A Deer Hunt

A deer hunt, a “bit of a row” and a law suit occurred since our list issue.

On last Saturday afternoon a deer which had been hunted and wounded, passed leisurely through town.  As it was making its way out on the prairie, a Teutonic gentleman mounted a fleet nag and gave chase; all the gentlemen of leisure followed him – some mounted on blooded stock, and some on scrubs, others on Pike’s Peak mules –

“And ran like swallows o’er the plain.”

The pursuers were armed with clubs, shotguns, revolvers and rifles.  There was not the least hope of escape for the deer, but it limped onward with creditable speed until it reached a belt of timber on Turkey creek, where it was surrounded.  A miscellaneous volley was fired at it by the armed hunters.  Every shot told within several rods of the animal.  The dose was repeated, with the same effect.  The excitement at this stage of the contest was high and still going upward.  At last a chance shot brought the “dainty doe to the ground.”  A half dozen or so of the gallant hunters quickly seized the prostrate animal, and with clubs and knives took the remainder of its life, amid shouts of triumph.  The hunters who then returned home, stripped the pelt off the game, bathed their hands and stained their garments in blood.  This done, the game was divided, Teuton getting the hide.

Shortly afterwards the man who had started and wounded the dear came along, and finding the hide, took it into his possession, under the law of “hunters’ right.”  This enraged the gentleman of “sweet accent,” who demanded his “slick hite,” accompanying the demand with loud expletives and vehement gestures, but did not commit any bodily injury.  After much “noise and confusion,” he recovered it by arbitration and good luck.  He was afterwards arrested for “raising a disturbance,” in Mr. Jones’ store.  He was tried in the Court House on Monday.  A host of witnesses were examined.  The lawyers made learned speeches on common and uncommon law.  The jury hung.  The lawyers pocketed the fees.  The prosecution was dropped; and the clients were amazed at the cost of hunting and lawsuits.  Thus ended the dearest deer hunt within the recollection of “the oldest inhabitant.” – {Cass County Gazette.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 2