The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-15

Literary Digest.
Southern New Jersey had a famous
hunter. popularity forgotten. who may
Claim a place in the select company
of Americas pioneer woodsmen. And,
indeed. Jonas Cattell was in some
respects the most individual of them
all. Certainly be succeeded in some
adaptations to his surroundings be-
yond even Boone or a Natty Bump
20. with whom he was largely con-
temporary.
Born in 1853 on a farm couple
of miles east of Woodbury. in Glou-
cester county Just across the river
from Philadelphia). he was by ma
ture hunter and woodsman in a
land full of wild game. Long before
he was grown the puzzling land and
water intricacies of the whole neigh
borhood. and the intimate ways of
its wild Inhabitants, were an open
book to Jonas Cattell. Early he be-
came famous as a distance runner.
Though only eighteen when the
Revolutionary war began. Jonas
promptly enlisted in the Gloucester
County militia. and served all through
the struggle. in those short-term en-
listments characteristic of our Co
lonial troops. distinguishing himself
at the engagement Of Fort Mercer.
But it is Jonas the Fox-hunter who
specially awaits some modern muse.
Ten years before the Revolution
some of Philadelphia's social elite
and group of prominent Gloucester
country sportsmen formed the first
organized American hunt, the Glou-
cester Fox Hunting club. (The first
steady pack and regular hunt in
England dates back only to 1902
The Gloucester club made Jonas
the official 'whipper in" and gen.
eral hunting mentor of the organiza-
ton.
In spite of his prominent official
capacity, he always hunted on foot.
Interestingly. recent historian
has pointed out how the most for
NAL and solemn authorities have set
the seal of their approval on pedes-
trian following of hounds.
With Jonas it was mere instructive
natural efficiency.
On foot he was swift and tireIess
For the long pull of a hard days
hunt he considered his own legs, bet
ter than any horses. Besides. he
knew every fox and muskrat path
across the tongues Of bog, every
short cut, every conformation which
effected the natural route of a hunt
ed animal. in the whole county the
Gloucester hunted. He had studied
foxes and their ways till be knew
what the varmint would do before
the fox himself knew it. What was
horse to him, except something to
worry about and take his mind off
the chase?
And since these shocking opinions
were backed by his habit of being
always in at the death. generally
ahead of even the most reckless rid
ers, there was little to be said in
refutation.
He had that uncanny ability to read
trail which amazes the unskilled in
the expert trapper and woodsman.
When the hounds were at fault he
would promptly appear on the spot !;
as he studied the ground the trust
full dogs would fellow him about. as
if looking for guidance to powers
beyond their own.
Even after an eager hound had
opened on scent Jonas would fire.
quently stop and check the animals
nose by his own microscopic eye. to
be sure it was the correct trail and
not back track. or possibly a hare.
that was deceiving the dog. Rarely
did he make mistake The impor-
tant hunters and the pack alike
awaited his judgment and accepted
il.
Six feet one inch in height, power
full and wiry, with muscles and wind
developed by daily exertions, as keen
as any hound with the exciting efflu-
vium of the quarry in his nostrils,
there were few humans or dogs or
horses who could keep up with him
through a grueling days hunting.
On one memorable occasion they
started an old red dog rover who
gave straight-away run so swift
and long-continued that the pack be-
came separated, the horses were
winded, the entire hunt was thrown
into disorder Darkness fell. The
huntsman's horn called the scattered
groups together. In spite of several
missing hounds. in spite of the sport
ing disgrace. it was decided to give
up; YEARLY and shamefacedly they
plodded back TO Hugg's inn at Glou-
eester for bodily comfort.
AT dawn the keeper of the kennels
heard commotion outside. Hurry
ing out. he saw two of the missing
hounds limping painfully in-each
bearing about his neck a portion of
the fox's brush.
Jonas and this couple had dis
tanced the hunt and continued the
chase with no thought of giving up.
At eleven O'Clock at night, by a bril-
hazt moon. they had fairly run down
Reynard in swamp. and ended his
Understanding forever
Keeping the fur as his own prize
Jonas had sent the hounds back,
bearing this testimony that they and