The New York herald., 1877-12-09
A DRAG HUNT.

THE QUEENS COUNTY HOUNDS on GOOD
scESr-AN EIoHT-MILE SPIN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
Lady Gay SpanSer knew what she was talking about
when she told sir Harcourt Courrly that thore was
harmony in the chorus OF a we-trained pack o! fox
hounds In Enaland the sport IS glorious
and enlis,s the sympathies OF the hghes,
and the lowest; In Ireland the mad excitement levels
all grades aod places the shaughraun IN the same
ranf Of tho chase as the squire, II he Is only as
we'll mounted. In America fox hunting has yet 10
make lis way INTO The very heart OF popularity to
attain which object the gentlemen OF the Queens
County HINT are doing all IN their power. Good
horses spirited chases, when foxes are TO be had,
ana hunts, either drag genuine. twice week arc
means adopiod by them. They have invariably done
their BEST the good results OF their efforts were
visible yesterday.
GOING TO
II generally Understood BY the farmers and
gentry in the viciuity Of Garden CITY that tho meet
was 10 be at New Casse ood, which TOUR miles east
OF Garden CITY. Early in tho morning many gen.
temen and lady, habited for spin
across tho country had from New
York, and about stood upon tho vcranda
OF tho hotel ,i.cu ssing the merits Of tho
srseds to be ridden the probabilities OF good
hunt and the weather. The latter could not havc been
more favorable II IL had beea made to order. There
was a thin OF frost thu ground, and though
tho northwcsterly wind was somewhat Keen and
searching IL was not too cold Tor healthIul exer-
else Ordinary rans 1o,asms yavs were rap,ay
thawing the surface aud moisteninR IT enough
retain scert admirably. From The hotel to
the stables the hunting party went shorty AFTER Inu
aay, and were all in the saddle than they
started Tor the rendezvous. New casse Wood. Most
OF the gentlemen tops, cords or buckskins and
were well mounted. The lady's stccd was particularly
noticeable at various points along Ito road specta-
tors arrived In wagons, rockaways pusgies ana gigs
and falling INTO limo behind the equestri ans, formed
quite picturesque spectacle. lnc route 10 the woou
was across the marvcously icvcl moor surround
ing Garlen CITY, On tho right the kennel; straight
ahead the trysting place Tho cavacadc OF hunters
ior huge party Of traders crossing the Plans in
equpages under the guidance OF genteiLaniy
scouts rroting quietly forward IN .no cenlro ., ns
man hailed with friendly greetnls as no crossed
the limo and madc directly ior New Cassoi Woov.
Shortly aftcrward everybody arrived ana exchanged
sautations In tho open glade on tho skirts OF tho
wood dozens OF conveyances laden with men and
women mad already assembled. Young rustics on
farm horses ono ON PAGER which Qisdsined TO break
into u sallop when urged with whip and spur; olners
on cobs, hacks nags and sturdy roadsters were
curveting, Looping and canter,ng about waiting Tor
Tho dogs 10 be put on me seem. ihcIo
group. One fellow, with only bride and q
saddle CLOTH bestrodc heavy plough horse, which
did not seem capable OF travelling faster 'aan i've
his legs danged lar below the sides OF ms Bucephuus
Tor mad he none, and no swung heavy ropes
wanted to urge his beast 10 greater speed
HUNT.
After n bricf delay tho huutsmen, the only persons
IN scarlet coats, rcmountcd their stecds aud drove
tho pack into The timber TO nnd tho scent Tue dogs
and snlned around IN every direction lor ABOUT
three minntcs when the leader yelped has discovery
and second tho whole pack we're on the scent
to The s0s ns nsn o
lowed in a lwnklIng First tAe hultsmen in
scarlet, then the black coats were seen Hitting
III ougn the wood. The pace MS last as could Do
made In this somewhat difficult spot-too fast, In
deed. Tor some OF Inc ambitious youth. VINO plunged
into tho hcadong at the first cry OF the dogs
Many now turned the road 10 avoid tho Jumps,
which were many ana dhcut The hunt now scpa-
rated into divisions-the hunters and the spccta
tors The Iormer. about twenty IN ALL followed the
coat OF the huntsmaD Who stuck TO his dogs
with clear grit; the latter took tho road skirng The
course OF the chase 10 tho best Of their
judgment. From the contagion Of a fox hunt no
human being Tree. IL spread to the men and women
in tho wagons, who wanted 10 outsrip the horsemen
II they could. They lasbed their beasts n frenzy,
drove them at gaop over the rough, uneven sur
lace OF tho plain 70 the eastward, whittier
they lclt sure 'ne fox was running. The iox! Ay
tho fox!n was calculated. "Wno saw him?" ''Which
tho eve by the rise ana ia Of red ana black coats
the fields beyond as those who wore them icapcd
the next ono. There tney goi Look out They
are conf ng tho Hicksvile road shouts tue
driver ofa spanking team leading mo vchcics eacn OF
which Is now striving TO be hrst TO Hcksvile. "Ay
sure enough, here they comc'' IS shouted on
all sides, tho dogs arc seen making
for the fence loading INTO the road. NO.
BY Jove! thelold cuss has ooublca them end il
going of to tho north,n sang out "Uncle Jack"
well Enown character Garden City, and away III the
opposite direction shoot the packed riders after
the quarry; but hero and there one Of them
down the rail Of fence. wh,ca Tear or
the knowledge Of his horses weakness forbade him
jump The Trim little figure otho only lady riding
IN the held is seen by side with the best OF tho
Again. the chase swerves 10 the eastward,
then to the northeast and into the elen where Inc
riders are hidden IRON the spectators altogether.
Nothing remains for these now but 10 hurry
along the road winch leads TO tha.
pD sop Of their speed they 60 Meanwhile The gallant
huntsmen faithfully following the hounds over
difficult and somewhat daaserous piece o. country,
men, 'is very last" Away 10 tho north.
go tho hounds, and now they arc on their way 10
Jcrcno, CROSSING ianes. dikcs and railway tracks
The well strong and the dogs can follow
IT at tho top Of ,ner speed. In an hour thcy
have run over a course which, from the
would measure eight miles. No serious. accidents
have happened lar, and tho Held Is we'll
up with tho pack Tho dogs enter WOOD ono mule
later the sweaty toamng teams drawing the vehicles
come at gailop up the turnpike aud as they reach
emerge from II. followed by tho laughing brighteyed
and ruddy riders.
'Have you caught the iox so soonY" is brcathlessy
demanded by LAZY IN buggy.
.'Yesl oh. yes" Is the good natured reply.
who got tne brush 7"
.'Ha nai We all did"
.'Now, Mr. -, was there really a fox'" Is pout.
tpgly put by the far inquirer
mo. There really Was no fox"
"oh! How provoking! Was IL only a drag huut?"
II. was only drag hunt. but dcuced good one"
This was rcaly letting tho ca rather the seod out
OF the bag, which had been drawn over Tho ground
cary in tue morning. A good natured laugh in-
dugea in all round, and the nnnters aud Spectators
dcrghted with the days SPORT returned TO Garden
CITY IN the order IN which they had OUT for New
Cassel Wood. t3't*@
BOXING IN BROOKLYN.
Arthur Selick Of this city. and Nathan Allen, Of