The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-23
THEY COT THE COoNs.
Two boys and n Dog Have n Tussie Until
they Find q Stone Hemp.

WEST OAK HILL. N. Y, Dec. GA twenty
pound coon Is a big one. Occasionally some
one In western New York kills one that weighs
twenty-five pounds, and every time that is done
tho hunter Is the hero OF the hour. So,
naturally. young Fred Chambers and young
Lew Clark OF this hamlet and Fred Chambers's
dog Pedro are just now more than heroes. They
had n hard time winning their laurels, and the
dog came near being a dead dog. but they won
them. and the dog, although badly rumpled,
still lives.
1t is n great country for coons. up In this part
Of Chautauqua county. The two boys, Cham
bers and Clark, never hunted coons, and didn't
know anything about coons, but somebody said
one day, lately, that II he owned tho dog Pedro
he would go out and get more coons than a few.
So Fred Chambers. not wanting his dog to he
wasted in idleness. thought that he would take
him out among the coons and let him do him
sell Justice. Fred asked Lew Clark to go along
and take a hand In PedrO's coOning, and a few
nights ago they all three went TO the woods.
The night was clear and not very dark, ana II
coons did not have the very excellent habit OF
taking things they are going to eat to water and
cleansing them thoroughly before the eating
probably four OF the largest coons that ever
roamed the Chsutauqua county woods would be
Pedro and the boys had gone into the woods a
mile or so, the dog in the lead, when suddenly
sounds OF strife came from the front to the ears
OF the Young hunters. They hurried forward
were being tossed about like a fountain In q
gale. Pausing near the scene OF disturbance,
the dog Pedro. from which radiated the forms
Of four other animals, at various angles, accord
ing to the position in which its tumblings and
contortings placed the centre OF disturbance.
There was much noise accompanying the fracas.
such as snarling, and swapping aud growing and
~ guess, Pedro has got some coons." said
young Fred Chambers. excitedly.
No" said young Lew Clark: Il think some
coons have got Pedro'".
Then it occurred to the boys that they had no
dro, and so Fred and Lew jumped into the creek
and began kicking at the coons. They hadn't
fore two. OF the rlng-tailed denizens OF the wood
detached themselves from Pedro and began
climbing on the boys. The boys ran. The two
bite and tear things equal to IA circular saw when
they start in for business once. The consequence
before the two coOns had used them very rough
ly, and then the boys tumbled headlOng into u
stones and began pounding the coons, and
pounded them so etfectually that In a few min
on the ground. Flushed with victory. they re-
turned tn the aid of Pedro, who was still enCum-
SitS s GS sSs e 91nsr ' so sS sSSG Pedro Th sgd G ds.6 sasTs
the coons. They then went back To get the
other pair, and, % their surprise, found, that
they had come to life again. and were ready for
another fight. But a fusillade OF heavy stones
was too much for them, and they bad TO give
home as We'll as the eoons. for, although he
WAS alive, he wasn't alive enough TO walk.
coon hunters in this locality. The smallest one
weighed twenty-t3ur pounds. One weighed
twenty-seyen pounds respectively.
Them coOEs," said one old coon hunter. had
stopped at the creek 20 wash somethin' they had
% eat. and you might as we'll run ag'in a she
bear with cubs as 10 run sg'in IA coon when he's
wa5hl9, his yictu9ls. to say nothin' o rungin'
coons as theml Why, them four eoons must
come out o the ark with Noah!'