The sun., 1896-10-24
A sLAUsHTER OF CRoWs.
They Were Canning, but Glossonberry En-
Terminated 1s5 OF Them Mt Last.


THoMAsToN, Conn.,. Oct. 23.-John Glosson-
berry. an elderly farmer living in a rocky vale
near Northfield. in the watershed OF the But
ternut Brook. which flows into the Waterbury
reservoir. long deemed himself allie to cope
with almost all of the difficulties which bese.
the life of Connecticut aEriculturist, but
lately he has been forced to con fess that a fock
OF crows on his premises proved too smart.
About mile from Glossonberrys wood
colored farmhouse is q good sized trac: Of
handsome pine trees that for years sheltered
an increasing flock OF crows. For more than
year this fioek was u menace to his grain. his
gardens. and finally to his poultry yard 80
numerous and bold had the crows become last
hummer that they not only robbed his hens and
turkeys of their eggs. but also distracted thu
attention of the brood hens and stole small
chickens. Three or four crows would PttaCk
hen and her brood and in a day or two carry
of all but the mother.
AS soon as he finished his husking Glosson-
berry took his shotgun from the hooks over
hls front door. and sailed forth 10 the Grey
roost roo! in the pine woods with the avowed .uten-
the crows. He got one shot ut them and
brought down single bird. The rest Of them
berry could not get the cunning marauders
within range again. Glossoubcrry is fair
practically impossible to reduce the number OF
t.,,y the wary creatures with his gun. They would
discharged. screaming as IL in contempt, but al
ways Just out OF reach.
He at length gave up his desultory warfare.
and undertook 10 outwit the crows by setting
lines. each with a hook. ware lied The hooks
was baited with single kernel OF corn. so care
iSlly put on that it seemed impossible that
hooks heing swalowsd He set the trawl il
his corn field. which had been the scene OF
ma many dspre L datiGns He covered the cord with
bait Then he scattered corn around to make
the bait look natural. The crows paid Their
the afternoon. md futtered about in great
Clee; finally going away without leaving l
snare Glossonberry found the corn ali gone.
even the hooks having been stripped clean.
that ohsr paS n akeT b .eg 1 his
could hope TO catch crows.
li.s next move was to 90 into the woods and
capture alive large screech owl. This hs
every farmers boy in these parts knows. thas
crow has much reason TO dread. The owl rohs
The crows nests of their, young whenever posi-
ing helplessly in the glare OF the sun. il nt
once seeks reveLge. Glossonberry tied the evil
to the limb OF an old tree in the corn field, and
proved an Irresistible magnet to the crow.
an navanee guard flew at the owl. screamiir
NTH within hearing to attack the common enem!.
The farmer ran at top speed to the house OF a
In extermipating tLe fiocE.: The y sunnrrs M a,rs
came. but his plans miscarred. one OF tho
runners. IN his haste to kill on the bris, sight
ed one near the owl. and killed of the dccuy
instead or Its tormentor. That at once ended
Glossonebrry could not md another scrcech
owl, but he at length hit upon still another
plan of warfare which makes him today
lairly well satisfied as far as killing
crows Is concerned. After two weeks OF work
With the box traps he caught two crows al ,r.
ihese he pinned on their backs TO the ground
IN an open Held near the roost. They werO
held by their wings between pegs. yet not 50
closely rs TO prevent them from futtcr.r,
Crows are inauisitive when they see oihrr
crows in trouble and when alossonberry's
crows saw the struggling captiyes the whole
lot new about them Glossonberry had thought
tho Two crows would prove as strong an n'-
traction "a the owl had been, and he had his
neiRhbors on hand. but the captive PAR sur
prised him by serving his purpose much bette.
than hal tho owl. The captive crows tackled
hercely the first of the flock that came near
and held on tenaciously. This brought on
fuu-nedged crow riot and the whole flock
wa, soon In a fight. The air above the spot
was black with crows
Gl"ssonberry and his party waited until tho
fight extended to the whole flock and then
they began blazing away at tho birds. Al
the usual caution or the crows seemed TO hs
gone. The birds continued their fight de.
spite the approach OF the men and the shots.
There were four Runners in the party. and
they u nsed cartridges Of coarse shot, firing AZ
remnant OF the fiock had flown away leuyr,.
III dead and wounded on the ground To
survivors have made themselves scarce about
Glossonberrys farm ever since, His ncigl.
oors declare that his last ex )edlent would hos
talled but Tor the unexpected conduct uf 10
,hptive t;. crows In graphing with their inup,s