Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa . specimen was a beautifulyoung creature that probably never had seen the habitationof man. and therefore did not recognize the arrival of apersistent and relentless enemy. Nine Coons Caught. One morning while the boys were tethering the cowsand oxen. Typ and Tyler picked up a coon trail. Theyoung men followed the dogs, with gim and axes, to anear-by hollow tree which was felled, and nine of the ani-mals were captured and brought home alive. Coons were so numerous that, in addition to living inthe hollow tr
Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa . specimen was a beautifulyoung creature that probably never had seen the habitationof man. and therefore did not recognize the arrival of apersistent and relentless enemy. Nine Coons Caught. One morning while the boys were tethering the cowsand oxen. Typ and Tyler picked up a coon trail. Theyoung men followed the dogs, with gim and axes, to anear-by hollow tree which was felled, and nine of the ani-mals were captured and brought home alive. Coons were so numerous that, in addition to living inthe hollow trees, they made their nests in the great tuftsof prairie-grass in the vicinity of what now is PleasantHill, and eastward around Mud Lake was a favorite prettv creatures easily were located in their grassyhomes by the dogs, and readily could be killed or capturedby the hunters. The most favorable time for coon-hunting was afternightfall or before daybreak. Finely splintered ends ofshakes were lighted as torches, and served to illuminate the 10 REMINISCENSES OF NEWCASTLE, IOWA. MAKING THE TRIP TO IOWA 11 trail and the field of operations. For several years coon-skins sold in Des Moines for less than fifty cents of coons were killed by our hunters. Royal Stag. There were so many deer that during our early seasonsfresh or cured venison was the leading article on our dailymenu. A few days after our arrival the track of the firstbig game was sighted by Roll Brewer and Tom Stanley,at a point near the spring in the Church holler at theSilvers farm. The beast was followed northward by devi-ous wanderings to near where the Country Club house nowis located. Night overtook them and the boys decided togive up the chase until daybreak. While talking over their plans an animal which wasresting near the river, sprang forward along the steepincline only a few yards from the hunters. Tom fired; butin the fast-falling darkness his aim was untrue. Roll cov-ered the fleeing c
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectfrontie, bookyear1921
