Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-11-16
A CHAPTER ON
CONSTITUTING
The Thrilling Adventures of a Well
Known Sportsman
There Are Some Fine Shell brakes
In Mississquol Bay


With his first trip goose hunting,
Gushing Hill last weekend had an tX-
perience which ought to be added to the
annals of Addison County sport, He
has long been known az an authority on
duckng, - but he had never gone out for
geese and he came back more than
ever an authority on "ducking"
AS the guest of Edward Watkins of
Troy and Charles II, Stevens of st.
Adams, Hill and George Dougherty set
out for goose stand, m which Watkins
and Steven have an interest, located on
II sand bar in MssissQuoi Bay, at the
northern end Of Lake Champlaln some
distance from Swanton, Between the
goose stand and the main shore is a
wide stretch of shallow water
The duhle the party carried looked
sufficient to support small army For
artillery there were four double
barrelled shot guns, two automatics,
and ammunition enough to end the war,
They carried four live geese and eight
i've ducks for decoys, which were en-
trusted to Dougherty when the party
came TO embark With crate over
each shoulder, Dougherty followed the
lead down a fight Of steps to the lake
shore but there was missing link in
that fight of steps which upset Dough-
erty and his birds in a way that would
have made fine comic for the movies,
This, however, was laughed OF as
a good omen and with no injury except
TO his pride, Dougherty recoved himself
and his birds and with the crates on his
shoulders waded across the two-mile
stretch to the goose-stand.
Hill, meanwhile, loaded canoe with
the guns and ammunition and with such
load of commssary supplies that the
frai craft nearly sank. With broken
paddle he cautiously navigated to the
goose stand, while the other men waded
to the scene. At the goose stand the
dufile was handed up to a window of
the shack and the last suitcase was just
getting over the side Of the canoe when
il caught on the edge of the craft and
precipitated Hill into the icy water. He
got thoroughly wet from head to foot
but emerged with his usual unruffled
dignity. Hill is everywhere known as
Addison County 8 true gentleman sports
man, and he took his ducking with be-
coming GOODNESS. In fact instead of
getting at all "het up about it he had
to SILVER for couple of hours before
his comrades could get fire going. The
only heating apparatus in the shack
was an oil stove, which had no oil.
Dougherty, accordingly, was commits
stoned to wade ashore, take Mr.. Stevens
auto and drive up to farm house to
get the oil. Dougherty was gone an
hour when he reappear9d for instruc-
tons, for he found he couldn't start
the car. Another hour and he succeeded
in getting the oil, but the stove wicks
were so dry that it took till bed time to
get the heater going.
During the night the wind came up
with tornado velocity and dealt sledge-
hammer blows a: the frail shack, but
it was still there at day.break, and the
decoys with their clipped wings and
hobbies were anchored in the marshes.
The party was at breakfast when the
alarm came. The decoys began calling,
which Stevens said with an air of au-
meant that some geese were
coming sure. Breakfast was set aside,
guns were hurriedIy loaded and all four
men crept out to get crack at what? |
"a single crow that was passing!
There were Incidents of a long wait
for the geese that Stevens was sure
would come. Only few weeks before
he had shot seven that had weighed up
10 a total of hundred pounds.
At last the big chance came. The
alarm of the decoys was h ard again
and through their periscope the
party sighted a big flock coming.
Everyone got ready-eXcept Hill, who
having had so much hunting allowed he
would let the other fellows have their
'hance. Through their cedar shelter
he hunters peered and waited for the
approach and finally let go tremen-
lous volley of fire arms. Two birds fell
Wounded but recovered themselves and
With the rest of the flock made their
afe getaway, but with time enough to
'e identified. The flock was one of
hell brakes, an utterly valueless hunt
ng bird-and besides being valueless
hey all got away. After two days
party returned quite empty
anded sadder but wiser men