The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-07

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Susquehanna, Jan. Bill Wheeler
and Sam Wescott are the most expert
coon hunters in all this section. For
years this pair have travelled over the
hills and mountains hereabouts. They
are always trying a new method to cap
ture the coon. Their very latest
scheme was to use Roman candles.
The other night they started out. the
dogs soon raised a coon, chasing II
through a rough and deep ravine ana
up a rocky spur On the north side OF
the town. Bill and Sam had a tiresome
walk before they came up to the dogs,
which We're barking under large
tree. A torch was lighted and Wes-
colt fired at what he supposed was
q coon, but nothing came down. l'hen
Bill tried his new plan. Wescott had
no faith in the idea and as he was
ridiCuling his companion great bail
of fire from a Roman candle illumln-
ated space. Ball after ball was shot
up a tree The animals fur caught
fire and the coon fell down through
the branches of the tree. A second
later the flames were smothered as
the coon was killed by the dogs. Dur
ing the fire of the candle Whaien
caught sight of another coon ana put
a bullet through his head and the ami
NAL fell dead at his feet. Another
candle was lighted and the third coon
was sighted. Whalen had by this time
become quite an expert, and with a
steady aim he hit the limb to when
the animal clung. 1t lost it's hold and
fell among the waiting dogs, by which
1t was quickly killed. The same night
1T. 1hDp p
same method
TOWN TOPICS.
Mrs. Sexton, one of our oldest resi-
dents, died on Sunday evening, aged
SO years. The funeral will occur to-
day.
Mr.. Charles T. Bartram, sr., is criti-
cally i'll with pneumonia, at his home
on East Church street.
Mrs. Johanna Mcknight died on Sat
urday morning of paralysis, aged "A
years. The funeral occurred and was
largely attended on Monday morning
from st. Johns Catholic church.
Friendly Hand lodge of odd Eel
lows, of Great Bend. will pay Starruc-
ca lodge, No. 423, of this place, a
fraternal visitation on Wednesday
evening.
In q newspaper card, e. R.W. Searles,
esq, denies that he is a candidate for
burgess or for any borough office.
AN OPHIDIAN MYTH.
A correspondent of the New York
World gives a luminous account of the
pranks of a hoop snake, which is said
to have taken its tail in its mouth
and rolled instead of crawled over
several acres of land. The story was
good one, but as a faithful friend OF
facts, | am compelled to state that
there is nothing in the reptile species
approaching q hooD-Snake. The story
about a snake putting its tail in its
mouth and rolling around the country
like barrel hoop was originally start
ed by Eli Perkins, the great-great-
granduncle of Tom Ochiltrce, of Texas
RAILROAD FLOTSAM.
The various railroads WILL during
the present year, extend the half-fare
rate to Clergymen.
The Erie is preparing to rebuild forty
of its locomotives. A large amount
of the work will be done in Susquehan-
ma.
There are rumors of impending
changes in the Delaware and Hudson
OllclaTy
The shops at the different points of
the Erie are in operation seven hours
per day.
The Erie will, during the coming
season, raise its tracks in the Jersey
City yards at Il cost of $1,000, 000
Hallstead has one of the prettiesi
little stations on the line of the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western sys.
tenn
The Erie freight traffic is at present
very large.
IN THE COUNTY.
The Halstead Herald will hereafter
be published twice a week.
A "Peck's Bad Boy" company ap.
peared before a SIG house in Grea
Bend.
The new county officers We're in
Quoted into office on Monday. Chas
Boyden, of this place, became county
treasurer.
The next Young Peoples Society o.
Christian Endeavor convention of Sus