The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-10-11
GOOD HUNTING IN
TIE DNlS.M4L SWA NP

gentleman. suh,' offered to sell some
Philadelphians Il deposit of manganese
in Virginia that would make all hands
rich beyond the dreams of ayarico and
with the pleasing expectation of hav-
ing money to burn a Philadelphia
party paid the New Eldorado a visit.
The manganese was there, but VIII
cost about four times AS much to get
it to tidewater us it would sell tor at
Johnstown.
The voice was the voice of Jacob,
but the hands were the hands OF Esau.
The Southern gentleman was IA boom
Yankee from Chicago, who, al er
borrowing all The money the Phlla-
delphians had, took a genial leave OF
the guileless Quakers eight miles west
of the Dismal Swamp, location in
perfect accord with their feelings
1t was at ohc, resolved to improve
the opportunity and pay the swamp
visit. SO four of the party left Fall
Tavern Nansemond county, with two
negro guides and two dugoufs, bound
for Lake Drummond.
On the outskirts of the swamp the
water Is about SIX inches deep, aud the
black alder grows low a d bunchy. Here
is woodcock ode luxe" and there is
not a better snipe ground in the
United States. Two double guns were
available, and one of the guides had
a weap ms that looked like an argue
bus.
Inside of two hours nineteen wo)d-
cock fell to two not extra skilled shots.
The birds had evidently not been
hunted the SEA ,on, and made short
fight.
Lake Drummond is surround, Il by
Il belt Of cypr, IS five miles wide, and
only pene,rable by roads cut by the
loggers. The dugou us d here are
twelve feet long, neatly hewed out OF
cypress log. They are very narrow
and about as steady as Il washtub. The
negroes began to paddle and in half an
hour the road was like a narrow ditch
between two walls Of green cypress.
Not only do these trees make the air
spicy, but give an aromatic taste to
the swamp water, which is the color
of coffee, but very sweet aud pala-
table.
About three o'c'ock IN the afternoon
the party came to the lake. Anything
more beautiful cannot be imagined.
Fringed with a ring of green the water
lies without ripple, perfect grove
of magnolias IN bloom make the air
fragrant, and save for the chatter OF
the squirrels, every sound is hushed.
1t lsa veritable land of the lotus
eater.
Here were the ruins of an old shingle
camp, and it Was resolved TO encamp
for the night. Thank the gods not "a
mosquitoes bug lie was heard. All the
woodcock and Il summer duck were
picked, and Jeff, the youngest negro,
went fishing returning in an hour
with black bass, plckerel and a very
large sunfish. The birds were cooked
frs, then the fish. The birds We're
very good. Just think of our ex-
travaganc-. One of our city caterers
charges So for feast of TWO cocks.
and here were cooked two dozen a.
once. Lake Drnmmond bass were
voted dry and taste!ess, while the sun
fish was exec lent. d, spite all con-
tradiction, all Southern fiji are
waters.
Cypress bou. h We're now cut for
bed, and after smoke all went 10 bed
save the younger guide who sat up by
the fire picking the banjo, which was
answered by loon across the lake.
Next morning the fog was so thick
that nothing was visible three feet
away. All at once a hoarse below
was heard near at hand. Both negroes
jumped, and jeff dropped the coffee
pot. He hastily explained that there
were plenty of wild cattle in the
swamp, and the meat was good and
this was no doubt bull comming to
the lake to drink. So he seized his
gun, and one of the party put two
buck shells into his double barrel, and
all waited brea hIessly. Again a below
not ten feet away apparently. I he
fog was lifting. jeff lay fiat on the
ground, quickly raised his piece and
fired. A tremendous explosion, us if
Il nail mill had blown up, and then
great splash in the water. A r,solute
China merchant rushed forward. Sure
enough, a bull about as big as donkey
was trugg'ing in the water, and he got
two loads of buck fair in the head.
What an excitement. Everyone yell
ed and fell over everyone else. The
bull lay in the water, dead. 1t was
IA very dark red in color. JEFF S
blunderbuss had "done busted" and
the barrel, lock and ramrod were no
doubt in North Carolina ere this.
Except for his sprained thumb no
harm ensued.
The negroes were wild with delist
at the capture. it was worth, hide
and all about twelve dollars, and after
being cut mp, The younger man, Saul
loaded his dugortand started for nome
to return in the evening Some of the
meat was kept for breakfast, and was
very sweet and tender, but Jeff bonnie
bOUthS wac lilS NibilS lOuStCu III illS
ashes. These cattle will date from
war times, and there are several hun
dred in the swamp, but very wary.
Deer are quite plen'y but must be
dri, en- by dogs, when they take to the
lake and are shot in the water.
Squirrels were so abundant that bv
noon forty had been shot, and the
water was alive with blue ICED teal
ducks. This is surely a hunter
paradise. There is no fever or mala-
ria, and it is only place on the sea-
board where one can camp out with
oHt danger, and that horrible pest,
The green headed fly, is unknown,
although plenty enough along the
Sound.
Around tie campfire Jeff told US of
the swamp. Before the war there
were about one hundred runaways in
the swamp, but all are now dead or
gone away. He was slave Of the
Barfield family. Seven sons entered