The Sun.
London, England, 1828-09-17 00:00:00

STAG HUNT AT KILLARNEY.

(From the Cork-Constitution of Satarday.)
•
In consequence of its being known that
Stag Hunt was to take place on Thursday, %I'
numerous visitors of the Lakes, as well as th
resident gentry, embarked at an early hour e
Ross Castle, for the purpose of being in time 0
the Eagle's Nest, the appointed rendevon'
Within the memory of the oldest inhabitant 01
Killarney, no assemblage of visitors ever, at en,
one time, equalled those who joined in the deYl
sports on the present occasion. On the previoul
day the foresters had tracked a small herd of deer
to the back of Glena Mountain, and precisely 01
twelve o'clock, on a signal from INTr. .1011°
O'Connell, of Grena, his splendid pack 0
hounds was laid on. In a short time till
challenged, and succeeded in rousing, a oba
buck, of traditional speed. After showing hinT
self for a moment to the assembled thousani l
he bent his course in splendid style, followe'
closely by the hounds in full cry along the ienel
side of the Long Range, deviating a little to
wards the Purple Mountain, and finally taking
his way towards the Upper Lake, through
deep dell, thickly wooded, where he was for sent
time lost even to the huntsmen, who topped shij
surrounding mountain, and who, distinguishe'
by their scarlet uniform, and occasionally awaken.'
ing the distant echoes by the winding of the
horns, added much to the delights of the daY
While these scenes were passing on shore, the
beauteous serpentine river to the Upper Lai
was the theatre of much enjoyment. 00 it
being discovered that the stag had made to
wards the Purple Mountain, the boats Wert
immediately directed to the expected seer°
of that day's sport—the Upper Laks•-•
Foremost amidst the competitors was the eight
oared barge of the master of the day's sport, At
John O'Connell, with his amiable and beautify
family. After nearly three hours of incensed
pursuit amongst the mountains, the stag er.
hounds, evidently exhausted, were seen careeryi
along the range of hills which terminate at ft'
Eagle's Nest. Here numerous parties had t 1
embarked, and taken their stations on eve'
eminence at which they could arrive ; the 4;
clivity of the surrounding mountains s;
covered with anxious groups of spectate/ft
and equestrians and carriages of every 4..1,1
scription crowded the new romantic l'°*;,,
which skirts the Middle and Upper LeY'„i
and stretches along to Kenmare. Arrirts
once more amidst his accustomed hall'' f;
the lord of the forest appeared to inhale teat
vigour with the breezes of his native hills, Pit
being closely pressed by some of the staunelle%
hounds, he made head to the right of the Eat,
Nest, and was for some time lost to the vie •e
having taken to harbour in a grove of rria.iP'ee
oaks. In the interval of his temporary absel
the spectators were gratified by the view 0'
young hart, who, affrighted by. the untli e
il
sounds that arose on every side, sought to _k
the soil, and find shelter in Turk Mountain ;1311
was baffled in his endeavours by some of Pra
peasantry, who, mistaking him for the hunt%
stag, sent him full speed up the intricate rof
of Glena. In a few moments, the soundingf,
a recheat announced the re-appearance of the °
ject of pursuit, and he suddenly broke Woe;
and in dismay dashed down to the base of cb
Eagle's Nest, evidently unable to afford Inuty
further sport, and so much exhausted as to be a; for
mercy ofany hound within view. He continuen of
some minutes an object of admiration to suel:vti..
the spectators as had never before had an opr:j
nity to contemplate the beauteous symmetry s
lordly bearing of a full grown Red Deer. ie
taper and sinewy limbs., his ample chest, his twi'ls
neck, and wide spreading antlers, were subjecbe
for the pencil, and he was welcomed by es
cheers of thousands. Amazement, as well 0
exhaustion, drove him to seek shelter in a ellfra;,
of brushwood, where he was immediately 14,
rounded by the peasantry, and secured with ner
with with the intention of having him restored to s',s
mountains and liberty, by some timid fair If,
hand—but, alas ! his career was at an end ;
by the rude treatment of those into whose
hands he had fallen, his spine was grievouslY 1"e
jured, and his death, to the regret of every day
who witnessed the noble sport of the days l
the lamented result.
he
t
The evening was not less joyous than ,g
day. Those visitors who, during the morning,
sports had refrained from 'awakening the In
qualled echoes of the Lakei, through a Wel
grounded fear of disturbing the chace, or seers g.
the deer, now, in successive cannonadid:i
amazed. and delighted the hearers. The h°l
and bugle were heard blending a thousand r:3l.
sponses from one blast, and the approach ofclii,
ner hour was announced to various partisAsi,
shots, or trumpets, from the surrounding iale7srt,
Inuisfallen appeared to be the principal rouge
as not less than a thousand persons could rouge
been, in various groups, at dinner, at one Peri°,„
in the different alcoves and recesses
,allithb-e
priated to that purpose. In the evening
merry dance was kept up with spirit whilst 0,3)8';
light lasted, and it was gratifying to find,
when silence had been restored to the mounf2lll'
and peace to the waters, no accident had °,c"
curred which could in the slightest degree "e.
tract from the delights of a " live-long gin'
mer's day."