The Ely miner., 1900-02-02
A NEW ENGLAND HUNT.
An oid-Time Institution for the De-
struction of Noxt6us Beasts !,
and Birds.

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
q thing the progressive residents of the
Center and Dug Hill and other popu-
lated points of the town are perfectly
capable of doing. Blandford is predis-
posed to hunting. The term squirrel
hunt" is misnomeT, inasmuch as when
Blandfordites go on squirrel hunt
they do not always hunt the graceful
and sportiye gray squirrel, and see how
many of those toothsome animals they
can bag, but they as frequently devote
their energies wholly to the extermina-
tion of wild life, that is pest to the
agriculturist, and the hunter as we'll.
This years hunt, which terminated
after two weeks session, was mod
eled after this latter plan.
It is said that these squirrel hunts
are a relic of bygone days among the
original colonists, when itwas neces-
sary for the men to band together every
fall and do their best to destroy all
wild animals which were inimical to the
welfare of the community. or to the
safety of its focks 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 were chosen of
70 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 for 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
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
cozy BIandford villages.
The warfare was to be conducted
against the following creatures, the
number of points in the contest to be al
lowed for each one being appended
thereto:
For crows, 200 points; for bluejays,
so points; for hen hawks, 200 points;
for owls, 900 points; for sparrow hawks;
IS points; for red squirrels, so points,
and for chipmunks, 25 points. -.
Soon afterthe designation of Messrs.
Dayton and Ward, the adult and youth
full hunters allied themselves withso one
or the other, old fowling pieces run
ming 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. The gunners were
out night and day, almost, and made
their bloody harvest as complete as
possible, turning in the heads Of all the
prey captured, except the hawks and
owls, which were preserved fore the
taxidermist. No effort was spared to
make the work of destruction along the
lines mapped out as complete az pos
sible. One party alone killed eight
hen hawks, II screech owls, and blue
jays galore.
When the final roundup was made, it
was ascertained that Capt. Dayton's
com na uv were tine winners scoring a.
500 points, against the $4,000 points
made by Capt. Wards merry men-a
total of $4,000 points altogether. And
so the Ward party became the enter
tainers al 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
Spring gfel6 (Mass.) Union.