The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-02
ATTACKED BY BUCK
While Deer Hunting Joe Whitcomb is
Charged by Antlered Giant
and Life Imperiled.
Wounded in Several Places Infatuated
Animal Downs Hunter and
Holds Vigil Over Him.

Joe Whitcomb, one of the most IN
trepid sportsmen in this part Of the
country, had the experience of his life
while hunting deer with his brother,
Archie, Mayor Vandevanter and Clar-
ence Hill last week near Duxbury, and
it was by a mericle that he escaped
death. It was an exciting instance of
deer stalking combined with a vicious
attack by big buck.
Joe sailed forth from the camp
alone armed with rifle and ID rounds
of ammunition. He had proceeded
through the jungles for a distance Of
something like three miles when he
espied a big buck. He fired at the
animal and it disappeared-he did not
expect to see it again. However, later
in the day, while following the trail of
deer in another direction, he again ran
across his buckship and fired more
shots at it. It bounded away into the
wilderness, but Joe knew he had
wounded it and made a wide detour.
Presently he espied it lying on hog
back at considerable distance and d.
rected another bullet in it's direction.
The buck then ran onto the ice of the
river and Joe took few more cracks
at it from a long distance which had
a telling effect. At the same time the
antlered giant espied Joe and came to.
ward him to wreak vengeance. It
came up the river bank in furious
rage and Joe struck it with another
bullet which caused it to go down, but
it was only for a moment. 1t gathered
itself up and charged ahead. Joe knew
it was badly wounded but kept shoot
ing as it approached until all his anu
milton had been expended.
|, The deer dropped several times but
arose again and Joe, to protect himself,
picked up long pole and held it
horizontally in front of him. In it's
kmad rush the deer struck the pole
with it's head and threw Joe fiat on his
back in the brush, where for few
minutes he remained motionless, while
the buck, with blood trickling from
several wounds, stood near by watch
ing its foe and ready to make another
charge. Satisfied that Joe had been
vanquished it started away, but a
movement Of one Of Joe's legs attract
ed it's attention and it returned, to
again leave when Joe remained mo-
tionless. 1t was critical time for
the hunter, for he was at the mercy
Of the Infatuated animal, which could
have easily dispatched him.
After the buck had departed Joe
arose from his position, climbed
through barbed-wire fence and pro-
ceeded to farm house, where he Dor
rowed shotgun. He knew that the
buck was mortally wounded and could
not proceed far.
Returning he found the buck. lying
on the ground near the fence and fired
three charges Gall he had) into it at
close distance. Weakened as it was by
heavy loss of blood, the buck put forth
frantic efforts to leap the wire fence
and reach it's enemy, but it was in vain.
It went down but it was by no means
vanquished, so Joe secured long pole,
tied hunting knife to one end of it
and, pushing the weapon between the
fence wire, slashed the bucks throat.
It took Joe Whitcomb over six hours
to get that buck and he says that in
all his experience as deer hunter
he never saw an animal put up such a
fight before or one that possessed such
remarkable vitality. The buck
weighed 300 pounds.
S. E. Vandcvanter, Archie. Whit
comb and Clarence Hill also secured
deer apiece.
Seventeen Banks Close in N. D.
Since November Is seventeen banks