The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-07
A DRAG HUNT.
Increasing Popularity Of the
.1@s4 Noble Sport.
L BIGGEST FIELD YET OUT.
Chase Over a Rather
Stiff Country. t&

work would been found rnther dncult DO DOUBT,
FOR breeze too strong 10 permit scent 70 lie
very well; but for frolic with the hounds after
"dragn it proved perfectly satisfactory. The regular
mects of the Queens county hounds are hold on
Wednesdays and Saturdays but yesterday being cleo
ton day. It determined 10 take occasion by the
hand aud utilize the holiday for sporting purposes II
proved good move, Too bringing out large field and
aGording splendid sport indeed Tor those who were
fortunate enough 10 attend.
The neld was larger and the non-rdiug spectators
more numerous thanat any previous hunt. This shows
the sport is growing in popularity, and indeed
Is not Tho only indication OF advancement this
direction Those who 60 once with or even alter the
hounds are pretty do again, notwithstand-
ing the many disadvantages In the way OF the aspir
ing American lox-huntcr. But these disadvantages,
apparensy enough to prove serious hindrance,
may be turned to account as an incentive 10 creator
ardor pursuit Of this manly sport. IT'S something
be able difficulties which at hrst blush
apparently unconq ucrabc, and to ride ater hounds
across q rather dIflcult country on native horse
that u mpea BEFORE or only In worry small
way, is no little Of a triumph. Such, however, is
the experience OF some of patrons Of the chnse
Long Island and 1t difficult TO predict 10 what
extent this innovation may yet CO. Tho American
troer about developed to his greatest speed
the American jumper may yet be brought to achieve
AZ extraordinary performances In another direction.
But to the days sport
Judging by Mondays ram and tho cloudy sky OF
Monday night, ono would have scarcely expected
fair day to follow Fortunately u dawned brightly,
however; indeed bright enough to recall tho
oil Mr. Bragg on his famous day With the Puffnton
hounds, "a little too much san sIrl little too much
sanl This OF course was in real iox.hunting c0un-
try where they are very particular In the article Of
sary requisite OF good sport Fair days here do not
often or seriously interfere with the chase.
But the windthat was little strong II must be
tossed OF course Hampstead PLAINS arc broad and
bare enough TO induce vasrant brcczcs happening to
pass saa ana or 81
much plain is stfong temptation to any passing gale
TO turn aside from negbboring woods for while aud
with lrcer sweep over this FIAT surface
Residents hcreabouts seem ~ know this, and with
shrewdness characteristic OF tho people they chain
their trees stakes and sink the foundations OF their
houses lar down in the sandy soil to prevent the
slbilily OF their being blown away. But you can't
anchor as you can troe and hounds mast not
be considered greatly at fault If they scatter little
| tho start on such day.
THE RENDEZVOUS.
| Garden City was the rendezvous yesterday, and q
cheerful company gathered 10 see the meet and
participate tho sport The meet as usual, was set
O'Clock, and before that hour ladies' in riding
habits and gentlemen In pink coats, boots and
| breeches, were moving to and fro with activity
wsaa mat famed the people cold While lunch was
being In the dining rooms OF the hotel, gro0ms
| were gathering without the mouse, leading saddlci
hunters forth 10 keep their blood astr until
their riders camo forth TO spring into the saddle and
| make Nready lor the run. moro tnan nail
| in front Of the hotel and others continued to
arrive from all directions. ''rnere comes
and with his old crlppe,n jealous horse owner
would say Dcighbof advanced intending 70 get a
Wow OF me chase III see - Is out To- day" .Do
| you think the Doctor Is comingf" "Where Is tho
run 10 beY'' These were The questions agitaled
portion least OF the observers before the hounds
arrived Meantime everybody was getting mounted.
some got on their horses at tho notcl and praDccd
about Tor the admiration OF the observers GU tho
piazza and in tho wagons. Others mounted at tho
| sta
the hotel IL was happy, hearty sort OF gathering.
all aglow with anticpatons OF the sport ahead.
| PRESENT.
