The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-08-29
The Benton Camp Hunt.

helper, at five o'clock that afternoon.
They were joined the following morning
by about a half dozen other gentlemen.
The pack on this occasion consisted of
Taller, Myrt, Buck, Nell, Bob, Red,
Crook, Mack, Queen, Kitty and Della.
The first deer was shot at by Mr.. Nc
Call, at very long range. There were
about five in the bunch, and they ran in
different directions going between
the stands of Mr.. Ogden and DR.. ]. q.
Wise without even being frightened.
The next one was a nice buck, which
was slipping out from the dogs and
drivers, but he made fatal mistake
thinking he was slipping to the swamp
of safety and quietude-not for a mo-
ment imagining that there was a gen.
uine sportsman, with pump gun filled
with buck shot, just down the glade a
few hundred yards, each jump bringing
him nearer and nearer his doom. Mr..
J. F. Adair's aim at him was in keeping
with all his aims, and after cQ6ple of
shots, followed by the above mentioned
dogs, he was caught at the end of half
mile chase, and was carried to camp by
"Uncle" Mitchell, who was shortly fol-
lowed by the hunters.
The midday meal in the shape of a
venison stew, thoroughly cooked and
seasoned with onions, potatoes, etc., was
very much enjoyed. And when you drop
back to the real condition of the hunt
ers, taking into consideration that VIC
ate breakfast at four am. and had ridden
horseback several hours Git was then two
p.m.) you can readily imagine the kind
of appetites we possessed.
The afternoon was spent in several
ways-some of the boys shooting squir-
rels, while others lolled around on the
camp cots.
The next morning, as usual, we left
camp at 4:20. Myrt, Bob, Della and
Nell trailed for several hours, finally
running two does and a buck out of
fallen tree top. The does were all right
the next morning, am pretty sure, with
the exception of being little foot sore
and their eye lashes having been burned
by the smokeless powder so suddenly
pulled in their faces by our tender
hearted bookkeeper, Mr.. Ogden, who
committed no crime. The penalty was
no greater than a humping by the boys
when he reached camp. However, he
was not alone, as Mr.. Mccall was found
guilty of the same offense, for he butted
in and separated the buck from the two
does (the latter two going to Mr.. Ogden
and the poor horny-headed fellow to Mr..
E. D.. Taylor) at the same time firing
couple of shots at the stag.
1t is needless for me to say that in less
time than it takes to tell you this he was
passing the stand occupied by Mr.. Tay-
lor, who pounded him with several shots
from an automatic, knocking him down.
However, he got away in the brush, with
several bad wounds, one being broken
leg. This was very provoking to Mr..
Taylor and particularly so when he
overheard some of the boys say some
thing about another humping to take
place soon.
The pack having followed the two
does, no dogs we're left to catch the
cripple deer. Mr.. Taylor, realizing the
urgent need of dog, thought of old
cripple Buck, tied up at camp. So he
jumped astride of his horse, and to camp
he went, in long gallop. By the time
we had located fresh track of the
cripple deer, we saw Mr.. Taylor return
ing in about the same way he left, ex-
cept that he had something up before
him on his horse.
All present wondered what he had.
Was it coat, or was it a small boy ?
No; it was neither. 1t was the old
cripple dog to catch the old cripple buck.
Possibly you have seen horse races,
automobile races, candidates races
but, gentlemen, this was just about the
best matched race you ever heard Of.
The old dogs feet were SO sore that he
howled when he was taken off the horse
and put on the ground, but as soon as he
scented the blood of the wounded deer
he forgot his troubles. He trailed the
J buck faithfully for about quarter of a
; mile when out he came from a windfall.
After run of an hour and half, in the
heat of the day, he came up to his
quarry, however, not before the deter
mined Mr.. Taylor had shot him dead.
This ended the second days hunt.
} Thursday morning we left camp at
APO, at which time the murmuring
thunder in the west warned us that a
wise man carries his slicker on rainy
day, and in short time we experienced
that we had the right thing at the right
time.
About ten O'Clock the rain ceased, and
, we soon had big deer on the race track,
with only Myrt and crook on his trail.
Mr.. Adair managed to get couple OF
shots at him, but it took the dogs quite
, a while to catch him, as his wounds
: were slight, and he lodged furiously
' over the Rocky Mount hills before they
landed on him.
Upon our arrival at camp we noticed
l wagon coming through the forest
Every one looked and wondered where il