Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa . t-bagwere worn slung by a buckskin band over the shoulder andacross the breast of the hunter. The powder for loading was measured from the pow-der-horn and poured into the gun barrel. An inch-squarepiece of factory—muslin—was placed over the muzzle, thebullet or buckshot pressed down flush with the edge, andthe surplus cloth trimmed off with a bowie, or wadding and leaden missile were pushed tightly intoplace with the ramrod. The powder-pan on the gun-lockwas filled with powder and the impl
Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa . t-bagwere worn slung by a buckskin band over the shoulder andacross the breast of the hunter. The powder for loading was measured from the pow-der-horn and poured into the gun barrel. An inch-squarepiece of factory—muslin—was placed over the muzzle, thebullet or buckshot pressed down flush with the edge, andthe surplus cloth trimmed off with a bowie, or wadding and leaden missile were pushed tightly intoplace with the ramrod. The powder-pan on the gun-lockwas filled with powder and the implement of destructionwas in readiness. The contact of the hammer-flint with the upright lock-steel produced a spark which ignited the touch-powder anddischarged the gun. This was a precarious method of fir-ing, as the marksmans eyes may have been endangered bythe explosion. The powder in the little pan frequently wasblown away in windy weather, and the hunters delay inrepriming made possible the loss of game. The supply of game was greatly reduced before the HUNTING AND TRAPPING 59. 60 REMINISCENSES OF NEWCASTLE, IOWA use of percussion-caps became general. The small-bore,rifled-barrel guns made possible a greater degree of accu-rate shooting. The different families did not invade the huntinggrounds of a neighbor. It might not have been entirelycomfortable to do so. It was, however, a question of per-mitting a hunter to supply his own table with meat or thepoacher having to furnish it for him. General hunts andround-ups occasionally were indulged. Wolf Grounds. The hillside to the south of Brewers creek was a favor-ite haunt for wolves. A string of traps was maintainedthere for several years. Before leaving the East we hadprovided ourselves with bear-traps which are large double-spring steel affairs. The jaws are fashioned with pointedteeth which fit together as the cogs on sister wheels. Thesetraps we used for wolves. The combined strength of twomen was required to set them,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectfrontie, bookyear1921
