Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-09-23
DUCIHNG ON The
Big Marsh
BY JAMES HENRY RICE

ditiOnS. The duck SnOOtlnS Is to pe
had at only a few places. There are
certainly not dozen good duckinS
grounds on the whole South Carolina
coast; and half as many in Georgia.
Then the open season has been cut
down; and duck shooting depends alb
solutely on weather, there are few days
when any shooting at all is to be had.
l have known the late President CleVe-
land to remain month near George
town without getting days duck
shooting. although he was welcome at
half a dozen places.
Ideal shooting requires windy day,
not too cod; for if it is cold the ducks
stay hidden in the marsh and will not
rise. without wind they go outside
the breakers and stay there all day on
the open water, where they may not be
come at.
Georgetown Marsh.
The most famous of all the ducking
grounds around Georgetown is the Big
Marsh. called by the negroes the
Yankee marsh" in North inlet, be-
tween North island and the mainland.
In the old days before the War Be-
tween the States this belonged to the
Aston family, but had been acquired
later by Mr.. r. J. Donaldson. From
him the shooting rights were leased
for twenty years by five gentlemen OF
Philadelphia, known as the Annandale
club, because their club house was at
that place. They had a shooting lodge
on the shore of Muddy bay, within
easy reach Of the shooting grounds.
| shot there by invitation; and one
occasion is vivid and distinct. The
night before Harry Donaldson and
myself went over from the plantation
house on Waccamaw and put up at the
lodge.
All the shooting was looked after by
the Gaines family who had canped
there so long they claimed proprietary
rights. There were several brothers
employed by the club, Sawney, Hucks
and Bob and one ha'f-brother, Ball,
who was poacher on the club
grounds and kept things in stew all
the season through.
The night of our arrival was cold,
big fire blazcd in the wide fire place
and old Mrs. Gaines, mother OF the
boys. had a fine supper, oysters, fsh,
duck, rice and 50 On.
After supper and a smoke, we went
to bed and were at once asleep. About
2:30 in the morning | was dragged out
of bed, more dead than alive. Break
fast was ready, smoking on the table
and we had to eat, wi'ly-nilly. There
were lunches ready to take along; and
soon we Jared forth, stumbling over
things in the raw, cutting air or morn
ing; it was dark as pitch.
Sawney Gaines went with me. He
was the leader Of the duCkermen, am
bilious to be in the front rank.
Thousands of Ducks.
,1o tIn
so dark you could not sca thing eX-
cept the vague outline of the marshes
on either side. BY and by dark OBJ
jects rose with splashes They were
ducks, just come in from their feeding
grounds on the rice fields, or may be
some that had not left the marshes.
In an open stretch, known as mo
Mans Friend" and we'll named, por-
poises were cutting up. Later l was
capsizcd right here by these mischic-
vous animals; but this morning we
passed them without mishap and ar
rived at our destination before dawn.
Ducks invariably light against wind;
so the decoys were placed according
ly, each wooden decOy anchored to
brick. Then a blind was erected in the
boat hastily and we were ready for
action. Everything had been done on
ly no time to lose; for in a few minu-
tcs the first pair of mallard came
winging our way and / got both.
The shooting became fast and fu-
rious as the ducks kept coming in.
Most of them hovercd within forty
feet and could have beer killed with a
pistol. The little Winchester almost
knocked holes through them. although
used a 26-inch open barrel.
The legrettable feature was that
nearly fourth of the ducks fell in
the marsh, where they were lost. Therc
was not enough water for a boat there;
it would bog mnonshinc" as the duck
crmer say; and q dog could not nave
travcrscd it, because the smells would
ruin MS feet. Any duck that fell IN
the MAJ sh, or any wounded duck that
escaped into it was gone for good.
The way Sawney would shoot the
boat out into the water, pick up dead
duck or so and get back into conceal
ment, was a wonder. Moreover, ne
would now and then survey the
marshes and he could tell every time
whether a duck was coming our way
or not. Many that seemed To be mead
ed directly to us. he would say: Never
mind: he won't come here" and he did
not
A Grand Sight.
Soon after we began shooting. the
east flushed with rose, then turned to
crimson. and terrible as an army with
banners" the sun rose out of the At
lantic, the Lord of the Marshes. NO
human eye ever beheld Il grander sight
than sunrise on the sea marshes.
Mountaineers extoll their sunsets and
sunrises but when mountaineer first
sees the sun rise on u sea marsh, he is
struck dumb. His ideas become lost In
flame and beauty and the splendor OF
creation flung wide.
ALn,,t b,If rost nine Sawnev stood