The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-02-16
COULDN'T HIT A THING.
All the snipe Seemed 90 Bear Charmed
Lives and He blamed
the Gun.

the Gun.
| Rather an amusing joke was played
on an Augusta sportsman who has
been enjoying life at wcll-known ho-
| tel near the Outlet, in Manchester. Of
late the snipe shooting on the shores
and bogs of the Cobbosseecontee,i in the
vicinity of the above-named place, has
been excellent. There was just one
drawback to the fun-it was almost i'm
possible TO get the birds after they had
been shot. The marshes were so soft
that in some places it was hardly safe
TO send dog on 10 them.
This Augusta gentleman was out os-
tensibly for the purpose Of shooting
snipe. He reported day the num-
Der he had killed (Which was always
large), but would conclude with: "But
couldn't get darned one of 'em."
Through the kindness of friend he
was informed of a Gardiner mans sue
cess on snowshoes-how easily he
walked over the bogs and filled his
hunting coat with game.
The Augusta sportsman could not
stand this. So be hired a team of one
of the neighboring farmers and started
for the city (Augusta), where he ar
rived about two hours later, took lunch
and then started out in search of
couple of boys with snowshoes to as
sist him in the task of picking up his
dead birds.
His efforts were rewarded with two
active boys, two brand-new pairs of
snowshoes, new supply of cartridges
and other necessary essentials to an
up-to-date sportsman's comfort.
He arrived at the hotel about dusk,
with his assistants equipped and ready
for duty, which would come early in
the morning. There were "others" at
the hotel that night and after our es-
teemed friend had turned in some of
The naughty boys" suggested doctor
ing" his cartridges. Without a mo-
ment's delay the plan was carried out
They found his hunting coat and car
tridges, which were all ready for use
at an early hour the following morning
The shot were carefully removed from
the cartridges and wadding put in their
place. This was no small job" said
one Of the jokers, but we were well
paid for the trouble the following
morning. Bright and early the Angus
ia gentleman took lunch and his two
boys with snowshoes and started for
the snipe ground, a half mile up the
lake. He arrived just as old Sol was
slowly climbing above the horizon and
Immediately commenced to bang away
at the birds, which swarmed on the
marshes as do mosquitoes around a
trout brook in summer.
He filled the air with wads and oaths,
but not a bird did he touch. He tried
large shot and he tried small shot, first
in one barrel, then in the other, and
finally both barrels at once, but not
feather did he start. He threatened TO
break his gun over stump, and swore
vengeance on the concern that made
the cartridges, but all to no avail
1t was about ten o'clock when about |
a dozen of his acquaintances who were |
''on to the joke appeared on the scene.
Each boy, with his snowshoes on, sat
on stump, and the proprietor
well. he was standing in the mud.
He was hailed with: How many We |
yot?" coming from about a dozen
throats. Not consarned one" was
his prompt reply.
whats the matter?" inquired a
voice.
THE ding busted gun stock is too
crooked and she shoots too close.
Tain't no use trying TO shoot snipe
with such coarse shot," replied the
lunter.
Let me try her once?" asked one of
he new arrivals. "She may hang to
suit me-"
The Augusta gentleman passed over
he gun and a handful of cartridges
which were all he had left) and said:
There, take the tarnal thing and
hrow it into the mud when you get
through with it." His friend took the
run, removed the ''doctored" cartridges
nd placed two of his own in the gun.
Shortly some snipe were started, and
S the new man brought the gun to his
boulder the Augusta man queried:
How many yer got?" Two dead snipe
marked the report of one barrel, and
wood duck which chanced to pass was
Iinged with the contents of the other
arrel.
This was too much for the victimized
portsman, and he was heard to muir