Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-04
A STORY OF THE
 MODERN COON HUNT.

city and spread the news, had it's origin in what is known as 'sThe Coon Hunt," a club which has lived and fourished in the city for several months furnishing considerable merriment to those who like that kind of sport. It was an anna teur game that gave the secret away, and will doubtless put a stop to the sport. "That the officers run up on the coon hunters remarked a charter member to State Herald reporter the other day, ''it was this way: It was our regular meeting night, and we had gone out Co catch the coon. We did not know the boys were having a little of the same kind of sport, and you can imagine our surprise and would have enjoyed our race to get away from the officers when we discovered the trap in which we had been caught"
 ",Tell me something about these coon hunts" put in the reporter.
 Well you will have to promise me you will never divulge the name or the party who tells you. You see, this IS secret, and furnishes more fun than whole regiment of monkeys; baseball nor football in fact, no sport known to the athletic world equals it. When fellow attends one of them you always sflnd him ready and eager for the next hunt. While similar to snip5 hunting, this little game is tame to a real coon hunt. And while it would seem that material would give out, there is nothing too old but that it is new to some people.
 q know of no better way to illustrate. coon hunt than to give you in detail the history of our last hunt. We secured the confidence of a colored preacher, who we will call Sam though that is nothing like his name. We said to Sam that we could not take him into our confidence without his first taking a serious obli- gation, but thatwe had up good scheme to make some money and make 1t honora- bly, and would take him in if he would swear to keep the secret"
 Boss" said Sam, you can pend on me fur I'se belong to number of Sities, an am de big Ike in de Daughters of St. Luke sides dat, Ise preacher an my congregation links Tse sanctified. Oh yes, boss, you ken 'ly on me, I'll netbar say muffin bout it."
 An oath as long as the declaration of independence was then administered. Sam repeating in clear voice. At the close of the obligation Sam remarked, Boss swears to it all, an Tse gwine wd yer"
 Now Samson we will call you Samson since you are obligated (and the negro strengthened himself up in his chair with as much importance depicted on his coun- tenance as if he were vice-pr sdent of the cub) You see, Samson. we have an in- quiry from a man in New York, where they never do anything but train anl- mals of all kinds. especially bulls and bears, saying h. wants two Alabama coons. and they must be of the very best specimens. Now we know where ws can get them. They have their den in a large oak tree but a short distance from the electric car line This trze Is owned by man who has his land posted, and he re- fuses to sell the tree. want you to go with us tomorrow night and cut this tree down"
 Stop dar, boss; how far am dat tree frum dat house?"
 "Oh quite distance, besides we don' anticipate any danger"
 Boss, how much is yer gwine ter giv I iness, yer knows"
 Samson, to be plain with you, we will pay you we'll Will give you ten dollars to fell the tree and i've dollars extra if we secure the 'coons."
 Boss, yuse sartinly is a wite gemm an, an I'm gwine ter stay by you. shore. Lord, chile, an womb dis nigger shine up Sunday, wid his tan shoss an standin collar? I'll make dem nigge1s look side ways, boss, when dey see me comin', I'm gwine ter walk by 'sm dis way. boss, Quitting on his most artistic eake-walk step, and thumbs in the arm holes of his vesD.
 Now, Samson, Ca negro likes to have his name called often as possible) to tell you about the man shat owns the land: He is a very dangerous man and has five sons who are worse than he is. B Bsides he is awfully mean; he will not even allow chips picked up off of his ground, and only three weeks ago he had three poor women sent to Coalbure
 
 premises. (Th- negro's eyes opened wider and wider, until the whites looked like bolls of cotton) But, Sampson, that makes no difference to us, as it will be n.gh,, and our chances will be as good as his Besides, you are a brave man Sam straightens himself up squares his shoul- ders and expands his chest with a degree Of comfort to indicate his bravery), and we will not leave unless it gets too hot"
 Me lsave? No, sur boss; not dis nig- ger; 1 ain't like mos niggers; rse been raised wid de whi,e folks, is''
 Sambow, 1 want you to get a good ax few sacks and lantern and meet me at my office tomorrow night at S:30 o'clock sharp"
 q shore will boss I can borry dar ax from Brudder Stardback and I'll hab it so sharp 1t will shave any of dem slow niggers.''
 The n gro walked off with a step and an air that would have done justice to Chesterfield singing his favorite song, There is a new coon in town"
 In the meantime the st of the club is notified of the proceedings and prepare accordingly.
 The negro returns promptly at the ap- pointed hour with his doubl=-edge ax six large sacks and miners lamp. He steps around the building cautiously that he may not create any suspicion by his movements, which no one could initiate but southern negro.
 Boss, IS- here jest lack I sed I Wliz Ise truthful man, is''
 Did any one see you come up the stairs?''
 ''No. indeed, I'm too slick fur any ting lack dat. [ SC bsen here too long.-ap' dis ain't de fust time Isa been mixed up in ticlSlish business. Say, boss (grows con- fidentlaD, you member bout year back when all dat stealing wuz gwine on an how dsy katched old Hicks an had him in de big rock joil fur de longest, an attar awhile he kum klair an ebbery ting wuz squashed? Fore God, old Hicks had no more ter do wid dat stealing dan you, boss. Boss, nebber breave dis, Tse de pusson wat dun all dat stealing Yer see, boss it wuz lack dis:
 "Ma and Sam Jansin wuz pardners Sams a good feller, but his wife is a shore huff nigger. Sam's wife, of course, node me an Sam bin stealing. We gin it ter her ter put wid her tings, an ebbery time doy hab. a fuss she froes dot steal