The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-11-08


w. s. Soule of this town has been visit
ing II. R. Howard of Appleton City, Mo-,
and the following from The Journal of that
city will be Interesting to many of the
readers of The Press
A few evenings ago party of friends
consisting OF w. s. Soule, of Stafford,
FL. r. Howard, Andy Naylor and repre-
sentative of The Journal were discussing
the many and varied advantages possess
Missouri over other sections, when the
gentleman from the nutmeg state asked ::
"Have you any game
"Lots of 1t. The finest fat 'possums
you ever saw and oh ! my, but they are
simply delicious, Mr.. Soule," replied Nay
lor.
81 have been In Missouri long enough
that must be Shown" said Mr.. Soule.
1t was then and there solemnly agreed
by the party that he should be ''shown"
Missouri possum. The services of that
distinguished colored gentleman, familiar
ly known as "Col. Bussel, >" and his famous
coon and possum exterminator, Bruno, }"
were secured, and, as the shades Of night
began to gather, the hunters hied them
selves away to the wilds of Panther creek.
1t was densely dark when the party reach
ed Its destination, and even the name of
the creek made the cold chills play hide
and-seek up and down Howard's spinal
column. It was soon discovered that
'tBruno" was not in a hunting mood on
that particular occasion, and, notwith-
standing the fact that Bussell tried to as
sist him with lantern to see and smell
the tracks, "Bruno" seemed to insist that
Ind }rvhf %
solved to give up the chase for that night
and try 1t over later.
Before returning home we fell In with
j. II. Rich, an experienced and jolly
hunter of Hudson township, who invited
us to spend an evening with him, with the
assurance that we would get game. The
invitation was accepted on Saturday even
ing, and the occasion will long be remem-
| bered for the many pleasant incidents
connected with 1t. Mr.. Rich, sure enough
treated us to genuine old-time hunters
experience, furnished the excitement of
the chase and then got lost with us In the
jungle, while we could almost cut the
darkness with a knife, and q thunder storm
| was approaching. According to Mr..
Soule, we circled cornfield Of about eight
acres seven times before Mr.. Rich caught
his bearings and led US out ''of the wilder
ness"
Mr.. Rich has good dogs, and they did
| their part to entertain us charmingly.
Two 'possums were bagged, and the other
"varmints" chased to the tune Of delight
full music.
1t was exciting times when the 'possums
were ''treed," and on one occasion, in the
heat of the skirmish between dogs,
'possum and men, Mr.. Soule's head sud-
denly passed out from under his hat, and
for time 1t looked as though he would
have to return home uncovered" but
nevertheless he entered into the spirit of
the fun with the zeal of a veteran, and
freely admitted that he had been Shown
q real live 'possum In its native haunts.
Howard also enjoyed 1t fine, but would
have rested more comfortably had 1t not
been for the thought uppermost In his
mind that there must surely be panthers
on panther" creek.
| The hunt eliminated Monday evening
In ''possum supper" at The Journal
home, at which time the gentlemen ac-
companied by their better halves, came In
with we'll filled baskets to assist In the
work OF "dissecting'' Mr.. O'possum and
spend the evening In a social way.