The field bed many new iaccs and was quito large
enough glad tho heart Of an old iox hunter Before
| Mr.. f. Gray Grswold, Master OF the Hounds, and
Fitzpatrick the WHIP cast up, there wcro In pink, al
ready mounted, Mr.. Belmont Purdy, Mr. Robert Cen
ter, Mr.. Herman Oelrichs and Mr.. u. ZborowskL The
dark coated sen.lomea also mustered Largely Mr..
| Clarence Lcvey was on his mare Nannine. Mr. Frank
muster Mr. w. Il. Peet rode his big gray marc Ave-
lima. Mr. Arthur Bender and Mr.. Storzer, OF the Now
YORK Riding club also cas-. up eoin wei mounted.
mounted = bocky pony that proved a GOOD jumper,
though small for stin cross country work Mr.
G. Elder Jr., rodo bay. Mr. Ticehurst rode chest
nut cob. Only ladies on horseback joined in the
Three or tour grooms rode the horses Of their
| employers, and the countryside numerously rep
resented BY tho time the dogs were seen approach
ing number OF carriages had grcay Increased, the
crowd was larger about hotel and activity
greater The usual nxiety on the part OF
| light wagons to get to the front was manifested and
the result general skirmish Tor foremost place.
There was only moments dstention OF
tho pack at tho, hotel, and thcn Mr.. Grs-
void moved of IN northwesterly direction
toward some about mile OF. rnere tho hunt
| was commence. Whom the dogs were turned loose
they dashed right and lott evidently most eager for
Tbe wagons formed long line on the road 10 tho
east and the hold was scattered just OIL the road
| and skirting tho brush. Some horscmcn found II a
and company OF the dancing, FESTIVE steods others
from ncxpcrience and too eager desire TO DC hrst
'suoLD HARD, GENrLEMES IL
| Some In pink cried 10 others In black coats, "For
goodness sake hold hard, gentlemen don't ride over
dogsI aud the eager ones checked their mpetuos-
ny and gave tho dogs better chance 10 work. After
running through 70 the north little way some
OF The hounds werc featLering along strip OF
brush running eastward AZ this stage, with very lit
Ito delay they got together and directly went on
the Ss By
clcverest oil the pack the hounds struggled on little
slowly nrsl but alter crossing two or three elds
nign scent. The pace having been slow
up to this and timber very sT ut the start tn
whole field for n whilo we'll up. Dir. Center was
the frst TO get croppcr, his horse swervins TO the
second field and sending him on ~ an opp0-
angle as The
working ely together headed northward, Leading
across road on which the carriages accompanying
the chase were nil strung out In line. over a low
fence into this road tho horsemen jumped one alter
another giving the observers the benefit OF iu view
II was Interest ng enough witness this
| ofjumps, there might have been some danger in
| thus crowdlng toward spot there was some
delay al critical moment Whom the last OF the
horsemcn had gotten INTO tho road the PACK had
gain ed considerably them, and were now heading
| sharply toward tho northeast, accompanied by Mr.,
| Griswod aud tho Whip, anu closely pursued by MT.
Pcet, Mr. Center and Mr. ZborowskL Mr. Oclrichs, Mr..
Lcvey, MI. Bondcrand Mr. Sorzer were speeding away
behind the other horses were close together not
| far IN the rear. Presently Mr. Storzef's horse
camo TO his knces AFTER getting over pretty hgh
fence ana throw his RIDER striking him slightly in the
face with hts leg Ia tho struggle TO regain his feet.
Mr. Bender 10 assist his friend ana the others
drew away. About the ninth or tenth Jump Mr..
Oelrchs charged his horse, struck tho top ran aud
went headforemost into road beyond. Mr.. OoIrchs,
ia consequence, had pretty bad cropper but assist
| apce was promptly on hand, ana when extricatcd
from tho OF fallen and struggling horse
| he remounted again and renewed the chase
| pretty soon after he thrown out alto
gotner, not, however, IN consequence Of
| any great injury from tho fall Tho icnco that
threw Mr.. Oeircns' horse served to stop consider
able NUMBER OF Others Tor whilo as least when
Tow rails had been removed they proceeded, some
gong way, some another, hoping DY cutting on
the corners TO como we'll at tue nuish. In ths few
were successful ana these mad numerous jumps Il