The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-20
A COON HUNT IN BAYONNE.
Two OF THE PuGNICTOUs ANIMALS
FOUND ~ TREE
They HAD Bsen sent from Virginia md
Had rIed 60 the Woods, but Could Not E--
cane Dedication by Two Hagonne Negroes.

They Had Bsen sent from vIrrinis ma
Had ried 60 the Woods, but Could y OF Es-
cape Detection by Two Bsyonne Negroes.
Philip Latourette. a young business man OF
Bayonne n. J., recently had a present OF two
eoons from friend in virginia. They were
kept in box IN Mr. Latourette's back yard.
None Of his friends knew he had received the
animals and there was considerable excite
ment in that Part Of Bayonne on Wednesday
evening last after John Newton. the colorcd
valet OF Councilman Henry Meigs. and
William Rich. another colored man. the valet
Of President Bennett OF the Singer Sewing Ma
chine Company. burst into the baggage room
Of the Central Railroad station at about 9i
O'Clock. and announced excitedly that they
had freed two coons In the woods about half a
mile away
Newton and Rich had got a night OF from
their respective employers. and had arranged
20 90 to cake walk IN this city. IL was about
6:l5 o'clock whom they left Mr. Meigs's house
for tho depot. fashionably attired. and each
wearing bunch OF violets in his buttonhole.
There is a small strip Of woods between tho
depot and Mr. Megs's house. and the two coll
orcd men were passing through II when New
tons attention was attracted by scratching
sound at the top OF a tall tree
That's n familiar scratch. William" said
Newton. who came from Virginia.
Sounds like n COON John" answered Rich.
Tho two men stopped aud began looking up
in tho trees. Finally they located the sound
at tho top OF a tall oak. For ton minutes they
kept their eyes aloit looking for the cause OF
the noise. Finally Newton pointed at . small
crotch way up In the tree. and cried out ex-
citedly:
There he Isl coon. sure Big fellow.
too"
py.h iooLo5 ,,n .nd .ura onou,b ,nrob.l 4,
q comfortable-lookinRc crotch was q big. fat
sleek coon. Soon. to the surprise OF tho
two men. there was more rustling at tho top OF
the tree. and an other coon was seen.
All thoughts Of the cake walk vanished and
tho two men ran to the railroad station for
help to catch the coons. There were several
men in the baggage room when they burst
open the door.
Quick. you fellows. get some clubs" cried
Newton; two big coons are up in the woods.
Hurry up"
One of the bnGGagemen is an old negro
named Larry Johnson. and a party was soon
formed, Newton and Rich led the way and
after them came Frank Maxwell a Central
Hsilroad engineer; Larry, the baggageman;
George Roderick, and Harry Dennis. All
hands were armed with clubs and some filled
When the tree was rsSeheI Se two coons
were seen resting on the boughs. Newton
threw on his coat Snd climbed the tree. one Of
furlously.
and he brought his club down on the head u
the animal with all his strength. Down fell
bleeding, but still full OF fight. very much SO.
as couple OF ambitious baggagemen found
to pick the coon up supposine he was dead. In
2 second tho coon vas on, his feet ,snd hal
ssa hi ssa in 9S mans hs GoS The
souIl get away The little Fellow turned on on
OF the crowd hooted and yelled and threw
sticks and stones at the coon. Finally, heavy
Newton, who had remained up the tree de-
clarod that the remaining coon was fighter.
can tell by the look in his eye" no said.
scrsppor. and old Larry declared that ali who
%asn ca%s down. better Nc ono So woS
soI IA to climb up the tree after the COON
stones at him. until finally a heavy club, III.
ting him on the throat. knocked him OH the
s tiss p fs hS ts 20 me srGnqd Ike flash
yelled, and Engineer Maxwell who tried to
stOp the coon. was trlpped UP by the, animal
VINO tried to get out OF the way fell over
him. This gave the coon good chance
tIs wanted tight. lie turned back on
his tormentors and in half minute hal
created havoc In tho ranks OF the enemy he
ran up tho tree again and. reposing gracefully
on the same houGh, looked com placently down
on his enemies. who We're gradually getting
together again. More sticks and stones were
thrown, but no one succeeded In hitting tho |
coon, Then council OF war was held. and it
was decided to send committee TO the resi-
dencs Of Mr.. latourette to borrow gun. |
when the committee reached Latourette's |
house aud told him about the coons. the latter |
made a rush Into his back yard and returned
In minute crying: Great scott. those coons
have escaped"
Then turning TO the committee he yelled:
Gun ding 1t. II you kill that coon I'll sue |
you for damages. He's mine There's two OF |
them And they must have escaped. for they're |
,r Yes, Phil" said one of the committee. we |
killed the other one"
Killed him. cried Latourette and Selling |
his coat, lie rushed TO tho woods. The live coon |
was sti up the tree Iatourette threw off his |
coat, climbed up the tree and succeeded. after |
ten minutes diminishing, in catching the coon |
alive. The crowd Were disappointed, as they |
wanted another fight, but Latourette declined |
90 lot his coon be- killed. The negroes took the |
body OF the dead coon, skinned IT, and tonight |
IL Will be roasted and served out to a select |
gathering. The skin will be stuffed and placed |
In the parlor Of the Press Club.