The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-19
UNDER OCTOBER MOON
Judge Hazen and Others Go
POssum Hunting.
Chase the Hounds Through the
Woods of Shawnee.
Tony Brown Lost for Four Hours but
Finally decentralization of
the Hunt


Item ..--.... ........ ....-.Six squirrels
Item ...---... -.-....s Three rabbits
4 Item .....- Ten QuSlls
Were the spoils of the second annual
hunt Of the Arnold AFileham 'Possum
Hunting association which was declar-
4 ed ended at .. m. Saturday. In add
ton to the game secured Tony Brown
furnished diversion by getting lost in
the woods
The hunt was a pronounced success
viewed from any standpoint, but espec-
/ Tally SO ia the fund OF experience secur-
( ed By the participants
The four new mem bers of the associ-
atlons Judge z. T. Hazen. Lee Jones,
/ 1T. "A. q. Miner and Otis Hungate bore
themselves with distinction and they
We're, by unanimous vote, declared
perpetual members.
At 1870 p. IN. Friday the Prairie Pull
man ana the party with camping out
III ana supply of provisions left the
poStofhce. Judge Hazen and Lee Jones
secured permission to go ahead and lay
main party arrived. Tony Brown never
looked quite SO manly or Otis Hungate
50 much like a warrior starting on q
campaign as they waved their hands
TO their friends. Postmaster Arnold
commanded silence after the city was
1eIt behind and promulgated q few
ofle1 rules to govern the hunt. ElX-
councilman Jasper Earnest was placed
IN charge Of the provisions; no one was
20 pc allowed to complain on penalty
OF expulsion; but one gun was to be
allowed on the hunt and that was not
20 pc loaded; Tony Brown was declared
the official tree climber; DR.. Miner was
to have charge of the hospital depart
memt and a corner of the wagon was
set aside for that purpose.
The first stop was made at the home
Of Rousseau Meade who lives eight
miles northwest Of Topeka. Three fox
MOUNDS and three large gTeyhOundS
We're there added to the party. The fox
hounds We're put in the wagon and
Postmaster Arnold held their chains.
When within about three miles of the
destination one of the horses refused to
go further Tony Brown and DR.. Miner
agreed to walk and there was no furth-
er trouble with the horse. 1t was dark
when the camp grounds were reached,
but Judge Hazen and Lee Jones were
there with camp fire blazing and 4
supply of squirrels.
The horses We're hardly unhitched
and supper spread before stran gers be
gan to arrive and in a short time there
were no less than 20 there. They had
heard of the proposed hunt and came to
participate The visitors brought with
them dogs Of every rank and station in
life which greatly angered Rousseau
Meade, master of the hounds, who
boasts Of the best dogs in Kansas.
1T was o'clock when the 1eashes
We're slipped and the hounds bounded
away to the west Judge Hazen took
the lead with the man who had charge
of the hounds He was much the most
active man in the party and he actual
ly cleared a wire fence at a bound while
Tony Brown and Lee Jones made them
serves into balls like p0rcupineS and
rolled under the lower wire. Tony had
a long tear ia the back of his coat and
Lee had an ugly cut on the side of his
face but they We're on the right side of
the fence. Some one said when he saw
the blood streaming down Lees placid
features first blood for Jones"
Judge Hazen hunted 'possums in Indi-
perfectly at home in the timber He did
not fall over a log or lose his temper
once during the night Tony Brown
rolled down the first hill he came to,
notwithstanding his experience of last
year and Jasper Earnest never saw a
fallen tree until after he had measured
his length on the other side.
The party had Travelled a half mile
under such difficulties as are met in
thick woods after night, when sudden
~ far ahead. came the deep bay of a
hound Tt is always deep bay in the
story books. 1t was followed by a doz-
en- others and the members of the party
quickened their pace to a trot. While
Rousseau Meade kept the air resound-
ing with encouraging shouts to the
dogs.
Speak to them boys. keep 'em a go
in, boys, put EN- UP boys, he shouted
as the hounds bayed vociferously.
Then the baying stopped and the
dogs began a short, sharp series of
barks which, to the experienced hun
ter, means that the game has taken
refuge in a tree.
Then Rousseau Meade. master Of the
hounds did a strange thing He stop
ped and delivered Postmaster Arnold
a lecture on the excellence of the
hounds
Now. gentlemen, just take your
time. them dogs would stay there all
night" said he. II told you, Mr. Arm
old them was the best dogs in Shaw
nee county. Now, wasn't I right2'
Say, let's defer this lecture and go
to the dogs said Lee Jones impatient
Meade turned his whitening glance
upon Jones and said. Now, can't YOU
let them alone? / don't believe you
know a dog when you see one"
Let's start" said Otis Hungate, and
suiting the action to the word the par
ty rushed in the direction from whence
the barking came and Meade was left
to finish his lecture alone.
In a few minutes the party came to a
standstfI on the high bank of the creek
The dogs were on the opposite side
and they We're looking up into little
sapling that overhung the stream
The party waited until Meade came
up hoping he would devise some plan
for crossing but he seemed perfectly
He Started to deliver another lecture
upon the excellency of the hounds when
Otis Hungate plunged down the bank
and into the creek. The water was UP
to his waist and very cold, but ne bold
~ Waded across
Pshaw. I'll show them what a true
sportsman is" said he.
A country boy named VIII Cunning
ham followed and the man who carried
the gun also crossed. A dark bunch
was plainly visible in the tree about 20
feet above the ground.
The man with the gun slipped a load
into the barrel and raised the weapon
to shoot when there was a volley of
protests from the other side.
Don't shoot; let's see a fight" they
cried.
The gun was lowered and the master
of the hounds who had not crossed the
creek continued his lecture to Captain
Arnold.