The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-04-14
Pat Dyer Recalls
Thrill He Got on
First Snipe Hunt
Federal Judge, then a Student,
Insists He Fractured Speed
Law When He Heard the
wild Cat" Whistle.

Back in Pike county, Mo-, where
Judge Pat Dyer and a great many
others long most to be, he was ushered
into that mystic order of snipe
hunters. In other words, Pat Dyer
held the sack.
Judge Dyer likes to tell about his
first trip out for snipe. He had just
crossed the border from Lincoln cOun-
ty, and began the study of law in
Bowling Greer. He read law by night
and split rails during the day.
! The young men suddenly became
chummy with Judge Dyer Che was
known as Pat in those days. and
asked him If ne wouldn't like to par
ticipate in a game considered the king
Of outdoor sports. He readily adj
mitted that he WAS at their service"
1t was then that the spokesman in
formed him that snipe were so plenti-
full a few miles from town that they
were crushing each other for lack of
room. Dyer was told they would
easily bring 81 a dozen, provided, Of
course, they were not rooster snipe.
you lust sit down behind log and
hold open the sack" he was told, land
close it when the sack is full"
1T is shame to take advantage of
such innocent birds" remarked the
youth then yearning for a knowledge
of Blackstone.
An evening was selected for the
snipe hunt and when the party called
for Pat Dyer he was ready. They
started out Of town just as the sun
was going down. A short time after
they had reached the woodland, one
CT Mr.. Overs ckaperones was kind
enough to break the news that a
panther had escaped from 4 circus a
short distance away and was last seen
headed for Bowling Green.
When they reached the snipe grove,
, Dyer was not in that frame Of nina
which longs for the solitude of the
forest. He gathered up his snipe sack
as if it had teen charged with cleo
tricity. When the party, except Dyer,
started into the woods. he was ready
to forego the pleasure Of selling Snipe
for 81 a dozen; but then he had never
been called gutter. and he proposed
to stand hitckcd, even if he encoun-
tered the panther.
Shortly after his escorts had van
ishad into the woods, 4 terrifying
scream came from the ravinc. 1t was
made by what boys call wild cat
WHISTLE" bat Pat Dyer thought he
recognized in it the voice of a panther.
He dropped the sack and blew out the
lantern, because he felt that the glare
of the light might expose him to the
panther's view.
He had Just started to Green out Of
the grove when the second shrek
came from the woods, more terrifying
than the first. That was aplenty. Pat
Dyer knew that speed was his only
weapon, but he was confident that his
lower extremities would rot shirk
responsibility at such a time. and
while he was mediating, his legs lust
naturally began toting him to town.
When he reached the first fence
after crossing pasture, he had gain
ed such momentum that he Tipped
over the top rail with the grace of
chipmunk. There were iust four miles
separating him from Bowling Green,
but he insists to this day that he made
the trip in twelve minutes, although
his tongue was lolling out and he had
a touch of the heaves when he brought
himself to stop in the town square.