The sun., 1900-03-10
SLAUGHTEROF IHE INNOCENIS
Runners in Kent and Sussex
\ Begin Work to Please Cruel
Dame Fashion. 'a7t
sgTWENTV THOJTSAND BIRDS
TWENTY THOUSAND BIRDS
The Chief Of Police and Barber Of
Milford Begin Fulfilling the
Big Contract by Getting
w 400 Birds From One
)N Farmer.


HUI Dame Fashion a sickening slaughter
has begun here and the butchery will
continue for two months. Twenty thou
4 sand birds must die within that time N
order that an amazing contract be ful-
alled and that the women OF Philadel-
sphia and New York may have stylish
\ HATS this spring
Throughout the counties of Kent and
E. Sussex has gone the word to kill and
Spare not. Eight cents for the body OF
& each bird is the inducement which is
milling the woods and fields with gun
ners aud the favorite haunts OF the BIRDS
nets and snares Of all kinds.
&Sf 1t is fine weather for shooting, and to
a strip the surrounding country OF birds is
8a. novel task Sharing birds is also
pleasant work. Tine feathered victims
. are not shot down in cold blood, but
their captor joyously twirls the bird
about by the neck until life is extinct.
And ALWAYS before the hunter or
snarer is tie creditable object OF the
slaughter; twenty thousand hats are cry
ing for tlimminge; twenty thousand
maldens are anXiously awaiting these
hats in order thas the songs of rejoicing
ON Easter morn may be mingled with no
sense of shame. The slayers OF the birds
feel they are upon an errand OF charity.
OF course, there is stringent law
against the shooting of game birds in
this State. The contract referred to is
supposed to be strictly within the law. II
calls for owls, blackbirds, seagulls red
winged blackbirds and crows. Upon Its
face it is irreproachable. But somehow,
strange to say, the tip has gone out that
while eight cents piecel Is PAID Tor THESE
birds, higher prices will be in store foi
the bodies of other birds which may be
3 found hidden in the hunters ganie
string.
No such wholesale slaughter has eve
b for. been planned. 1t was only two
Gays ago that Il reI sentative Of A
Richardson q Co., cummssian mer
a, chants of New York, arrived in tha
rltowp. He began asking about the bes
y ki<nown sportsnen and was final.
Nirected to John Ward. Mr.. Ward i
lnt present chief of police here, but HI
ferm expires this week. He was 10
lfnaily years patroiman in Philadelphia
etut left the force there during Mayo
lrtokley's term
tI Ward vas asked about the possibilit
sm securing &c, 0Oo birds from TINS sectio
1eitnin sixty DAYS. He believed the Pre-
tsct too large to be undertaken singl
! &and called j. w. Bennett into consultf
tion. Bennett is a proprietor Of a barbe
shop on Walnut street, and is an indt
Nfatigable sportsman After talking wit
Ievs raj other good shois in town, War
Ind Bennett believed the slaughter coul
se accomplished, and the contract WI
(gaed.
WORD was sent broadcast throrghol
le country hereabouts and yesterda
\ le first fruits appeared in the shape
bout 400 birds. They We're brought
,y farmer named Mildred. The birt
ere strung upon II long pole, and at
F7asual glance the string might have bee
psnpoosed SO be made up of crows, blat
l5irds and gulls, but close to the po
N rsGere what appeared to be large nur
n.Foer of little birds. They were near
hidden from view by the larger birds {
Athe outside, but the entire string W
hurried through the streets and quick
~ boxed and shipped.
ts The would-be hunters are oyerwhelr
- Z ing Ward and Bennett with inquiries l
~ garding ways and means of siaughts
! : They wish to know il birds are accepts
= that have been badly nangled by she
3,aA if there is any preference to be given
10y any class of birds, ii the shooting can
: ~ done every where, where traps aud bi
lime can be procured aud hundred a.
aas one questions which can be imagined.
=. Every one is discussing tue BIeat vi
~ contract. Farmers are coming into toy
with stories of the great number OF bir
upon their property and trying to indu
n sportsmen 10 give them a percenta
II upon the birds shot upon their farm
x Walter E, Roach, u Young farmer,
iii4 credited with the biggest story to da
tH He saidlast night that there We're 500
1nh "a crows ifpon his acres, and golden harv
!" was in store for gunners. Mr.. Roach
y been married only tour days and that
; ! supposed to account ior his rosy view
~ the prospect.
law Few donnt that the slaughter can
coln comp eted as planned, but already TIL
ID BY Wisasrr.s ,oiut ont that the removal
iu n% 90 eco uirds from a comparatively snl
us d 81 .ct viii ieavt crops OF all kinds
peen thu lAelcy Of in ,ec,s, pngs and worl