nor lamp in
the room, and when my match burned out 'he
darkness was more dense than ever. There
was nothing for me To do but lie down
again upon the lounge and try TO sleep.
Hay awake a full hour listening 10 the raging
OF the storm. / fancied | heard voices speaking
In wild. incoherent gibberish, sometimes loud
aud bOisterOus. then low, plaintINe, and coax
inE, breaking out into wild rSvings, II was The
broken by the caves and sides and roof OF the