The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-11-07
HUNTING IN DISMAL swAnP.

Party In . Region where Game is Thiek
Item
Some time ago, tall, thin person,
who announced himself as q -Souther
gentleman. suh,- offered To sell some
Philadelphians deposit Of manganese
in Virginia that would make all hands
rich beyond the dreams OF avarice, and
with the pleasing expectation OF hav-
ing money TO burn, a Philadelphia par
ry paid the FL Dorado visit. The man
ganese was there, but will cost about
four times rs much to get IL to tidewa-
ter ss il would sell for at yohnstown
The voice WAS the voice of Jacob, but
the hands were the hands Of Esau. The
Southern gentleman WAS q boom YAM
kee from Chicago, who after borrowing
all the money the Philadelphians had,
took q genial leave Of the guileless
Quakers eight miles west Of the Dis
NAL Swamp, a location in perfect ac-
cord with their feelings.
1t was at once resolved to improv.
the opportunity to pay the swamp \
visit. So four Of the party left Fall
Tavern, i'm NansemOnd county, with
two negro guides, and two dugouts,
bound for Lake Drummond.
On the outskirts of the swamp the
water is about six inches deep, and the
black alder grows low and bunchy.
Here is woOdcOck de luxe and there
is not a better snipe ground in the Uni
ted States. Two double guns were
available and one Of the guides had q
weapon that looked like an arquebus.
Iuside of two hours nineteen wood
cock fell to two not extra killed shots.
The birds had evidently not been hun
ted this season, and made short fight.
Lake Drummond is surrounded by q
belt Of cypress five miles wide, and on
ly penetrable by roads cut by the log
gers. The dugOuts used here are IL f..
long, neatly hewed out Of cypress log
They are very narrow and about as
steady as a washtub. The negroes be-
gan to paddle; and in half an hour the
road was like an open 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 and palatable.
| About three O'Clock in the afternoon
the party came TO the lake. Anything
more beautiful cannot be imagined
Fringed with q ring of green, the watel
lies without ripple, perfect grove o
magnolias in bloom make the air frag
rant, and save for the chatter Of tn,
squirrels every sound is husbed. IL i
. veritable land of the lotus eater.
Here were the ruins of an old shingl'
camp, and ii was resolved to encamI
for the night. Thank the gods not
mosquitoes bugle was heard. All tn
! woodcOck and q summer duck wer
picked, and JEFF, the youngest Negro
went fishing, returning in an hou
. with black bass, pickerel and q yer,
large sun fish. The birds were cooke
FIRST, then the fish. The birds Wer
very good. Just think Of our exfravs
gance One Of our city caterers chare
es three dollars for feast of two cock
and here were cooked two dozen q
once. Lake Drummond bass were vote
dry and tasteless, while the sun Hs
; was excellent. Despite all contradis
Il ton, all Southern fsh are inferior ]
= flavor to those in Northern waters.
Il Cypress boughs were now cut for
Z bed, and after q smoke all went TO be
n save the youngest guide, who sat b
the fire picking the banjo, which ",
answered by loon across the lake.
81 Next morning the fog was 80 thic
that nothing was visible three fe'
+ away. Ali It once hoarse b low vi
}. heard near at hand. Both negro
= jumped, and JEFF dropped the cof'
e pot. He hastily explained that the
n WAS plenty Of wild cattle in the SWAN
and the meat was good, and this was
!, doubt . bull coming TO the lake to 8
Y water. So he seized his gun, and ol
q of the party put two buck shells into
ls double-barrel, and all waited.
Again . below, not ten feet AVA
apparently. The fog was lifting. j,
lay nat on the ground, quickly rais
his piece and fired. A tremendous e
y. plOsion - il . nail mill had blown q
and then . great splash in the water.
~ resolute China merchant rushed IL
E. ward. Sure enough, . boil about
D. big as donkey Was struggling in {
D. water, and he got two loads Of bu
o. fair in the head.
n What IN excitement. Every o
W yelled and fell over every one else. T
70, bull lay half in the water, dad. Ii Y
n . very dark red in color. Jeffs blu
th derbuss had sd0ne busted,r and I
Id barrel, lock and .amrod are no dos
n in North Carolina ere this. Except
y his spfained thumb no harm was do