The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-13
THIRTEEN TIPsY COoNs.
The CarOusers That Farmer Ander-
son Discovered in His Cider Mill
From the New York Sun.

House.
From the New York Sun.
Copper Hill. n. J.. Oct. 5-Thirteen new
coon skins are hanging on the back Of
Hosea Anderson's barn. They were taken
from the boules OF thirteen coOns, whose
fondness for cider resulted in death. In
fact, they went 10 a drunkard's grave.
Anderson owns a big farm and an ex-
tensive apple orchard. He is the largest
Manufacturer Of cider and applejack in
Hunterdon county. About two weeks ago
he began making cider. The cider mill is
under the corner of large building stu
ated a short distance from his dwelling.
II is the custom 10 shut and lock the
doors of the cider mill house every night
when work is finished, hut they were left
open by mistake a few nights ago. An
derson had just got into bed ana begun
the first chapter of an all-nights sleep
when he was aroused by Mrs. Anderson,
who gave him "A nervous shake and asked.
Hosea, what's that noise?'
Anderson got his eyes and ears open af-
ter while, and heard racket somewhere
in the vicinity of the cider mill house.
After listening attentively few minutes,
he jumped out of bed with his temper up
10 the expressive point, and, pulling on his
'sConfound that Jim Watson, he left the
cider mill door unlocked and the wind $
BLOWN il open. I'll hunt this county over
tomorrow for some man that l can de-
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. IL was a combination OF
sharp yelps and snarls. Something unus-
ual was evidently up, and with thought
of cider thieves he hurried back to the
house, and, getting a shot gun, sneaked
back, in the shadow of the trees, toward
the cider mill
Creeping up to the place where there was
a knothole in the side Of the building, he
examined the interior. The sight he saw
quieted his fears. There were no burg
lars in sight. For the purpose of letting
in sunlight and air, a portion OF the roof
of the cider mill had been removed, and
through the opening the moonlight was
streaming, making the interior OF the
building as bright as day. The floor was
partly covered with barrels filled with
cider. The bung-holes were open to give
the cider a chance TO work. Some of the
cider was a week old and had what the
farmers call tang to it. That means a
bite to it, and at that age cider is pleas
ant to take and il Is very apt to put a
twist into the drinkers walk, If he swal-
lows enough of 1t. Around and over those
barrels were crawling and staggering a 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 a picnic.
Anderson counted thirteen animals, and
every one of them was pretty well aged
up. Some We're on the floor, waddling
around with an uncertain gait; others
were striving to get to the top of the bar
rels once more, but were too weak and
groggy to pull themselves up. A couple
sat on their launches, facing each other,
and as they swayed from side to side,
snarled like pair of old women. Occas-
ionally 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 to-
gether and fighting like bulldogs Ander-
son got his dog Jeff interested in the
coons, and inside of ten minutes jeff had
shaken every one of them into eternity.