The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-04
Is Captured in
a Grafton.
KE TCH EN- CLUB
Have a Royal Time While
in Merriam District.

Grafton, Nov. 3.-The ''Ketch En-
Coon Club of Worcester had one of
its most successful hunts thus far this
season in the Merriam district last
night. The party of hunters came down
on the 645 train and consisted of sew
en- members from Worcester and two
hunters from Gardner, accompanied by
Rover" a promising and powerful
young dog, belonging to Tracy of the
latter place. At the depot they were
Joined by Charles f. Rice, the Grafton
member, and w. E. Donovan and i'm
mediately conveyed to the neighborhood
to be hunted in one of Harrington
Brothers barges, which was in wait
ing for the party when it arrived.
The hunters were\in the woods be-
lore O'Clock, and at S.45 Rover had a
25-pound coon freed in a small swamp
maple. The animal gave the hunters
no chase whateverl and must have been
in the tree or near it when first scent
ed by the dog. A few revolver shots
brought the animal out of the tree,
which stood in bog hole, much soften
ed by the recent rains, and in a second
there was a. flying of mud amid the
"ur-r-ow' of Rover and the yell of the
cat The hunters were closely circled
about the fighting animals, and David
M. Earle, chief hunter, watching his
opportunity, caught the coon by the
rear legs and sent his head solidly
against the trunk of the tree. This
took place with the hunters up to their
Knees in the mire, and as the coon was
whirled at arms length against the
tree, Julius c. zaeder, who was ex-
ceedingly near the animals claws, gave
a cry Of dismay, and in his hurry to
get out of the way he swallowed a
large amount of chewing gum, narrow
ly averting a fatal catastrophe on the
spot. The dog made q fine showing in
his work, and was more highly priced
by the hunters after the battlA than
any one expected. The place of cap
ture was a short distance from the ST.
las p. Stowe place.
The party then searched the woods
until midnight, when oil but three
members met at the barge and were
ready to depart for home, but Just at
this moment yelp from Rover caused
them to hurriedly climb a hillside, and
two hours of searching followed, with
out another prize being started. At 9
o'clock all were in the barge, and start
ed, as they supposed, for home, when
it was discovered that Mr.. Zaeder, who
W a. Oii Liz SScll Will Tic uilNGIs udQ
them travelling in the direction Of the
Lyman school in Westboro. This mis-
take rectifed, much to Mr. Zaeder's
expense and the delight of the COM
pany, the Hassanimisco Club rooms.
were soon the scene Of festivities,
where, despite the short chase given
by the handsome and much priced RAJ
coon, all declared it the most enjoyable
hunt of the season.
Mrs. B. S. Morse read a paper on
Voices From Near and Far at the
missionary conference in Worcester to-
day. A large delegation of Grafton
people also attended.
DR.. Robert A. Pierce has recently
presented two valuable battle scene
pictures to the high school.
Misses Ethel Nye Gibbs and Mildred
S. Elliott will become members of the
Congregational church next Sunday.
Much interest is manifested in the
checker tournament to be held between
the Y. NJ G. A. and the Grafton Check
er Club, November -, and large num-
Der of Graftonites will witness the
games.
w. r. Gentry of Philadelphia is Wis
iting relatives in town.