The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-18
A BLIND Fox HUNTER.

1 Near this place, among the cliffs OF
| Jessamine county, is the modest nome
| of tom" Johnson. Since early youth
johnson has been blind, but nothWith-
standing this fact he is one OF the
most enthusiastic fox hunters in the
state. Often he follows his hounds
alone among the Kentucky river cliffs,
going at gallop that one with keen
vision would not dare initiate, and al
though he has been doing this for
many years he never met with acct
dent, He knows every nook and
crook in the cliffs, and when he comes
to a very dangerous point he dis
mounts. takes hold of his horses tail,
and the animal guides him to safety.
A short time ago party of hunt
ers from Madison and Garrard coun-
ties came here, and with the local
hunters spent several nights chasing
the fox. Johnson was with them, and
on the second night they lost their
bearings, became separated, and none
of them, except johnson, was able to
make his way out of the cliffs that
night The following day three of the
hunters came together at VOLTS Point.
Much apprehension was felt for the
safety of the blind man, and they de-
cided to go to his home, several miles
away to learn of him. They did so
and found him seated on the veranda
playing the violin.
johnson owns several fine hounds,
and frequently trades dogs, and gets
the best of 1t about as often as he is
worsted, he possessing the wonderful
ability OF telling by touch the animals
good qualities, the color of the coat
and the number Of spots on the body,
and he can always tell his dogs from
the others by feeling them. Years ago
Philip Harrison, an old hunter, died in
this county, and in his will he be-
queathed his fox horn to Col. Jack
Chinn OF Harrodsburg. A few weeks
ago johnson rode over to Col. Chinn's
and the horn was shown to him. He
had hardly taken it in his hands when
he exclaimed why, this is Phil Har-
rison's old horn, and I haven't seen it
before in twenty five years.
1T was Johnson who solved the
phantom fox" mystery that for many
months puzzled the hunters Of this
and other counties. Week In and week |
out this fox led the dogs merry dance |
but each night, after running the dogs
nearly to death, its trail would be lost |
In the blue grass pasture In the Poor |
Nick neighborhood. Johnson heard of !
his and sent word that he wanted to |
hunt the phantom, so a hunt was ar |
'anged. On the appointed day hunt |
srs from Garrard, Boyle, Lincoln, Mad |
son, Washington, and Anderson coun-
les congregated near Ebenezer church
With the pick Of their packs, determin-
I'd to give the phantom the run of his
ife.
Reynard was jumped at o'clock at
light, and after traversing many miles
# country, with the dogs in hot pur-
uit, he reached the pasture at u
'clock, and there, as before, his trail
Johnson, mounted on a fine
addle horse, led the chase, and reach
ng the pasture he heard the tinkling
t several bells, and was told that q
lock of fifty belels We're grazing in the
anne pasture. THAT explains it," ex-
laimed the sightless johnson; "voil
will find Mr. Fox upon the back of one
f those sheep" And such proved to
G the case Upon becoming tired the
~ animal would strike for the pas
ure, mount the back of one of the
otswolds, and take a ride, thus baf-
ing the unters.-Kentucky Core !
pondence Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle,