Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1879 — A Peculiar Combat in Deep Water. [ARTICLE]

A Peculiar Combat in Deep Water.

The Philadelphia Press publishes the following dispatch from Shoheto, Pa., aud vouches for its correctness. “Four or five miles back of this place, in an old log cabin, lives Thomas Hendershot. He has a pretty daughter about 18 years of age. Clara Hendershot can row a boat, shoot a gun, or trap a bear as well as any man in the county. A few days ago she started across the lake known as the Great Walker pond to visit a friend. She used a light boat belonging to her father, and carried, as was her custom, a small rifle slung across her shoulder by a leather strap. When nearly in the center of the lake she disooverei an object In the water a short distance off, and upon approaching nearer found that it was a large five pronged buck, which had been driven in by the dogs. She immediately unslung her gun and after taking aim fired. The ball passed through the deer’s neck. . making a painful wound. The animal, enraged, struck at the boat with its front foot, oompletely shattering ons side of the fragile bark, which sunk, leaving Miss Henderson in the water with the infuriaced buck. She was plucky And could swim well, and as the deer came toward her she caught It by the horns and plunged her hunting knife into its neck, killing It instantly. She then called for help, and as none arrived she swam to tbe shore, about a quarter of a mile, and hurried home. She put on dry clothing, and procuring anotner boat rowed out to where the dead buck was floating and towed It to shore. When dressed the animal weighed nearly 280 pounds. This is the seventh deer Miss Hendershot has killed.”