The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-03
CALIFORNIA,s NEW sPORE.
Tho Theory and Prnoiice Of Dare Coursina--
a Day with the Dogs.

Coursng is not California sport,
the st tie l. evidently to give It Whatever sh re
Pioneer Coursne Ciub--the only orisniz lion Of
the kipd IN the United states has Introduced
hare hunting on this coist. ihe clno has been
In existence several Years. lts annu | meetings
are neld IN November. usually In the San Joa-
gum Hey, where barcs are most numerous
ard the country best adapted for the sport.
MERGED is generally chosen - the rcnd zvOus
On Tuesdv afternoon, tho members of the
club In San Francisco recommended by friends
started for Mercc by the 4 %, lock train. The
dogs, rags, shotguns valises. ana 3. ortsmen
comfort ably filed two cars. The journey was
not pleasant on for those not deeply inter
estcd IN =" dog talk. Inc whole town OF Mer-
ced-that Is to saw, the seventy five saloon keep
crs. four livcry-stanlc mon, three gruoefa, aud
few obscure cit teens had assam bed TO receive
tho visitors. There was startling premium on
teams, and seedl ni,gs, that would never have
town, were eagerly bid for.
In the pool buying every one took hand.
Gentleman Jones, having won last year. was the
favOrte. Judge Penuie riskeJ trade dollars ON
him In a way that was wildly indiscreet
sOclock IN the morhing the start IA made
Behind comes motley cavalcade indistinctv
seen through the cloui Of aust. FOur-horse
stage coaches Jolt over the squirrel holes.
buck board" teams skim pist them, diiapi-
dated uuggies rattle long tue plain, and ank
mustangs piod win niallible SURROUNDINGS
through the gOphcr-holes. A. the distance
from home increases, the lndian file Of vehicles
anu hOrsenen bee mes broken. lne mist 10 Is
heavy and thick over tho brown plain On we
no. keeping IN sight Of the hotel Keepers white
dusfer A mare, feeding IN some stubole bv the
side Of tue trail. crOuches down aud watches
the strangers In avn, cement until pistol outlet
rouses hm TO a sense Of personal danger, when
he speeds away amid chorus OF bowls from
sfraggitnR dOgs VINO are with difi 'ulty held In.
ploughmen rein In heir long teams and stare.and
"a vauIerO turns nis mustang ana comes ut "A
wild Hop toward tue -pOItsinen. vita his arms
ana legs II ing ana MS BODY swdfin- IN the man
ner peculiar To Mex % riders. Now va sweryc
from inc trail anu follow wagon track running
by acteek. soma OF the mustangs are begin
d.
dropped FAR ba q toward the horizon. Even
the best horses SLOW that the sharp ride hns
told on them, when the hOtei-keeptr halts At a
rckety old b,rn. ilere the sport l. 10 BEGIN.
Al list the stragRlors have alt arrived win the
execution uf few VINO, either from tad huisc-
manship, or slow mustangs, have been left 20
far behind that tt would be foolish u wait for
them. Ex-~nerif Adams. President OF the
CLUB. nov assumes direction and announces tn q
no dogs Will Os ..llowed TO run loose. ami there
must be no shooting wlihin half mile Of the
teams. Tue latter announcement falls with
crushing eject on party OF Yerdant sportsmen
who have brought shOt.uns In the belief that
the object of tho club Is to XIII the greatest pos
sinlc number of hares. The dogs are all tied no
with the exception Of MIR. Aulms'- Ruler and
DaVIdsDn'- sand t. which ave placed on tue sii.,-.
Inc teams form m iine. VITA a II Id steward ON
either SIDE. Inc Judge rides aoOut nftt Yards
nhrau. and the shpper Frank TAYLOR, follows.
holding the dogs. iney nave got about ono
hundred yardt FROM tue Darn when DR.. S.arkey.
aticr valiant tussls WIKI two impatient dOls. Is
Nanquished anu Tue beasts charge directly ~
from Of the dogs in slips.
"H lti" ruars She j idge, In a stentorian voice.
- W hose dogs are tuOsel
The doctor aCk DOwIedses reluctantly that he
u the UNI tpDy owner.
Fined 20. sir. 60 ahead. Mr.. Judge"
The dogs are cduEht aud the cas- lcade ad-
vances iifty yards Turner, when hare springs
from huuch OF weeds. and IS a hundred yards
"a nefnre the dog. -ee H. When tney DO Iney
plunge furiuu-iv forward. dragging the sIipper
after them. lie nplds them lew moments
unu tneV are Al aiming eyenly on the slil. when
he pulls the rprng aud they are gone like
iias1. -Four hundred yards On n straight line aud
tney have turned tho ire. In tue next hun
dred, Ruler IA doing all the running, when the
attention Of the spectators is drawn to a black
dog which has arrived with new conner. and
Joined ~ the chase. Ihs other dogs outfun
him easily. however, aud before he come up.
the n r. e-capes III the weeds. The teams
halted when tne dogs were slipped. aud none
but the owners or Cepuized PERSONS are
permitted TO 20 after tho dogs. The Juigj rides
~ a full Tailop u, close ~ mis- horss can run to
tho hounds. for the race Is judged uy pulnts, and
It ~ necessary 70. MIN To De near at hand when
the hare. ~ Us de tn s'ru zee. twists nnd turns
to avoid the relentless pur-uers. AGILITY In turn
Ing, bursts pf SPEED. and success In killing the
hare, are "a u rewarded by cert IN number OF
points \ rae seen al The distance oi several
different aspects. and tne owner who Is Drhind
rarely entertain, tho uno opinion as the Jddge.
ent race being decided IN Rulers favor. the
President again asserts himself;
Nv no owns INIT black dugf"
A meek old gentleman, Leading the wretched
Culprit, replies. " Mr. 4 m
Fine Mr. Parr s.. Goahead. Judge"
This time Dominica Shannon's Empress and
Jerome DeAsN's Salie kearns are Ia the slips.
me teams press litua closer on the slipper.
when deuented hare, which might escape by
llng still. bounds into view. shannon tarOws
the dOgs on. AMI In 20 Yards the hare is turned
ly Empress. wto shows wonderful speed.
lirfled on straight run. puts turns back and IS
met by Shie kearrs. VINO misses ner. Empress
az in TAX Is tn- Lead. and. alter several turns,
c'eveIly Kills wifhin % yards II the team. En-
ires- - an easy VISOR, . other dog scarcely
scoring point.
The mist mas long since cleared away. and. far
az the eye can retcn. yellow stuDbif ana brown
Trarie stretch towsrd the horizon. Aftinst
TINS dark ground tho red jacket OF the lge
looks picturesque ana harmonious. 80 lac
und Whiie habit - a country Lads VINO /
den up to --e the chase - IN pleasing contrast
- the orOa icloth and linen n the city fllS.
Ilither aud thtner over the plan tue cavAc4ue
wanders after tue jadge. thn tramp ot horses
and rattle ut wagons startling the res, winch
otherwise wound lac close ana elude the dogs.