The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-24
ON A 'PoSSUM HUNT.
.,ttcATORs AND BEAR FOUGHT
oVrR THE TOOTHsOME SUPPER.

,h. Hunters We're Stampeded-They
we're Afforded the Opportunity,
uo,vever. of watching One of the
Most Thrilling COmbats Ever Seen
4, the OkefenOkee swamp-The Al
,irntor Won Through Reinforce
ments.
From the Philadelphia Times.
CHARLTON. Ca, Jan. 16.-Now is the glo-
-s,rs lime of frosted persimmons and
-,,orlight nights when the happy cracker
5,rzev of Southern Georgia shoulders his
--,ootb-bore back number. and accom-
-,ried by a younger friend 'totin"
l-b and a dozen yelping cur hounds at
his heels. HES himself away TO the swamp
here perslmmons are ripe and turkey
roosts are abundant
Perhaps no region along the Atlantic
s,oboard presents such advantages for
che 'possum hunter as the border fringes
of the great Okefenokee swamp, in South
eastern Georgia.
The great morass conceals all sorts of
came. both large and small, and a va
-ietv of reptiles in the bargain that
would be a credit to the finest "delir-
i,rn tremens" shop in the country but
obove all it is a paradise for the opossum
hunter. and here the colored gentleman
nj the south can find in season the game
he loves so well in the greatest plump
ness and abundance.
some DAYS before the holidays, when
the "cracklin" pots were sizzling and the
christmas pOrkers had ceased 10 squeal,
a small party OF hunters equipped with
dogs and guns started into the swamp
from the southeastern corner to make
a moonlight raid on the possum pre-
tr4~1rsa sn1f- for VHTnf r. hat
particular section of Okefenokee had a
famous reputation. In the party were
three grown darkies, and boy who
looked after the torches, the dogs and
If Was a fairly good night for the
nurpose the only real drawback being the
iateness of the moon, but this was amply
remeded by the resinous torches, which,
after all, is the faVorite method of swamp
hunting in the south.
The trail was a well defined one, al
though it often led between several mines
of mud, where a false step was apt to
plunge one up to his neck in sticky black
ioam but the hunters were used to such
experiences, and the real danger lay in
disturbing perhaps some huge rattle-
snake or encountering a hungry cata-
mount with which the swamp, and es-
pecially this portion of it, was known
10 be exceedingly well tenanted.
Pretty soon dry, hummocky ground was
encountered, ard while scattered out and
wading among the scrub palmetto look
ing for signs, the lights of the leading
torch reflected a pair of bead-like fire
points that flashed down upon the hunters
from the crotch of a tree. The dogs had
about smelled out the game by this time
and were yelping and jumping around
like mad just beneath the shrinking
game. 1t was a fine, fat 'possum, and the
darkev in front who made the discovery
shouted excitedly at the top of his lungs:
"Hi hi hi va. Come down 'possum,
you's my meat. Come down, hi, hi, va"
Tbis set the dogs going worse than ever,
and a perfect bedlam of racket was
echoed and re-echoed back from the
depths of the swamp in hundred rever-
A load Of bukshot brought the victim
10 the ground, and the dogs pounced up
on him. tumbling head over heels upon
each other in their eagerness to reach the
prize He was finally secured and proved
to be as fat as cracklin, as one or the
party put it. , =,
the same manner, except that one Fellow
persistenly remained concealed in the mol
low Of rotten tree, and II required tn me
axes TO add his scalp to those already cap
tured.
had carried the party near 10 branen OF
the st. Mary's river, and here an i'm
promptu camp was formed and the var
mints" spitted in anticipation of gen
The torches were stuck up in conven-
lent places in the soft mud, the guns,
axes and clubs laid about promiscously
and in a few moments that odor SO graf
flying to the darkey palate, the delicious
pungent of roast 'possum, permeated the
atmosphere, and was waited away on the
still night air of the solemn swamp.
When the enjoyment reached its hight
and the jaws of four happy feasters were
working industriously away upon as
many choice morsels, all at once there
was a rush and a roar, and the next mo-
ment huge black bear of the Okefenokee
species had stampeded the crowd and sent
them scrambling M among the friendly
branches of convenient trees.
No time to grasp an ak or seize gun,
but each one lit out for shelter on snort
notice, and in less than thirty seconds
bruin was monarch of all he surveyed.
The aroma of broiling meat had evident
ly penetrated the adjacent thicket, and
the big black fellow unceremoniously
came to the banquet without further in
vitation. Scarcely had the bear com,
menced his meal than there was loud
whOOf, that caused him to spring quickly
around and nearly shook the freed darkies
from their various perches, so great was
their terror at the new danger that
threatened. The cause was soon made
apparent. over the soft, pasty bank and
covered with mud was poked the ugly
black snout of a huge bull alligator who
IKE the bear had come 'unbidden 10 the
The bear Immediately rose upon his
launches, and, with blood almost starting
from his enraged eyes, leaped back few
feet, and stood defiantly growing and
snarling at his antagonist. The black
4.4'C VI the ldlleE dppcdlcu i've
the bank and then the two enemies of
the swamp stood face to face, with the
disputed viands between them. The hunt
ers, from their safe positions, looked with
amaZement on the struggle that seemed
imminent between these two fierce rob-
bers of the swamp.
The alligator crept slowly forward, near
er and nearer to the roasted meat, and
when his snout had nearly reached the
1000, the bear made one jump and landed
on the saurian's back. He vainly tried to
cav holes in that tough hide, but the
scaly substance was too much for him,
ana the next moment a vicious swing Of
lhe tail sent bruin rolling head over heels
ana right into the midst of the hot embers
mat had done such excellent duty in
proving the 'possums
til, hi yelled the darkeys in high
gee when they saw their old enemy
serambling about among the Goals, and
making the very forest ring with his
iQanngs. Hi hill you black rascal burn
nn up, heat him hot" were a few of the
p9llte remarks of the interested quartette
The poor brute, with the hair almost
ffotcned from his back, staggered wildly
asooqt for a few minutes. knocking the
tIIches right and left as he reeled, and
.leh ne made a bold dash for the alliga-
CJr, VINO was ready and waiting with wide