The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-21
FOX HUNTING IN OHIO.

Iva 44ON4AxNO AN VxAAVs
LANCASTER March Ii. 1874.
took the five O'Clock express yesterday morn.
ing for Halford's station, where had been invited
to participate in grand circular fox hunt, sport
for which the good old county Of fairfield Is becom-
ing deseryedly famous. arrived at my destina-
ton just as the earliest CLEAN OF the morning
sum- was sprinxiing its gold upon the tops OF the
tallest trees and the East was beginning to nusn
with royal crims0ns and imperial puppies. and by
the time l reached the hunters appointed rem
devious. two miles across the country, through .
vista OF a background ridge, striking the landscape
into gladdaning light. poured the iustre OF the
risen sun, proclaimng fine day Tor the chase. As
early as it WAS l found gOodiy crowd
already assembled, and everything in thrill.
ing commotlon. Here stood Halford's old
fashioned two story inn, clustered around
whose door found fifty or sixty sturdy
countrymen, in hunting suits OF jeans and cordu.
roy, and large pack OF gaunt looking hounds.
HalfOrd himself a short. square built man, was
busy welcoming his guests, talking to this one,
laughing with that. and kicking the hounds gen.
orally ont OF his way with explosives more EN-
phatic than plOus. 1t was Enthusiastically q gala
day with the good denizens oil the surroundin g
country, and fresh arrivals were constantly pour.
ing in, until the requisite number for forming the
outer line was attained.
Perchance, just here, description OF the man
ner In which these hunts are conducted would not
come amiss At least 500 men and boys invariably
take part In the sport, and we have known more
than 1000 to be 'iu At the death.' The hunt Is
thoroughly advertised couple OF weeks before the
designated day. officers elected, and all prelim-
nares arranged. such as appointing the rem
devious, one to the NORTH south, east and
west. From these rendezvous the men, under
viduals allowed to DO mounted, take up their sta
lions until limo has been formed inclosing an
area OF about ten miles In circumference and at
the firing OF signal gun, the only one allowed on
the grounds, the ene0mpassing circle begins to
converge toward a common centre, tue signal hav-
ing been carried from mouth to mouth until the
entire line had been traversed. The first glimpse
Of fox the signal for the hunters to indulge in
genulty can suggest and drums gongs, horns and
horse-nddles are The commonest Instruments OF
the music
In yesterdays hunt quite a sprinkling OF ladies
PARTICIPATED and they evlnCed all the energy,
esprit aud excitement Of the men. keeping up with
the lines like heroes ana shouting at the top Of
their gentle voices They are apparelled In an adj
mlrable style LOT the chase in close-fttlng lrocks
At word from the grand marshal the hounds
were leasned aud our portion OF the line 70 rmed,
was commenced through an extensive niece of
woodland Away we went right merrty, through
the grand OLD woods, with 1t hundreds OF scanned
columns around us; away W went over sprouts,
herbs ana plants. ferns and mosses lchened rocks,
through thlckets, low bushes and creeping vnes the
whole scene pewlldernS the eye and stimulating
the fancy The rolling landscape was now iun OIL lie.
wandering breeze swept gently over the country
from the south; the great, speckled sapsucker,
with an upward Slide cutcned the bark OF some old
tree, and ratified with his black beak until echo
laughed again tho crow winnowed his sable shape
over The tallest trees the quail arose vita whirr
and shot before us; the ground squirrel
made brown streak along the messy
no nf
bushes hard by, and the RABBIT jerking his long
ears, bounded athwart our winding path. Pres
emily we came TO q beautiful upland OF open trees
and luXuriant grass, though dead and sere, and
beyond which stretched away to the forest,
like yellow streak, the first lox OF the day was
seen. This was the Juncture Tor the advancing
OF gOngs horns, hOrse-nddles and drums, mlngling
with the equally 0lssOnant vocallsns OF man and
emerged out upon the meadow, nom away beyond
plunged. came tine dull murmur OF the
line. '0 while nom our right and lett the
din arose more clear and distnct. 1t was plainly
obvious to ALL after we had advanced about haI
way across the meadow, that the spOils OF the
hunt promised to be abundant, as every now
and then fox was seen, Tor a Meeting instant
AZ it burst anrightedly out upon the meadow
and then scooted back with flowing tell and
ears erect, mo tne t recesses OF the woods:
that we were hemming IN at least four or five OF
the cunning animals, and the feelings OF hunter
men nhoOped ana ha!looed In most al. bOhcal
manner, and dogs plunged and hOwied ana
yelped IN their traEtic efforts TO break The bonds
whicn bound them.
Eventually the officers gave orders for IN
creased speed, and at once stampede OF the
widest DESCRIPTION occurred On we dashed 10
the utmost AFFINITY OF our legs ana lungs over hill
and vale, brush pile, fence and log on on IN
frantic confusion, utterly regardless OF lie and
limb, until we had reached q point
ABOUT hall mile rom the grand centre
which was in a wild gloomy ravlne, or depression,
with gradually sloplng hills envlronmg. Here the
lines were systematically shaped again. and we
lelsurey. When the commencement oil the
carpment was reached most thrilling and invig-
Orating spectacle burst upon our vision. Below,
dartIng hither and thitner IN bewilderment and
alright, were lever than four splendid speci-
mems OF the lupine family.
Here the lines came to q halt, for In accordance
with the existing rules the hounds were to do the
remainder or the work. Accordingly they were
unleasned, and sent leapng, iuli-mouthed, down
excitement ensued rs the mounds began the chase
below. One fox, fine, sleek two-year DID,
With a iearlessness foreign to its nature,
by three yeping hounds straight ior the opposite
line. No amount OF yelllng could deter or iuln him
aside. On he went until within dozen ieet OF
leap which would have carried him safely over
their heads had not q heavy club checked him in
his flight and lad hun beautiful, quvering mass
The hounds soon made short work of two more
of the Inflated animals, but the lourth vigorous
| old fellow, made such splendid play with his loco
motive Apparatus that Or q quarter OF an hour
the dogs were bailied IN their exertiOns to catch
! him. He doubled, tented and man0euvred with
precision and shrewdness that we were In
earnest hopes would effect his escape, but finally
he was cOrnered, bounced upon and torn limb
! from limb D. the inurlated hounds
The loxes were carried back to Haford's in
satisfactory manner to all concerned.
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