Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-07-14
Intoxicated Geese.

A farmer on the Fort Rice reserva'
ton, about ten miles below Bismarck
n. D., on the Missouri river, has q
liberal supply ofwild geese, both deac
and alive, as a result Of an expert
ment upon which he has been ponder
ing for some time, and which, says the
Des MONIES Leader, worked to his EN-
tire satisfaction and greatly to the
disadvantage of the geese. The sea
son for the flight of the great Canada
geese from the south to their summer
haunts in the north has begun, and
thousands of the honkers stop at dit
ferent places along the river en- route
The sand bars in the morning arr
black with the great focks Of geese
and they make short pilgrlmages from
the bars to the fields of the farmers
adjacent to the river for feed. They
remain several days in the locality
and furnish abundant amusement tol
sportsmen.
At the farm of the man in question
there is huge sand bar projecting
into the river, but so far from the
shore that no hunter can steal upon
the geese which congregate there neal
enough to get shot. Aware Of theil
immunity, large hocks Of the birds
settle there every morning and sur
themselves Tor several hours and then
migrate to the interior for food.
Having observed the movements o.
the geese for several days, the farmer
resolved to accomplish by strategy
what he could not accomplish by
stealth, and every morning before the
arrival Of the birds he distributed
about a peck Of corn about the bar
Upon the return Of the geese this would
be speedily devoured, and the process
was repeated every morning for sever
al days, greatly to the satisfaction Of
the geese.
Last Saturday night the farmer came
to the city and secured quart Of the
best alcohol, which he said would be
sufficient to saturate a peck Of corn
quite thoroughly. He placed the corn
in the alcohol over night, so that ii
was thoroughly soaked, and in the
morning at the usual time he spread
it over the bar and concealed himself
in the brush along the shore Of the
river and awaited the coming Of the
geese.
They came as usual and also as usu-
al ate up the corn. Soon after there
was great disturbance manifest
among the feathered denizens Of the
bar. The alcohol had a swift effect
and soon the bar was covered with
sprawling, waddIing maudlin geese in
all stages of intoxication. Those that
had eaten most freely of the doctored
corn were speedily affected, and in va
rious ways. Some of them were i'm
mediately overpowered and lay help
less in the sand in a drunken stupor
Others attempted to fly and were un-
able to DO so, their wings refusing to
perform their usual functions, and the
only result of their efforts being an
aimless Topping about the bar. 9th
ers staggered off like tipsy men and
finally succumbed to the influence Of
the liquor and lay down in the sun in
a drunken sleep. A few were able to
fly and scared off for a few moments,
but the alcohol was too much for them
and they were forced to circle back to
the bar and settle again on the sand.
After waiting for the liquor to have
effect the farmer emerged from his hid
ing place and approached the drunken
birds They seemed to have lost THEN
usual fear, and many of them were in
spired with a remarkable pugnacity,
flying at him and endeavoring to beat
him with their wings. 1t was laugh
able sight, and none of the geese real
lied their danger, but were inspired
with all the drunken courage Of men
in the same situation. The farmer
knocked over a number of them with
a club and captured as many as were
totally stupefed with the liquor alive
for 1erOvS