The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
MIR. GERAaHTY,S GENIUS.
II Makes Him . Great Squirrel Gatherer. 20
~Yardmnater Hayes Declares.

Yardmnater Hayes Declares.
CHESTER, N. Y, Nov. 2O.-"It's too bad you
couldn't have happened along here yesterday
said Roger Hayes of Greycourt
Frank unpluRged one of his squirrel trees. But
mayoe you never heard about Frank and his
squirrel trees. Frank Geraghty, l mean, who
runs the Newburg and Greycourt express on tho
Newburg branch of the Erie. The Erie time
tables are arranged on purpose 30 that Franks
train can lie an hour up yondcr on the Y. This il
to give him time to recuperate after his whirlwind
run from Newburg. At this season Frank once
or twice a week puts in some of that hour gath
ering squirrels. There are plenty of squirrel
woods all around here. Besides running the
Newburg branch. Frank Geraghty runs Dig dog
kennels at Nowburg, and makes n specially of
fox terriers. His dogs take prizes at all the dog
shows, county fairs, and other doings all over
the country. But his lox terriers are the won
ders of his kennels. He trains 'em TO do all sorts
brought up to squirrel gathering are a little
ahead Of all the rest.
II there is any one who goes into the woods with
a gun after squirrels who ever thought OF going
after en- just, the way ! do. 1 like to see 'em
! put up a squirrel ] boiler at it to make it run
faster and, faster. When the squirrel has got
far enough away quit hollerfng. Then the
squirrel runs up a tree clear TO the top. When
1t has got there open up and holler again, just
S fsnn: 6 Tha to gives = the squirrel such a scare that il
and while the squirrel is in the air l send
q bullet after it. am always careful to shoot
waste none of the meat and not to tear the
game. hate to see a squirrel all unused up by
a hunter. Out OF seven dozen squirrels / baRged
last week six dozen and eleven of them had tho
bullet hole right through their, foreheads. The
remaining squirrel was scalped Just above his
misshot is that the squirrel must have hoard
the bullet whizzing and scrooched a little.
But Frank Geraghty hasn't time to gather
squirrels in that way, and II he ha &, of course it
would be OF no service 10 his trained fox ter.
Whole lot at a time. On HI, squirrel gathering
days. as soon as he bitches his train on the Y SO
IL ss the T Woo sSa He III in enk q Si s so az : a arse F fSss Sas
aknot hole In the trunk not far from the ground.
He seems to know right where to find these trees.
his dogs. They know their business. and soon
post themselves on all sides. half a mile or
al the squirrels hiding in that space are started.
The fox terriers push them so close and fast that
IL the t Squirrels G;ls,S keep 81 6 6ohg ,n They icy ANT an, break S out
know they are corralled; The circle of dogs mar
rows on them rapidly. BY and by the squirrels
grown 30 narrow. They are crowded closer and
closer to that big, hollow reel the centre, and
they begin to scamper as fast as they can crowd.
BY tho time all this has been done and the last
hour is pretty near reaPp up. Ho p plugs Sns up the Knot,
hole. goes back and gets his train. and thunders
Next day he fctches along a w -bushel bag
sometimes a couple. II no has had a good
70 safe with his train on the y again
he takes his dogs and the bag and goes
the trained dogs group themselves about
the tree and await with yolps OF Joyous eX.
pectaney the rest Of the programme, Frank
hungry squirrels. begin to tumble out, of
that, knothole in n stream. But they
don't get far. Tho fox terriers snap their
heads off so fast that the air is kept full
OF decapitetcd squirrels as t ey are tossed
aside by the dogs until to last squirrel has
come out and been gathered. Frank stuffs tho
squirrels in the bag, throws 1t on his back, Tugs
bors between Greycourt and Newburg have
squirrel stew. and squirrel pie. and squirrel
dumplings for a week or more.
Its too bad you couldn't have happened
along this way yesterday. Frank unplugged
the best tree he had this season. Its too bad
because the season Is over now, and he won't
gather any NOR squirrels until next year"