Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-01-24
A HUNTING TOUR.

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Old Virginia Hospitality, as
Experienced by John ID. Bates
and DIR. Allen.
From Pleasantvi1le, N. j., Press)
On the bright beautiful morning
of November Ord we left Absecon,
our home town, bound for Wheaton,
Lancaster county, Va. We were met
at the landing by friends of our boy
hood days, Messrs. Blackman and
Hammell, formerly of this place, and
were soon joined by Mr.. Mullen
their neighbor.
In order that the good work might
begin at once our friends brought
their guns and trained dogs with
them. We Of course carried our own
"shooting-irons" aud abundance of
ammunition, so we all started out for
the hunt. There was plenty of game,
and nothing but pleasure filled the
day. The night was spent at the
hospitable home of Mr.. Enoch B.
Blackman, of the Wheaton Packing
Company. Wheaton, Va.
After good nights rest our host
next morning placed his naphtha
launch at our disposal and we went
across to Morratico Point-the home
of Mr.. A. b. Hammell. Here we
had our first rabbit hunt. Our party
this day was augmented by the Hale
Brothers, also of Morratico Point,
who joined with us heartily in the
sport. After about four hours
pleasure we repaired to the home of
Mr.. Hale where we were most hospi-
tably entertained during the next
four days.
Wednesday the dogs were in fine
trim and game was plentiful. The
gunners' spirits were also good. We
started out early, and had fine days
sport, bagging about 36 birds.
Returning towards sundown with
keen appetites which were abundant
ly satisfied by the elegant repast pre-
pared by our good hostess; the even
ing hours passed only too quickly in
the musical treat furnished by The
Doctor, Mr.. and Mrs. Hammell and
Mr.. Mullen.
Thursday we had rather novel
rabbit-hunt, Mr.. Hale furnishing a
team to take us from place to place
where the cotton-tails were to be
found the thickest. We bagged
thirteen rabbits by 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. We then turned our at
tention to quail shooting and sue
ceeded in gathering in thirty-nine
by evening.
After tea the party repaired to the
parlor and enjoyed another musical
treat. Friday we rested from gun
ming, had some sport shooting blue
rock and about 4 p. m. Messrs.
Delaney and Pinckard drove from
across country some 1S miles bring
ing with them their pack of ten
trained coon hounds. After turkey
dinner we started out for the hunt,
succeeded in freeing three fine fell
lows, but two of them being beyond
the stream we captured but one.
When the game was started the
hounds yelped "to beat the bandv,
when they freed him they bayed "to
beat the other band" We returned
from the hunt about half-past four
next morning; but, nothing daunted,
at 8 O'Clock we were after the birds
again as lively as ever, bagging some
three dozen before nightfall. After
tea we returned to Mr.. Blackman's
residence, and on Sabbath morning at
tended church. We were impressed
with the excellent sermon, good
music, and large attendance. In
the evening We attended divine SER
vice again at the same place.
Monday we had a poor day, sue
ceeded in capturing very little game.
Tuesday, we accepted Judge
Broun's invitation, and were driven
over by Capt. Wheaton to the Judges
magnificent six hundred acre farm on
the Wicomico in Northumberland
county. There had been no game
shot in this place for five years so we
had fine sport. We were met by the
Judges son, Edwin Broun, IT., who
escorted us over the plantation
showing us where the birds were; we
had good luck until noon, when rain
interfered. After a magnificent noon
day collation. the remaining hours of
the afternoon and evening were spent