The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-24
THREE BAT HUNTERS
POLICEMAN. DAnKrY AND DAao
HAVE LOTS OF FUN.


More fun than the proverbiai barrel Of
monkeys II credited with being able 10
give OF, was last night offered . police
man. Dago and a negro by certain and
sundry leather winged bats.
The negro had been informed that there
were those VINO would pay twenty-five
cents head for bats. dead or alive. and
the information spurred him on to effort
to take q few.
In the course of that endeavor he dis
covered that the little beasts, were par
ticulariy partial to the atmosphere Of the
fruit stand at Commerce and Montgom-
cry Streets, and thither, armed with a
broad light board. he repaired about 2
O'clock, when ali the town. save a hack
man or two. a policeman or two. and the
presiding genius OF the fruits, had retired
to rest.
without saying anything to anybody.
the hunter took stand on the sidewalk
beneath the arc lamp which eliminates
the beauties Of the Italians establish
ment. poised his board. and made ready
to knock into the next world the first
bat that steered his erratic course that
way.
Pretty soon after the negro was In redi-
ness, one Of the little beasts came zig
tagging into the circle of the lamps light
AAtA tuch CuPOh tttC 00S ~ tcBoi-
to fail the air in earnest endeavor TO hit
the elusive creature.
A policeman standing across the street
saw the performance and, being unable
to perceive the bat at that distance, or to
understand what the negro was doing,
perceived only very remarkable looking
piece Of behavior, and by that token was
moved to investigate the same.
Sauntering over. he hailed the bat
hunter, and, with more or less difficulty,
got a fair understanding OF the affair.
Then having gotten 1t. he unsheathed his
trusty billy. took q position. and entered
the game
The coppers advent fired the needing
Dago with interest In the sport. and. be-
fore the copper had made three strikes.
the son OF Sunny Italy. armed with a rag
ged broom, had taken place In the charm
ed circle.
With the advent Of the Dago. the real
fun began, and beginning, 1t lasted for
him, at least till the dawning OF day
drove the bats to their dismal abode.
For a moment or two the hunters, after
the circle had been completed, stood
motionless and tense. Then a bat darted
into the light. and thereupon frantic
activity ensued.
"Umphr grunted the copper, swinging
so suddenly ana 50 luauiy anu 81 FotAAy
that he cracked his own shins.
"Umphv" grunted the darkey next In
slant, shifting the empty air!
"Umphl'' grunted the Dago In turn,
swishing wildly with his broom.
Before the copper could recover MS
poise, the bat circled In again, and again
the copper swung, and struck.
"Ah-- got himr' said the ofiicer.
mo sab boss, yer dident-you got
me-" said the negro, without taking his
eye of the bat. and spinning round and
round like a top. II felt your
Just as he finished speaking, he brought
his board down and at the same instant
the Dago brought down his broom. and
both scored, and the copper had TO inter-
fere.
Seventeen times the policeman sn1ote his
own shins then, and having done that,
he gave up the game. and retired.
His detection did not cool the ardor Of
the other two, however. and they con-
tlntled till they had bobbed each other
seven times, and killed two bats
Then the officer made the Dago and
the darby change weapons, In the In
terest Of peace, and the change having
been made, the two kept on till four more
bats had fallen. and the board spltntered.
Then, the zest for the darky's sport
having been ruined he gave the fruit
vender his broom and departed, bearing
| tha hats with him.