The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-06
SPORT IN APPLEJACK LAND.
John Burd's Runaway Mule and NO End
10 Rabbits, squirrels, and Coons.


to Rabbits, squirrels, and Coons.
The small game hunters are having
great sport hereabOuts, for rabbits and
squirrels and coons have not been 50
plentiful within the recollection OF some
Of the oldest dwellers, says Chester,
~. Y. letter 20 the New ofrk sun.
kind OF game new to the local spOrtsmen
has also made ats appearance on the mus
this season, and great things are expected
OF II. John Burd, of the HOwland Rouse,
needing a days recreation, went out
hunting with Tom Kane on Monday. Iney
brought up by and by I'M the Bald nm
neghbOrhOOd after they had knocked over
a nice bag Of rabbits. Suddenly Johh
shouted:
Tom, Look at that runaway MULE!
Tearing along through the brush was an
animal with ears any mule mlsht nave
been proud Of. Kane sent a load OF shOt
into 1t and brought II down.
1t amt a mule said he
They logged il home. IL was three feet
long and weighed twelve pounds. Its ears
were seven inches long some one VINO
knew pronounced II a Canada mare. III
seems that the game preserves OF the
Tuxedo Club, on the other slde or the
mountain, are stocked win these Dls
members Of the hare family. Two years
ago some of these escaped from the IN
closure, and their offspring are now be-
ginning to populate the outside coverts
of this part of the country. several nave
hood and running them with beagle
hounds Is coming to be the fayOrite sport
Whereabouts. As these hares are proiinc
breeders, IL is expected that IN year
or two the thickets Of southern orange
county VIII be beautifully stocked with
this desirable game.
Sam Whitmore is the champion shot OF
this region, but Is a town character ana
neer-dO-well, who hunts only for the pot.
His dog and his gun are his inseparaDle
companions. Ignorant Of books, ne knows
the nature, habits, and ways OF every
animal bird, insect and reptile that IN
habits these hills, valleys, streams, and
sWamps better than books could nave
taught him. He formerly hunted with a
single barreled gun. His best days, Wild
game score with that was twenty-five
woodcock One time, during the days OF
the Wawayanda Club at Greenwood Lake,
WhitmOre on one Of his tramps thruogh
the woods came out at the lake Whlle a
pigeOnshOOtng match was in progress at
the club. He watched the sportsmen a
while. shooting with their fancy. hlgh-
priced guns, and then felt that ne would
like TO try his hand az that kind OF shoot
ing. His grOtesque garb and slngle-Dar-
relied gun suggested 10 the club men that
he might be a good thing TO have some
sport with, and they let MIN try ms hand.
After he had killed twenty-four straight
birds out of the trap they changed their
minds and wasted no more expensive blue
rocks on the hunter.
guess WhitmOre said, II tney only
ken on pullin' the string.
Sans score of rabbits on the opening
day of this season was twenty-five. lie
had also half a dozen gray squirrels. on
last Monday he brought IN sixteen RAD
bits.
At the Rowland House last night it was
figured out from the reports from various
hunting grounds in this vicinity that
during the first week of The season there
had been 1900 rabbits. LOCO squirrels, and
10 cOons killed, TO say nothing OF the
loads OF WOOdchucks.
Charley McWhOrter got four rat coons
on Tuesday night i'm the woods near town,
and seven gray squirrels while ne was
bringing the cOOns in next morning
just before daylight on Wednesday one
Of the Bull family; over IN n P,ursatory
ing in the yard in peculiar way. lie
got up. went out. and found that the dog
had two coOns up pear tree. Ihey We're
killed While the family was eating
breakfast and talking about the coons,
the dag was heard barking IN tne same
way. Farmer Bull went out. Inc cog
had two more cOOns up the same tree.
These shared the fate OF tneir predeceS-
sors.
Charley Bull and John Holbert went
20 Purgatory Swamp hunting coons me
other night. and did not get back untll the
next morning They had no coon, but
said they had followed the biggest one
they ever heard Of all night long. Inc
story is around. and A comes from FUR.
gatory neighbOrhOod that Bun was freed
himself all night. and that HOiDert Went
after help and got lost. Inc way the slo-
~ goes Is this:
The hunters ran what they thought was
a tremendous coon, up tree IN the
swamp. and Bull volunteered 10 chmD the
tree and kick the coon out, so they could
have some fun seeing the dogs nsht II
He got up into the tree. The coon dluh
wait 10 be kicked out, but dumped yust
before he got up to II. IL lodged IN q
crotch OF the tree half way down, and be-
gan 10 growl and snap us Jaws. FROM
his perch Bull saw the animal siarihs
Thunder" he shouted. 1T amt a
coonl It's an internal sassy Wllucat
Bull was right in range ana holpeTt
did not dare shoot.
Gone down, Charley, ne cdleu.
Come down, so ! can shoot ~ -,
Come DOWN." Bull shouted back. Il
wouldn't climb past that wildcat, ~ lot Sluo.
We'll. then" said Holbert. III 90 get
some help"
Just how any more help could eXtricate
him from his uncOmfOwapie posl'Ioh
Bull could not see but HOlbert leIt one
Of the dogs under the tree ana s'd irS
for help. lie did not come pIcS u rHn
dog kept good watch and DaIheu unIn
hoarse. Every time Bull moved on MS
perilous perch the wildcat snapPeG, 1 III
growled ana glared. BY the lliao ,eo,.,,
gan TO get daylight Bun "dS,iit, ~
frozen, and when 1t got light enoush t iOa
him to see he almost tumeleu ~ .sn,,
ground, for instead OF a wildcat Iattns
freed him all night he discoVeIed ina a.
he had been freed by coon, ana iast ,, M
the crotch OF the tree at that. Bun co sna
hardly wait 10 get down 10 hcA ,, ~
head Off that COON but the very nIse MN Mn
he gave sent It flying from the tree. Inc
dog grabbed It. The coon licked lhs uoS
before Bull could get 10 the gIouhu r anu
disappeared In the swamp JUST as liz
bert, who had been lost all h5he' N''''o
along again.
On Tuesday night, Ed LamerouN anu
Bill Tompkins. with one little dos, NIL
Mountain, along The Newburg branch OF
the Erie. The dog soon had someth,lhs
freed, and the hunter saw rs eyes s.aI
ing from the lower branch OF the 49,
Lameroux gave the animal ooth pti Z,
and down u came. When Trey pa .SIh ,,sids