A PENNSYLVANIA DIANA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 3

A PENNSYLVANIA DIANA.

In the midst of a: large forest in Pennsylvania lives Henry Merrill, a well-known hunter and tr'appor.: He has but one companion in his solitary abode, a daughter, aged about eighteen years. Lottie Merrill can row a boat, shoot a gun, or trap a bear as .well and skilfully as any man in the-"counfcy of Wayne. Some time ago she started to cross a large inland lake, on the borders of which her home is located, in a light skiff. She carried, as was her custom, a small rifle flung across her shoulder by a leather strap. She was paddling along leisurely, and when nearly half way across the pond she discovered an object moving in the water, and, upon approaching closer, found that it was an immense five-pronged buck, which had-been driven into the water by dogs. : She immediately drew her rifle and, after taking careful aim, fired. As she pulled the trigger the buck made a sudden movement, arid the ball, instead of reaching'its mark, entered, the animal's neck, making an ugly and painful Svound. The .buck, enraged by the pain, struck'at the boat with one of its forelegs, shattering -the frail bark in pieces. The boat sank at once, leaving Miss Merrill in the water with the struggling and infuriated animal. But she was plucky and could swim. She grasped the buck by the horns* and deliberately drawing .her hunting knife, which was as sharp as: a razor, from her belt she plunged it into-the; deer'scneck, killing him almost instantly. She then swam to shore, about an eighth of a mile, and hurried home, where she put on dry clothing, and after procuring another boat, rowed out to where the dead buck was floating and towed the animal to shore. ' When dressed the buck .weighed more than 2751b., and was the finest one killed in that section for years. This is the eighteenth deer Mis 3 Merrill has killed, and she is proud of her last adventure, which is the most thrilling one she has ever had. She intends having this buck's head stuffed as a memento of her terrible struggle for life. Miss Merrill' is 'uncommonly good-looking, worth considerable money, and is well educated, and only keeps up her Diana-like life because it pleases her. Her father wishes to move into a more civilised region, but she will not hear of auy such proposal.—Philadelphia Times. ' ..-■:••