A Great Hunt

A report reached the city on the third of July that a fine large woodcock had been seen on[the morning of that day, near the borders of Silver Lake, in Freedom. The news spread like wildfire among the sportsmen of the city, and A. J. Sawyer and Chas. H. Manly made elabórate arrangements to go out to the Teutonic township on the following day and BAO THE GAME. So about 2 o'clock, on the morning of the Fourth, these Nimrodian patriota might have been seen sallying forth from the city in a single buggy. The Hunters were each armed with a large doublebarreled shot gun, and rifle, and to provide against any possible contingency they took along one of Sharp's heaviest breech-loaders. Under the seat of the vehicle were two baskets of provisions, and each Hunter carried in his left breast pocket a small glass flask, holding about a pint- FILLED WITH SHOT. The carriage was followed by two large dogs. They drove rapidly - having a livery horse, and reached Silver Lake a little after sunrise. There they found Fred Vogle who told them that The Woodcock had been seen late the evening bef ore on the north side of the lake about two and one half miles from the highway. They immediately hitched their horse to the fence, and after carefully examining their shot flasks, they took their arms, baskets of provisions and dogs, and set out on foot for THE FIELD OF OPEKATIONS. Manly and his dog making a detour of about three miles around the west end of the lake, and Sawyer a detour of about the same distance around the east end, intending to meet on the north side of the lake where the unsuspecting Woodcock had probably roosted for the night. When about half way around Sawyer noticed a curious movement in the tall grass directly in front, and thinking it might be caused by the Object of their search, and being anxious to secure some trophy of his marksmanship before meeting Manly, he carefully laid down his shot gun and breech-loader, and basket of provisions, and taking his trusty rifle fired at the spot indicated by the waving MOTION OF THE GEASS. As the sharp crack of Sawyer's favorite rifle pierced the still morning air, its sound was echoed back by the great tamarack swamp on the right. Then all was still again. Sawyer stealthily approached the spot. To his great surprise he found a large bull-head snake about twenty inches long, and to his greater surprise he found, after a close and critical examination, that the ball had entered the reptile at the extremity near the tail, followed the whole length of the intestinal canal, passing out at THE RIGHT EAE. Ot course the beast was stone dead, yet not a scratch or abrasión of the skin could be found upon the outer surf ace of its body. Sawyer thinks this the finest shot ever made in Washtenaw county; that even John F. Lawrence could not introduce grim death to a living thing more delicately or neatly than this. The country around Silver Lake is boggy and wet - the water, mud and Blush being from six inches to one foot and a half deep the entire distance, so that it was fully noon when Manly and Sawyer met on the north side of the lake - but alas, notwithstanding all their toil and trouble, the Woodcock had not been seen. Foot-sore and weary they sat down on the brow of a large flat stone to rest and refresh themselves. They pulled off their boots and SPREAD THIER SOCKS upon the stone in the hot sun to dry. As they sat there discussing politics and partaking of solid refreshments from the baskets which they had brought along, suddenly the Woodcock mounted the air from the grass about ten rods off. Quick as lightning Sawyer dropped the leg of cold chicken he was knawing, seized his Parker and blazed away. As the smoke leared up a small HANDFUL OF FEATHERS could be seen falling slowly to the ground, but the gallant bird mounted higher and higher into the blue an. Not to be cheated out of his prey after so much labor and effort, Manly snatched the breech-loader and fired; for an instant The Woodcock seemed to rest motionless in mid air, then fall like an inanimate thing to the earth. Thus after almost giving up in dispair the great Object of the expedition was gained. The Game was bagged. The two large dogs, their hearts swelling and rejoicing almost as much as their masters, rushed to the spot and triumphantly brought in THE LIFELESS BIBD. Messrs. Sawyer and Manly immediately drew on their socks and boots, slung their heavy anns and baskets upon their backs and set out on their return. It was quite late when they reached their horse, stil! standing at the fence where they had tied it in the morning. Without delay they loaded up their battery and provisions and started for the city, arriving here about 9J o'clock p. M. The two Hunters carried their game into the store of Hutzel & Co., and it was found to weigh a little more THAN THREE OUNCES, thus proving that it was a bird of more than ordinary size. Sawyer says that The Woodcock would have weighed at least three ounces and a quarter had it not been for the loss of feathers caused by his shot. On the whole this was a very creditable and very heroic enterprise. We believe that Sawyer and Manly will never tire of relating to their children and grand children the details of their Great Hunt on the 4th day of July, 1882.