The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-21

An Ohio River Duck Hunt! The
Evansville, Ind, quartette are we'll
known quantity to the trapshiiting fra
ternity. G. A. Beard, Wilbur Erskine,
Jr., Frank Fuchs, Az Green and Wal
ter Jones are not only expert shots
at the trap, but their Shooting at
Homes rank as premier social events.
Amoard the 24-foot motor boat
Rambler" the writer was guest Of
this aggregation on most successful
duck hunt. Our engines were put in
motion and the boat swung out from
the Evansville shore and headed down
the Ohio River with Commodore
Fuchs officiating at the wheel as pilot
AS we rushed down stream, we were
a happy, congenial party of hunters
Many were the stories told of our
proves with the scatter gun. 1t was
sportsmen's courtesy to listen, d.
gest, accept and believe without delv-
Ing into details all of the stories re-
cited. Ducks had been reported to
us in countless numbers at French
Island about % miles below Evans
vile, where they were feeding in the
corn fields. on the limited crops of
the natives and we had been especial
ly urged to run down and hunt, in
cidentally acting as corn protectors.
Asleep in the Boat.
The rocking of the boat in conjunc-
ton with a few properly fitted might
vaps,' indused sleep and we were
soon dreaming of the execution of diff
cult singles and doubles or possibly
few pot shots made in our boyhood
days.
We were suddenly awakened with
crash, every phase of head end rail-
road collision was introduced. Com
modore Fuchs had discovered that his
engine was skipping and headed the
boat for the shore, his judgment of
distance was in. error and ne failed
to shut off his engine at the logical
moment, as a result we went into the
bank under full Roadway. 1t is neces-
sary to state the oversight was imme-
diately mentioned to the Commodore,
accompanied by a few emphatic re-
marks, which really did not SAVIOR of
compliments for our skipper, being a
guest l was handicapped into complete
silence.
Breaking day was announced by the
ducks starting an incessant line of
conversation and flying in every d.
rection apparently badly ratified. When
it was light enough for us to locate
surroundings, we had grounded on the
head of French Island, our objective
grounds. Ducks were uneasy and fly
ong low, they were leaving the open
water and seeking the Ravens of rest
an dprotection in the timbered slougs
and protected bayous, while many
were headed into the corn fields ad-
ic n nd
one-half miles long and half mile
wide. high land which seldom over
m An Ohio River Rat.
One tenement house is conveniently
located for the accommodation of visit
ing nimrods. This semi-hostlery is
run by Abe Martin, a typical Ohio
River Rat. Tall and ungainly, with
eyes very much resembling those of
dead fish. He was very proud of his
scattering hirsute appendage, which
were carefully trained to point direct
ly toward the person he was address,
ing, as he talked his cracked voice,
with tremulo stop fully extended, gave
his chine spinach a tremblin effect
He raised and chewed his own to-
bacco, which he laimed furnished
high grade of saliva, which enabled
him to expectorate at moving objects
with especial accuracy and procession.
He made the house ats eye his favor
lite target and very seldom failed to
put the cat up in the air with dis
cordant yOWl.
Two of our party decided to re-
main the first night with Boniface
Martin, in preference to returning to
our boat, which was about a half mile
distant. The following morning while
the boys were enjoying their pre-.
breakfast ablution, Abe came out and
made the inquiry, How did you sleep