The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-05
SENATOR VEST TELLS A STORY.
An ul-Fated Pigeon Hunt That In
VOIVcd breaking the sabbath.

VOIVcd breaking the sabbath.
From the Washington Post
The wild pigeons had been coming into
our neighborhood for some days In mum
bers so vast that they almost darl1ened
the heavens" said Senator Vest. referring
to an incident Of his boyhood life in old
Kentucky. Thousands upon Thousands
flew over the schoolhouse where l and my
cousin Tom Allen were engaged In acquir-
ing the rudiments of English, but the
sight of those birds was so tantalizlng
that all thought of books was driven from
our heads. We had planned a big hunt
for the Saturday following their appear
auce, ana were burning up with impa-
tience for that holiday to come round.
Our old-fashioned muzzle-loaders had
been cleaned and oiled. and had pur-
chased at the village store six pounds Of
powder, twenty-five pounds of shot and
three boxes of C. D.. caps. With this
much ammunition Tom and ! calculated
that we would slaughter not less than
1000 pigeons when We descended on them
at their roosting quarters, about five miles
from where we resided
The hand Of fate was clearly against
Tom Allen and myself in this cherished
scheme of our hearts for before dawn of
Saturday the heavens opened and such
a downfall of rain was never seen In that
part of the world The water came down
in sheets, and never for one minute OF
that lvelong day did the fury Of the
storm abate its violence. Sorrow laid its
heavy hand on us, and there was no COM
fort, for discipline was too rigid In those
days to admit of forsahng school for
sport; and to wait seven more days was
more than we could bear. Besides, in an
other week the pigeons might conclude to
change their location.
Tossing on my bed Saturday night,
cursing my luck and rejecting on the
glorious opportunity that seemed gone for
ever, a horrible temptation entered my
soul. AT first l banished it as utterly out
of the domain of the possible, but again
the tempter whispered and finally my
better judgment and conscience succumb-
ed The EVIL one had shared me; the die
was cast-f Tom Allen would share the
risk and disgrace consequent on detection.
we would devote the Sabbath to pigeon
hunting. 1t was sull early; so / got up,
dressed myself and sought out my col
league. 1t didn't take much persuasion to
get his consent to the plan. We realized
that ignominy would be our portion If we
were discovered going a-hunting on the
Lords Day but our hearts were steeled
and we were ready TO brave paternal
nifty for just one whack at those birds.
"On our place there was an old family
horse, advanced in years and gentle as a
dog. and an old-style rOckaway and these
! resolved to press into use for that ex-
petition, taking chances that they would
not be missed during our absence. BY
the first glimmer of dawn Tom and
were hitching up Old Gray neither hav-
ing much TO say, now that the deed was
entered on, but both hamed to back out.
We clambered into the vehicle with our
implements of the hunt and enough sand
witches 10 Keep of hunger TO keep up
the piratlcal aspect Of the AFFAIR we had
also slyly acquired some half a dozen
cigars Of local manufacture. They were
called Long Mines. because Of their ex-
IRENE length and that nine were retailed
for cents. Neither OF us was used 10
smoking, being hardly in our teens, but
when boys set out to be bold buccaneers
they want TO go the whole hog
well, after driving a couple Of miles
our spirits began to rise as we began 70
think more Of the fun ahead Of US than
the possible humiliation TO come after
ward. The sun was hardly up and there
was every promise OF a beautiful day.
With our depression gene It seemed a
good time to light our cigars, and pres
entity we began putting away ! was driy-
ing and feeling cheerful, II wicked Sud
hHHi9 AbAi anu faBithg iDA more tIdu
200 yards ahead OF us, a carriage approach
ing. We knew from the looks of the rig
who is occupants were IL was Joe Hail
and his folks coming Into town. and they
came early because the children had to 10
to Sunday school. Joe Hall was a deacon
In the very same church in which my IA
Their and Toms father were elders. Our
hearts sank and we knew that exposure
was now certain. Nay, more, there were
rigid Ideas prevailing In ecclesiastical
matters In Kentucky Ia those days, par
tlcularly In Presbyterian clrcles and we
were by no means sure that Joe Han
would not assert the right TO arrest as and
carry US back to town.
80 engrossed was I by these thoughts
that It did not occur to me to remove my
cigar TN the Hail carriage was nearly
abreast OF US, and then, fearing Il would
attract attention to throw II out in the
road, / slipped IL Ia the side pocket Of my
jeans Jacket Alas had utterly forgotten
that IN that pocket lay resting the six
pounds Of gunpowder wrapped In a dou-
bic thickness Of brown paper.
What happened Ia the ensuing sixty
seconds 10 Tom Allen and myself was a
plenty. No lecture on Joe Hairs part was
forthcoming, for Il was totally unncces-
sary. When they picked me up over IN a
cornfield some twenty feet from the road
side, ! was IN a state OF nudity. Tom Allen
was near by. and he, too. was devoid OF
garments. Neither OF US for some time
knew what had happened. or the family
rockaway there weren't enough fragments
left TO make a fire. Neither Tom nor my
self went 60 school for two weeks. being
under the Doctors care for that period.
Ola Gray came out OF the wreck unscath-
ed. but he was never able after that 10
stand the sound OF a gun"
Co.,
There has been keen eompetllIon be-