The sun., 1894-11-25
JERSEYS BIG CROW ROOST.
THOrs4NDs UPoN THo UsANDs OF
BIRDS PLAGUE a TOWNSHIP.


The Grows Arc Ons OF Clark Townships
Claims 20 Fsme-Jerry Srny's Great
thot is Another -Ths Birds III =
"ooe ssa AeeP 'he
Clark township is a small settlement about
hye miles from Elizabeth, n. j., apd has three
claims TO fame. The thrdsclaim Is recent
arrival, and Is founded upon the building OF a
station there on branch OF the behigh valley
Railroad True, the station was not built for pas
sengers, but merely to provide shelter Tor the
switChmen who handle freight cars there. Still,
the people Of Clark township point to itwith pride
and say, " See that thar stationr Wei, thats
Picton station" and then they start OF on q
long story and tell the visitor that the reason It
was named Picton station is that Picton scudder
was the first settler in Clark township. an his
relatives live in that white house over thar yet,
bgosh"
The other two reasons why Clark township Is
destined TO be famous for fifty miles In every
direction some day. and to get mention In the
next edition Of tho Gazetteer, are furnished
by It's crows. In the first place. IL 1t hadn't been
for It's crows Jerry Gray the pride OF the settle
mont would never have attained eminence az
marksman. His great feat with his Uncle Abb
ners rifle, which had been lying loaded In the
r.fters with the ham, bacon, and corn for
twelve years; is one Of the tradition. Of the
township and is the frs; tale ,,t that the younE
Jerry Gray used to drive the stage along the
westaeld road to Railway long before the rail,
n,u,, xe sa,o eso ,hn ar.. .o,,isr. In olorE
Pic scudaer were inc nrse ,,s se,Ilers III .larA
n.v bv d.v ths h,rd. Increased until there were
Dy W u' ,i,,,on Suu ,hn, rons,ad a. niab, IN tho
woods back Of jerry Gray's house. THE suS
Soss not make This statement on its own rcspon.
slbility. but on sworn information furnished to
. reporter by Jerry Gray's half sisters grand
ohiid' VINO now nVes IN Crahioru. ur,ves mas
and wears long yelio" ulSVer in "in'or "nu
'eiry ahu '.o olo%s ~ soU alous ai' 49,.
road. % After that as many of the deceased's
rola,ives ma could get on the back OF Jerry's
house used to perch there every night and cav
and cav until sunrise, proceeding not con-
ducive to sleep or health. one day Jerry went
over to Pic scudder and said;
"See here, Pic, b'gosh darned ef I kin stand
TINS any ohser IN asoih 'ol 'aAo ,s nn =.
them black souawkers tday' ana the faot that
nee ne aid VIVA, ne Tho Roswa SSn,
MN famous n9 9.rrn nray woniS @ shoot n, tha
that day because Jerry cray wouiu shoo1 90. ~ tho
and all for for the same reason. 'sThat shot was
half half IS sisters % srsndchid in telling. the story
70 The Sun reporter. "y' see Jerry went
hack home after seem Tic Scuuuer,
down his Uncle Abs old gun that had been
asSs fo5 ps hs shoulder
out fer that patch OF woods. Before maxim
that shot Sssry pulled dnn out ,r hf GRi Wb
gum and seen It was o'clock. SO Jerry says ter
himself, Now IN walt until they bsgIn Ter rise
half past o by Uncle Abs watch when that
whole million crows with noise like like Gomn
aim bangs away.
,h old yum neyfy ye Kick sn did
OF them circus hpnaps and then lay over un-
he s es 70 3
couldn't move. The sky, was black, and Jerry |
they wasn't. They We're COMM down Ike big |
black and JERRY # was Sgp c
i They must s a bin faliin FER an hour an three:
quarters, cuz Uncle Abs watch made 1t o'clock |
esr Se srca." r' WOKE up al II was n't p"'' when
to CLARK township. and when he heard the story |
Gray ever lived, any way. he xplained, and II he
did exist, why, he was three;ply liar, Pic Seud-
@ YorseT's ' sighting iif eP PPsference to his Gncles
chum. and he went forthwith and licked the
sisters grandson put It.
Whatever the facts may be, Clark township.
OF crows. In ali the rest OF Union county pqt
tOgetnor, anu Clhrk lb tne bulalltsI IOWneulp III
It, there are not as many crows MS roost there
every night. The people OF Crawford acknowl-
edge this, the people of Elizabeth confess it Is
20. and although Plainfeld and Railway
once sought the distinction themselves,
their claim was disproved and they had |
10 be content with first honors in the matter OF
their famous twin screw mosquitoes. II the
crows in Clark township were numerous in the
days Of Jerry Gray and Pio Scudder they are
more numerous than ever to-day, u statement
which people will not be inclined to dispute in /
view OF the fact that the Inhabitants are trying |
60 devise scheme to get rid of the only things
that ever made history for them. IL Is not dur
ing the day that the crows bother tie people of |
the settlement. II Is difficult to find OF the
birds anywhere around after sunrise. But at |
dusk they come sailing along, thousands and
thousands of them, from all directions, and |
down they settle in the patches of wood around |
Picton station, and cav and cav until nearly |
10 O'Clock, when they settle down 20 |
sleep. The patches Of wood referred to |
are really one patch, and altogether cover only |
about twenty acres. The railroad was cut |
through one end and q road was made through |
the other end, and ever since the residents have |
claimed possession of three sets ofwOods instead
OF one as before.