Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-11
THIRTEEN TIPsY COONs.
The CarOusers That Farmer Anderson
Discovered I'm His Cider Mill House.

The Car0users That Farmer Anderson
Discovered In His Cider MIL House.
A Copper Hill, N. J., special to the New
York Sun says:
Thirteen new coon skins are hanging on
the back Of Hosea Anderson's barn. They
were taken from the bodies Of thirteen coons
whose fondness for cider resulted in death.
In fact, they went to a drunkards grave.
Anderson owns big farm and an extern
sive apple orchard. He is the largest manu-
facturer Of cider and applejack in Hunter
don county. About two weeks ago he began
making cider. The cider mill is under the
corner of a large building situated short
distance from his dwelling. 1t is the custom
to shut and lock the doors Of the cider-mill
house every night when work is finished,
but they were left open by mistake a few
nights ago. Anderson had just got into he'd
and begun the first chapter Of an all-night's
sleep when he was aroused by Mrs. Ander-
son, who gave hime a nervous shake and
asked:
Hosea, what's that noise?"
Anderson got his eyes and ears open after
q While, and heard a racket somewhere in
the vicinity of the cider-mill house. After
listening attentively a few minutes. he jump
ed out of bed with his temper up to the ex-
pressive point. and, pulling on his trousers,
said:
"Confound that Jim Watson, he left the
cider-mll door unlocked and the winds
biowin' it open. I'll hunt this county over
tomorrow for some man that can depend
| on to look out for things when I'm busy
Bang went the door, and with a growl
Anderson slapped his hat on and started
| for the cider-mill house When he got
about half way down to the building he
heard peculiar sound that came through
the open door. 1t was a combination of
sharp yelps and snarls. Something unusual
was evidently up, and with thought of
| cider thieves he hurried back to the house,
and, getting shotgun, sneaked back. in the
shadow CT the trees, toward the cider mill.
Creeping up to a place where there was
knot-hole in the side of the building, he
examined the interior. The sight he saw
| Qu!eted his fears. There were no burglars
| In sight. For the purpose Of letting in sun
light and air. portion of the roof of the
| the opening the moonlight was streaming,
making the interior of the building bright
as day. The floor was partly covered with
| barrels filled with cider. The bungholss
were open to give the cider chance to
work. Some Of the cider was week old
and had what the farmers call a tang to it.
That means bite to it, and at that age
cider Is pleasant to take and it is very apt
| to put twist into the drinkers walk if he
| swallows enough of it. Around and over
these barrels were crawling and staggering
lot of coons, and some had their sharp
noses thrust into the bungholes. Coons are
very fond of sweet cider, and this party had
struck picnic.
Anderson counted thirteen animals, and
every one of them was pretty Well Jagged
| up. Some were on the floor wadGling round
with an uncertain gait; others were striving
| to get to the top of the barrels once more,
but were too weak and groggy to pull them
selves up. couple sat on their launches
| facing each other, and as they swayed from
side to side snarled like pair Of old women.
Occasionally three or four got into a muss
| over the possession of a bunghole, and in
the rough and tumble rolled off the barrels
| to the floor
Anderson slipped around to the other side
| of the building and locked the door. Then
he went to the house and turned in for the
night. The next morning he went to the
| cider mill bright and early. He found the
| thirteen coons there. With the exception of
| three they were stretched out on The floor
| sleeping off their debauch. Three of them
| were wandering aimlessly around the room,
occasionally coming together and fighting
like bulldogs. Anderson got his dog Self in
| terested in the coons, and inside of ten min
utes jeff had shaken every one of them into
| eternity.