Smyrna times., 1902-08-27
YE OLD STORY OF A COON HUNT.
Mr.. Nicholas Watkins of Washington, D. c.,
Formerly of Smyrna, Tells Of Famous
Coon Hunt that Took Place Long ago.

In the last issue of the Smyrna
TIMES I saw that Mr.. John G. Biz M
zard, Mr.. Horace Mustard, and other
gentlemen, with several ladies, and
pack of hounds, lately formed coon c
hunting party and succeeded in catch
ing two coons in Blair's Woods, near
Blackiston's Cross Roads, and am
thus prompted to write note that
may for the time at least be entertain
tanning, if not somewhat instructive.
In Mr.. Bewley's store, at Raymond's
corner, one cold winter night, in the
early SOS of the last century, there sat
around hot stove sever al of the good
townspeople of Smyrna, among them
| Mr.. CHI St-n, who resided in the
direction of Irishtown. Mr.. S. was
an interesting talker and had peculiar
notions, bordering on the supernatural.
On this occasion he related the ex-
perience of his grand father while
coon-hunting in the "Neck in the 18th |
century. The old man, with few OF
his neighbors, being supplied with
sack, dogs and gun, went to the woods
! to catch few coons and possums. 1t
was not pleasure hunt, it was bus
ness, the coons were needed for caps
and the possums for dinner. On en-
tering the woods, the dogs were shy,
sheepish and dull, indisposed to move
. except at the heels of their master,
= they seemed to be afraid of the dense
. darkness that prevailed; but, finally,
= being encouraged by little cOaxing
y and big hickory switch, such as was
% used in those days by the school
= master, they learned a lesson, Chris
4 tied up" started out and soon caught
n a trail, taking the huntsmen round
- and round, through underbrush, over
"a hills, down dales, through swamps and
~ briers, for hours, till at length a
~ coon was treed, which was known by
the peculiar bark of the "leader. y
d. ADusky Coon Was Surely freed.
n On reaching the dogs, they were
lie found guarding huge gum tree, thicl
nd with limbs and leaves. The men cOulC
sr, see nothing in the way of game, but, hav
sis ing faith in the dogs, made fire will
rt. the aid of flint and steel and tinder
Dr.. with which they were provided, and
by the light afforded, beheld a COO
nv perched high on one of the branches
BILE The tree being quite large it was de
IDS termined not to fell it in order to hav
no a coon fight, and the alternative wa
hat to shoot the coon. So one of tn
50 men loaded his musket and was abOu
BILE to fire it when from the top of the tire
,at- an unearthly scream was heard some
rbe thing like this: ''Massa-massi
ted Don't pull that trigger, else you'll ki
use nigger-Dis coon am coming dow
nav and down came the coon with a thu
rhe jumping up, no longer a coon but
zed dusky maiden, recognized as a su
mn pected genie living in that sparse
and settled country, a veritable witch
tion as the old gentleman said. The do
,ltb. were greatly frightened and so we
rom the men, all had the ''trembles,
nom that they were neither willing or al
to hunt longer-and, as there W
heard from a distant clearing"
-, lowing of a COW, an omen of bad lu
iO"' tc coon hunters, they turned tn
- toes homeward and wended their "
minus a prize, except the ''witcl
who meekly accompanied them W
ding nei no"' - VIZ
alton What Should be Done With the Witch;
alb Returning in the ''thickets,
,lied. question arose what should be d'
back with the captive. 1t was sugges
n S. that it would be we'll to tie her to
o at apple tree in the corner of We
/. E. fence and whale her, but this
J. IL. negatived-they we're afraid the
urch. might be hurt; and so, after V
alton serious deliberation, another cor
CITY. was pursued: the old woman
es on immersed in the nearest creek, due
reath, three times, and in this way effect
II be lv cured. The news of this hunt
lnday spread throughout the Province,
been the name of "Duck Creek was
t Mt. given to respectable section of D
Gap ware. while a large number of
Long fellow-citizens throughout the coul
rdesty were dubbed with the appellatloi
o has 'coon." This story winch also
ore of rise to the uncouth expression
next your head" is rehearsed for
amusement of the aged and the
lightment of the young which
nm, NAV long treasure as hidden trut
'N'' n. WATKl
Awful swvDN. .vs1Tp DIRRoNHpS" ARE AC