Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-14

When barns are purstins with s"'"eie g
s.Ruperunt horrea"-ful1 to the caves,
on. that is the time for the wary bass
with a silver sinner far below
Tugeing away at a silken thread,
In q cove where quiet currents now,
And purple shadows come and go,
And q bite of blue sky overhead.
Too soon the western hills grow black
with lone pines looming above theii
In siihouette-too soon alackl
Do far lights blimmer to guide us back,
For that is the time when the bass bite
oes'' M. NJ. cAss. JR.
Watkins. N. Y. September 20 1898.
Beer Driving In Former Years I'm
West virginia.
Sir:-Onc sees a great many articles
on deer hunting In its various forms.
I have noticed with some surprise that
seldom are there any articles explain
ing this particular branch OF deer-hunt-
ing. namely, deer driving" In this
State at present we have law against
it. OF course the sport differs mater
tally from stalking or still hunting,
which. either OF them, are not very ex-
consider the driving more sportsman
like. exciting and requiring more craft
and skill. I think, however and many
others share my opinion. that IL you
ever expe Fenced any deer driving. 1t
compares favorably with, and does ex-
eel eny other methods in excitement
aad pleasure For this sport one re-
>auires a pack of at least dozen
hounds, the best being the ordinary
black and red hounds you meet so
often in the mountains. or course they
are not much for looks or for blood;
but for the rough ground they have to
traverse and for endurance they are
Ear better than any other breed used
for the purpose. A<few years ago, at
Moorafield, West Virginia, there were
two separate Clubs; their deer hounds
were the imported stag hounds from
England. They were very large, paw
erful and strong; they could handle
deer With ease. Big Ike and Jonn 1.
Mia was at the head of one of these
nizations and Will Welton Har-
at the other. | have attended
ir chases on several occasions and
say that | never had more excit-
time than at one of these chases.
ey had an understanding that which
|er club lost had to set up the sup
br to the members and visitors. Also
Ave had many a pleasant chase with
hy old friend Ike Parsons, who will be
remembered by all the anglers and
hunters who have ever visited the
South a1lch Valley. lie was one OF
nhaan ant and c6ngenial gentle
ready 10 go with you,
or hunting. He was pro-
both of these arts. He has
e river and is on the other
whence no traveller returns.
Ike this sport success 1t re-
IN or twelve men, more If pos
III lin fact the more men the more
chances there are OF bagging the game.
Two OF these are chosen for the "driy-
ers," those having the best known
knowledge of the country and the re-
mainder are the standards. The
standards are then placed on their
Stands" by the drivers, the best
ground being along the bank of the
river, or the ridge of mountain; or
\ any other convenient locality, the
stands being certain crossings or fords.
I remember a stand which was located
at the head OF the trough known as
the Sycamore Cropping, South Branch,
within a few miles of Mooreaeld; this
was one of the best stands in the South
Branch Valley, when the deer was
chased by the hounds along the side of
the mountain to the place mentioned.
Here the mountain comes almost per-
pendicular to the waters edge, and
there was no escape for the deer but
to cross the river at this point. which
gave the hunter on this stand a good
oh n
always tossed for the stand. The
stands. should be located about two
hundred yards apart, and are gener-
ally in a straight line or a semi-circle,
rs the case may be. The drivers place
the standards on their stands, having
given them Instructions not to shoot
at anything but a deer or turkey, pro-
vided that the turkey is in easy range
of the standard. The drivers takes all
the hounds with them, having coupled
them together to prevent them striking
the track OF some deer or other animal
Should they leave the driver and fol-
low 1t upon their own hook. The driy-
ers go by a roundabout way TO some
point directly opposite the line along
which they have placed the standards.
The drivers walk Tor ride, which they
mostly do), towards them. letting the
hounds loose two at time, as they
come across the fresh tracks or sign of
deer going In the direction OF the
ISLANDERS The woods now begin 10
ring with the melodious voice of the
hounds and the stander distinctly
hears the voices of hounds coming in
his direction. Efe is now on ncttles,
! and nearer and nearer the voices of
the hounds approach; his nerves are
now up to the highest pitch with ex-
| citement. de holds his gun ready to
IRE at an instant and on they come.
The deer is now in full view. Crack
goes the Winchester and he is wounded
and runs fully two hundred yards bex
lore he drops dead. The drivers" ap-'
n1nthe horn is sounded meaning
"A perhaps