Arkansas intelligencer., 1857-04-24
The Great Match Hunt.

terest IN such sport, we give the result of the
great match hunt which came of on Thurs
day the 10th inst, between our veteran
sportsman, DIR. r. Thruston, and DR.. c. f.
Brown, of this city, will be of interest to
sporting gentlemen. For their benefit we
give the particulars. A short time previous
to the day fixed for the hunt, Dr. Thruston
having selected Messrs. John Thruston and
Wescott, as his party. and challenged DIR.
Brown to meet him with any two gentlemen
he might select, in a trial of sportsmanshp in
the open field. The game to be birds and
the wager to be paid by the defeated party,
a sportsman's supper. DIR. b. promptly ac-
cepted the challenge, and selected Messrs. J..
NJ. Clemm and G. r. Settoon. All the pre-
lmlnarIes were speedily arranged, and the
character Of the game designated with the
number each species should represent, settled
as follows:
article of agreement
"AIl species Of plover, (viz,) gray plover,
yellow leg or tatlers, small size menlin plover
or small tatlers, pipers, curew, jack snipe,
woodeock, grouse, partridge and ducks
Woodcock and grouse to count FIVE scalps,
all others one scalp"
Thursday morning came coldly, the wntrv
like clouds settled on the sky, and the wind
came like the chill breath of a northern No
vember. Such weather the hunter of the
partridge, quail and plover, loves as much as
the English fox hunter loves "a southern wind
and a eiondy sky" All appeared in the city
at an early hour, each hunter well mounted
and equipped, their steeds eager 10 bear therl
to the field, as they seemed willing for the
contest. There is strange charm in field
sports that seems to inspire the horse and the
hunter, and willingly they enter upon them.
to the ferry boat, which pushed off toward
the opposite shore of the river, meanwhile
they waved their caps, and sent many ring
ing laugh back over the surface of the broad
river. They were gone TO US, yet anxiously
we awaited the result Our editorial inky
heart was with them, and it at least, we
wanted to return in time to partake Of the
supper with the victor and the vanquished.--
The hours having been fixed at the time be-
tween seven O'Clock, a. m. and four p. m, we
return soon after the last mention
ed hour. 1t seemed to us long time. Anx-
iety always lengthens time, but we consoled
ourself by thinking
THAT come what come may,
Time and hour wear thro' the QongesO day"
And so they did, and four o'clock came
and soon after came the hunters, but as yet
the victors knew not that they had won, nor
the vanquished that they we're beaten. One
by one the hunters gathered around. :. the
birds were counted. Towards the last ~ = IRE
was silence. "Once in heaven for hal, an
hour" DIR. rs party counted I6O; DR.. B's
l64, and such shout as went up then from
the worn and fatigued hunters, can only be
given by men who have triumphed. We
shouted when we heard Of Fremont's defeat,
but we didn't feel better than the victors for
the moment. Gentlemen who win a match
so honorably and we'll contested, have right
to exult we thought, and we joined thinking
that it was best to rejoice with those who re-
joice, and weep some other time. The re-
snlt as before stated, showed
DR.. b. l64
Dr. L. l60
Dr. B's party winning by 4
Total number killed, 324
All the gentlemen who were concerned in
the hunt deserve great credit, and the de-
feated as well as the victorious show them
selves fne marksmen, and more equally
contested match hunt, or more successful
one, we can safely say has not come of this
season, when we take into consideration the
fact that the birds were wild, and were most
ly taken on the wing by "shots of single
birds At night we complied with our in
vtation and attended the game supper given
at the bachelor rooms OF George L. White,
E., where birds were piled up like Egyptian
pyramids IN immature, and not very small
miniatures either, and wine flowed about
their bases in current like that of the Nile
by those resting places of Egypt's dead
We grew classical in reflections, happy
at heart, amiable towards the world and full
enough for utterance. Long live we say the
hunters of Arkansas we cherish thor, ,,d
our supper in memory. Wonder if the Fort
Smith hcnters can beat this hunt
Ep Among the items CT the bill of fare
provided for the crowd who took part in the
Ierplschorean finale or the Inauguration cere.
monies, were the following: $4,000 worth Of