The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-03
RODE ON A WILD DEER,s RACK.
An Expert Hunters Plight and How
He Came Out of II.
From the Baltlmore Amerlcan.

From the Baltimore American.
Saranac Lake, N Y, July 25.-Jerry
Thompson of Raquette Lake is an ex-
cellent trapper and man Of great fear
lessness, but he doesn't particularly care
to repeat the adventure that recently be-
fell him. When a man plunges through
this wild and rugged region on the back
of an Infatuated deer he is having an ex-
perience which falls to the lot OF few, If
any, men. and which they, 1t may be safe
ly assumed, little care to have happen
them.
That was Jerry's experience recently.
The fact that he was not killed by the deer
was due to his quick wit and extreme
agility Jerry was wandering about the
Adirondacks in search of game when he
suddely encountered a big buck. The
meeting was so unexpected that both man
and animal were for the moment TOO sur
prised to act. Quick as was Jerry the
buck was quicker. and before the luckless
hunter fully realized his position he was
rolling over and over on the ground with
the raging animal stamping furiously at
him.
Jerry struggled to his feet, but before
he had regained an upright position the
buck came at him with lowered head. It
tossed its huge antlers wildly about, and
had II not been for a sudden resolve that
been impaled upon the sharp prongs. When
the buck was about to spear him Jerry
clutched the animals antlers and in an
other moment he was astride the much
surprised bucks back. Then came a Sc
rles of snortings buckings and klckings
which discounted the antics Of any buck
ing broncho that jerry says he has ever
seen.
1t was a most unique and thrilling spec
tacle with no witness. Jerry chung to the
bucks back with might and main. 1 was
hold on or fall off to serious injury and
probable death. After caVorting in the
clearing in which the duel had so unex-
pectedly been begun the deer started up
the moutain side as If chased by all the
dogs in creation.
Jerry was not slow to recognize the ex-
IRENE peril of his position. He was in i'm
minent danger Of being swept from the
deers' back by the branches of trees and
badly injured. The moment the buck felt
Jerry slide from its back 1t would Instant
ly wheel about and attack the hunter
This Jerry knew; his knowledge of deer
was ample enough to asure him of its
wariness.
Half mile was traversed before any
thing like low tree came upon the direc-
tion of the bucks mad chase. Jerry
braced himself; he felt sure that IL he
were struck by the lower limbs of the
tree nothing short of a miracle would
save him. The tree. happily, was not
a young one, but one that was stunted,
and had possibly for many years with
stood the furious blasts OF wind that had
howled through that wild and desolate
region. Its limbs were stout. On flew
the deer jerry in his furious race mag
ined that 1t was racing toward him
eager to lay him low at the bucks feet
When almost directly under the limb
which projected across the deer's path
way, Jerry by n powerful effort raised
himself up, and with a clutch Of steel
grasped the friendly limb Of the tree, and
swung himself clear Of the bucks back
In another moment he had drawn him
self up into the tree. With an angry
snort the buck turned and charged at the
tree Stout as was the tree. Jerry felt
the impact distinctly when the maddened
head OF the buck struck. The hunter
drew himself still higher in the tree, and
began 10 breathe more freely. Unfortu-
nately, he had no revolver with him. His
knife had fallen from his belt when ne
was knocked down by the deer. There
was nothing to do but to sit in the tree
until the buck went it's way. For nearly
an hour the savage buck walked about
under the tree, paving the ground hercely
and every once in a while looking up into
the tree to see whether Jerry was still
there.
Eventually the buck went away. and
Jerry, still nervous and vigilant, descend
ed and hurried hOmeWard as fast as his
limping gait would permit.
Il wouldn't care TO repeat that ride for
good deal of money" he said to the cor
respondent. 1T may be exciting, but 1
want no more Of it."
And the veteran Adirondack mountain
hunter did not belle his looks.