The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-03-06

An 0Id-TIme Institution Tor the De-
struction OF Noxions neasts
and Birds.


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Some quaint customs are to be found
on Blandford mountain. In the fall,
and for the ensuing six months, Bland
ford is left to entertain itself. This is
a thing the progressive residents Of the
Center and Dug Hin and other popu-
lated points of the town are perfectly
capable of doing. Blandford is predis-
posed to hunting. The term squirrel
hunt" Is misnomer, inasInuch as when
Blandfordites go on squirrel hunt
they do not always hunt the graceful
and sportive gray squirrel, and see how
many Of those toothsome animals they
can bag, but they as frequently devote
their energies wholly to the extermina-
ton Of wild life, that is pest to the
agriculturist, and the hunter as well.
This years hunt, which terminated
after two weeks session, was mod
eled after this latter plan.
|, 1t is said that these squirrel hunts
are relic of bygone days among the
original colonists, when it was neces-
sary for the men to band together every
fan and DO their best to destroy all
wild animals which were inimical TO the
welfare of the community or to the
safety of its flocks and herds.
And so Blandford people understand
the requirements Of the squirrel hunt
very well, and when the war of exter-
mination was to be carried once more
into the camp Of pestiferous animal
life last September there were plenty OF
volunteers. Two forces We're chosen of
10 men each, and they were placed re-
spectively under the commands OF Capt.
Myron Dayton and Myron Ward, two
valiant huntsmen of the town. The
hunt was TO rage in all its fury icr two
weeks, and at the end of that time the
number of points scored by each side
was to be taken into, account, and the
losing side was to tender the winner a
banquet at Agricultural hall, at which,
besides the discussion of the usual
mountain-side feast, the country or
chestra was to be on hand, and the en-
suing evening given up to "fours right
and left" and ''honors ALL" with the
charming young lady element from the
coy Blandford villages.
The warfare was TO be conducted
against The following creatures, the
number Of pointsin the contest 10 be al
lowed for each one being appended
thereto:
For crows, 200 points, for bluejays,
50 points; for hen hawks, 200 points;
for owls, 200 points; for sparrow hawks,
25 points; for red squirrels, so points,
and for chipmunks, 25 points.
Soon after the designation Of Messrs.
Dayton and Ward, the adult and you'll
ful hunters allied themselves with one
or the other, old fowling pieces run
uing even as far back, it is said, as flint
locks, being secured up for the occa-
sion. The whole country was searched
for the objects of the hunt, from the
Westfeld river on the north and east,
TO Birch hill and Barnes mountain on
the south and west. Tie gunners were
out night and day, almost, and made
tutlT OAOOQl o. @CAit P~-tD 80
possible, turning in the heads of all the
prey captured, except the hawks and
owls, which were preserved for the
taxidermist. No effort was spared to
make the work of destruction along the
lines mapped out as complete as pos
sible. One party alone killed eight
hen hawks, II screech owls, and blue
jays galore.
When the final roundup was made, 1t
was ascertained that Capt. Dayton's
company were the winners, scoring Az
500 points, against the 35.2o0 points
made by Capt. Wards merry rnen-a
total Of $4,000 points altogether. And
so the Ward party became the enter
tainers ct the following feast and Ha-
ley Bros orchestra, from Chester, was
summoned. And after the banquet
was over so couples tripped the light
fantastic toe until broad daylight
Springfield (Mass.) Union