Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-10
|ACLOSECALL
BY 7. W. Blrney.
INK river is rapid stream which
nureues it's way through one OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

INK river is a rapid stream which
pursues its way through one OF
the widest regions in the state of
Kentucky. The scenery in many
parts of it's course is of the grandest
description, and numbers of tourists
annually visit the locality to contem-
plate its beauties.
Especially attractive is spot a
few miles from the town of Danville.
Here the river widens to twice its
usual breadth, and flows between
thickly wooded hills; though the cur
rent is still strong, its whole aspect
is that of a peaceful and harmless
stream.
But the apparent calmness is mo-
mentary and deceptive; 30 yards be,
low the water narrows again, and
rushes swiftly between banks which
become constantly sleeper and more
rocky, until finally it dashes over a
fall of 40 feet, frowned down upon by
precipitous cliffs which rise more
than twice that distance toward the
sky.
The quiet spot above the falls has
been a great deer crossing. Many q
noble animal has here met his death
from the hunters rife, as he shook
the water from his tanks on one side
or the other.
Sixty years ago. however, the coun
try was thinly settled, and the only
person in position to take more
than occasional advantage of the
crossing was woodsman. named Jo'
Hatton, who had cabin on the hi
above the river. and spent his life, al
was customary with men of his kind
entirely in hunting and trapping.
Hatton was a good shot, and as HI
kept. moored in the bushes on TIT
bank. a canoe, WHICH enabled him t.
pursue a deer in the water, he neye
wanted for venison.
In all his excursions, however
whether for hunting or fishing, h
ever padded down stream, KNOWN!
'ull well that if he once got between
The cliffs it would take more powe
than lay even in his strong arms t
DroDel his boat back again.
Finally he had an experience whicl
amply justified his respect for tn
rapids" as it was called.
! 1t was about ten o'clock of brigh
October day. and Hatton. having FIN
shed his "chores." was sitting at tn
base of a tree, a short distance fror
his cabin door, whiting stick wit
us hunting knife, and lazily tryin
p 10 make up his mind TO visit his traps
when he perceived a deer wa.kin
Town the gully that led to the rive
l -hore. 1t was fine buck, but wa
Violently partially disabled, for 1t
movements were-slow and painful
l The hunter sprang to his feet, an
I .hcving his knife into its sheath, hun
S led down the hill. intending to pun
= ,ue and secure the animal in the Wa
,er.
Just as the deer reached the ban
I ! II saw MIN, anu lut NlhiS' " ~
t meanor was instantaneous. With
4 bound it flung Itself into the waite
+ and struck out fer the opposite shcr
e Hatton whoorcd with delight, am
d pushing of his canoe, padded quicl
t " after. But so swiftly did the DEF
S swim that it had almost reached Il
S other bank when the boat shot b
n tween its eyes and the wished-ic
goal.
1 At that it turned and started bac
: but this time the hunter overlook
J in midstream.
Being greatly weakened by its tr
mendous efforts to escape, he was aO
e to seize it by one horn.
=. Dropping his paddle and drawn
q his knife. Joe reached over with II
right hand to make an end of h
$ quarry, maintaining firm hold wit
q his left hand upon the horn.
4 But as the steel touched his nee
= the buck made a convulsive sprir
d and flung his head desperately in II
n air. A prong of his near horn caugI
! Hatton under the arm, and the ne.
n instant the hunter was struggling
4 the river.
T. His first feeling on coming to Il
II surface was of anger, and, being pc
J. fectly at home in the water, he MAJ
IS a dash for the deer, to finish the j.
,e he had begun.
The animal at first semed not
care to avoid him, but when HAITI
seized his horn, with the intention
i putting the poor beast out of his III
S, cry, he struggled with all /
'e strength, springing from side to- sic
r. and shaking bis head in vain ettor