Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-08
GAZETTE
From The american Sporting Magazine.
HUNTING THE WILD CAT,
us enjoyed in North Caroli,.a.

| NEwBERN, Sept %, 1882.
We have species Of game with u.s., which
believe is peculiar to this section OF the country
at least see no mention made Of it in your excel
lent magazine, where have met with descrip.
ton. of every uther variety of hunting And
YET the wild cat will afford the huntsman as much
sport. and the hounds as much work. as anv other
animal that ever followed Indeed il requires
a staunch and numerous pack to take them; for
even when run to a stand still-no easy work
by the bye-they are enabled from their great
strength and ferocity keep five or six dogs at
bay, without difficulty
| The wild cat is much larger. aud infinitely
stronger than the grey fox, (the red mt being an
inhabitant Of our woods. know nothing Of II
is about as fleet as the common fox. but as 1t con-
fines its run to very strong and thick covers. the
chase lasts much longer than that OF the fax. -
And being, in addition TO this. terrible enemy
to the farmers. taking off pigs poultry, lambs and
even sometimes grown sheep, our sportsnen,
who are all. farmers. pursue them with nVeter-
ate industry. Invited by the fatterlng appear
ance Of the weather last week, Mr.. w. and my.
self, determined to give our dogs trial. We
accordingly, ro.e to cover on Saturday morning,
with six couple of as fine dogs as ever follow ed
deer, inX, or wild cat Ii was our first turn out
this season-the whole pack was, consequently.
fail of riot. and the young dogs in particular,
were perfectly frantic. The morning was as
auspicious a. we could wish-the dog fennel and
pine bushes hung dr"opingly, overloaded with
dew. Il was quite cool. clear as bell, and so
perfectly calm, that the JOYOUS notes OF the dogs,
"a .tev glmbolied III wild excitement cetore us,
or leaped Up fA"ninsiy upon ourhorses, were heard
to re ecin over the distant Neuse. After leav.
ing the ii, er little to the right, we threw off
the hounds 10 very promising cover on the
north side of Smiths creek. Here we had not
proceeded very long, when old Drummer told
us. that some prow!er bad been passing during
the night.
The scent vas very cold, and we worked it
slowly and With difficulty. along the windings OF
the creek; frequently interrupted. bv the out
burst, of TIE Young dogs, alter rabbits. NC. BY
dint of whipping. and scolding we succeeded in
bringing these last under some subiectIon. The
trail still appearing very cold. we made cast Oh
the oopnsile bank IF the creek, but with no bet.
ter success. The game had been there, but 1t
must have been very earl on the previous evening.
| In the meantime, old Drummer had got trail, aud
continued to work il with un'irlng perseverance
, The drag appearing to gro" warmer, we concud-
ed to bark the other dogs to him Echo aud ko-
yer soon gave tongue, Nac,lutf' and Nlmrod join
ed in Sui our best iox dog, old Milton, re-.
| fused To recognize the trail as legitimate; we
were now sure of the nature Of our game; It must
be a wild cat We continued to encourage the
dogs with increased anxiety. Atlast all of them,
younu and DID, acknoM lodged the trail, and grow.
ing into confirmed drag, it proceeds through
the river swamp, deep into the marsh lar along
the margin of the river, and then what crash!
Won might have heard them down the wind, three
miles of And now, swelling into louder and
still a louder strain, the quarry makes directly
for the spot where we had taken our stand, upon
the verge of the swamp, a. far IN as we could well
make our way We had raised our voices IN ex'
utjnn shout S, when the wild burst had told US,
the game was up. Blu, in the tumu,uous roar be-
hind him. every other sound was hu>hrd, and the
ca, made straight for US, either not hearing or
needing our halo.
! We were now still as statues-aDd the pack
came rushing on-the crashing Of the reeds, the
rending of the underground, the spiasolng of the
mud and water, and the deep mou'hed roaring Of
the hounds, uniting together, like the minsllne
tumults of a September gale, and seeming tG
rive TO the terrified animal, the wings OF the
wind He must have passed within ten steps Of
US, but owing TO the thick cover, We could not
catch a view. The pack. however. were upon
him. for they passed ia, running dog or IN line,
hot each emuIouslv dashing Tor the lead. The
cat seemed determined to try their mettle, and
beat them BY downright game. Contrary to
the usual practice Of the animal. he made
straight stretch over the highland along the Dor
der of Smith. old field. at such slash'ng rate,
that. to lie by them, made Madge blow like
hlacksmith's bellows on frosty morning. She's
little fat at present. and not long from grass
Finding this game could never last long; the ca
endeayored to throw them out by rapid success
sion Of ugly lodges, which bothered the young
dogs excessively.
Bu, old Milton was wide awake--he had fol
lowed too many foxes in his day. TO be out-gen
er,lled even bv wild cat He to"wed hin
cautiousl,, but unrelentingly, through all hi
circles and angles; and the whole pack winding
after HIM. with such close, and unremltt'ng as
siduity, that they only made two losses. sn'
then. Tor only two minutes Alter oirclIns to
about half an hour, in a very thick gum swamp
where he had great advantage over the dogs
:. Monsieur lie Chat" finding himself consider
Ii :; .dyance of the hounds, thought he nigh