The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-13
MAJ. JACK DowNNG's LAST.
From rHE LOG CABIN, NORTH BEND.

FROM THE LOG CABIN, NORTH BEND.
To my feaop-eifizens from NeV Orleans 10
Dopningrille, and from Salt Wafer 10 he
Lake. Waters, up and doaen the country
and cross mise.
FelIosD- Citizens Ever since the world begun
all the hunts and chases tell'd on in all parts Of
creation haint been only mere flea hunt TO the
rale for chase that has just been completed in
these United States, by the grace Of God free
and independent at last.
Ii has been known 10 every body that for the
last ten years il has been impossible to hatch
eggs, or raise poultry, or TO trust any thing at
large ofthat natur--night arter night and day ar
Ter day-nest arter nest and chicken arter chick
en-, was destroyed by the foxes, and they got so
bold and brazen al last they would come into the
poultry-yard in open day, or any where else, and
kept the hull feather'd tribe a hacking pretty
much all the while. At first the folks got traps
and dogs but il got so at last, that the foxes
got so numerous, il was jist as much as dog S
life was worth 10 attack 'em-and folks begin 10
despair-especially as il was found Out that all
the Younger foxes got their directions from one
raIe sly for, who as yet never had been track
ed, or trap'd or driven to his hole; he was erery
phere, in erery State, almost at the same time.
And wherever he was reported to De, there IT
was found all the other foxes was most knowing
and most impudent So IL was concluded that
il was no use 10 try and trap the common run of
foxes but, ifpossible, make general rally in all
the States, and give chase to this old for espe-
cially-and not give up till he was run TO his
hole, and then dig him out-for II was thought
if he was only caught, all the rest would be
pretty scarce. Well, this matter being agreed
upon, the first thing next TO be done was TO Sc
lect good iong-arinded leader of the chase
one who would not give out, and whose horn
could be heard furthest. And so we all agreed
upon Old Iip,-and we got him pretty well
mounted. and he sounded his horn, and Its echoes
went up and down rivers, and across valleys,
and over mountains, till folks all about creation
got well acquainted with the sound,-and, on a
given day, they assembled at all their stations,
and put in practice the fen general rules OF the
chase, capering little round, and having few
sham chases, Jest to git nimble, and then on a
signal from Old Tips horn they all started, and
sich chase, as said afore, as then began, the
hull created world has never before seen-ior IL
was an everlasting wide and long country to
chase over, and no one knowing yet where the
for would first break kiser, all hands at first
went TO work beating the bush. The first track
was struck in louisiana, and about 5000 give
chase there, and run him out OF that State-and
he streaked away North as hard as he could clip
it, and knowing all the secret by-ways, escaped
till he reached the State Of Maine The Maine
boys were wide awake, and as soon as they struck
his track there, they raised an almighty shout and
headed him off He then sheared off to N. Hamp-
shire, where they are pritty much all tor-and
there for spell took breath But hearing the com
ing shout he struck for Vermont in hopes the
screen Mountings" would furnish a kirer,-but
they were all awake there, and about 5000 folksjn
ed in the chase, and he remained no longer in VT.
than he could get out ont "Well thinks he s'this
is pritty te work. and Pm off South agn, for they
must be friendly to me there, seeing as how
telrd all the foxes to be civil to the Southern
Chickens, and he slipt along to Georgia
The georgia folks, however, not liking the natur
Of the breed, had already called their fox hunters
together, and on the first show OF track they all
opened and about 5000 give chase there in
most noble stle, and he turned tail and run to-
wards the middle States. In passing through
the old North State of Carolina, he finds things
too wide awake there to stop minit-and jist
so it continued all the way through Maryland,
Delaware and Pennsylvania-though he bother
ed the hunters plagily in Pennsylvania, for they
don't understand for hunting much in that
State-except in few counties especially in
Bucks county, and that is the reason why in
that county they always have good poultry and
plenty ont. So he continued North. In Con-
necticut and Rhode Island they gave him an
amazing close run-and no time to stop or double,
and eenmost caught him. As for Massachusetts,,
he knew pritty well he stood no chance there,
and so you see but one strait chase across-a.d
taking bite in New Hampshire, he tried for
New York and run considerable well and COM
fortably along the Hudson-but such howl as
met him in the west was shiverer for him and
he sheered off for Ohio, but that was out OF the
irving pan into the hot ashes-and looking
around him and seeing all ready in the States
some 10000, some $4,000, some more, some less
securing the country and prepared to track
thinks he its no use to the rictor belongs the
spiles was the doctrine of my party and may
as well go for it to the last" and he made dead
track to the Log Cabin at the North Bend
with about 10000 Buckeyes arter him and Old
Tip at the head on em l was standing near
the door and seed him coming, and now thinks
here goes for Log Cabin mercy and hospi-
tally and opened the door and in he streakd-
and just then came up Old Tip all of lather.--
He is safe" says |, Gineral-we have got
him snug at last.o
Well" says the Gineral to his friends, fell
low-ctiZens the chase is up; the old fox is in my
possession and hope that you will be satisfied
that the Major and will take good care of him,
and give good account of him. He is not in
condition just now to be held up by the tail-he
has had hard run and is considerably siled
but he'll do no more hdrm,-le all go home and
let their poultry out as in good times. You will
not be troubfd by foxes for good spell TO come,
and if you are, its your own fault, not mine."-
And with that all join'd in three hearty cheers
for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too"-and thus
ended one Of the greatest fox chases ever heard
tell'd on afore, and have only told very small
part ont
Yours, fellow-citizens,
J. DOWNING, Major, &c. &c.
ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT