Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-25
aJack" Russell.
The Last OF EngIand's Race of Orthodox
Hunting Parsons.

The Last OF EnEIand's Race of Orthodox
Hunting Parsons.
from Laboueheras London TRUTH
The Rev. Jack Russell, the last of the |
old school of hunting parsons, died at Black |
Torrington on Saturday. After his long and
dangerous illness last year he went to stay Mt |
Austry, on the borders of Exmoor, and was
greatly benefited by his residence there
About six weeks ago his health again failed,
and he went to Bude, in the hope that the sea
air might revive him; but he became rapidly
worse, and by his own wish he returned to
his rectory- house
ssParscn'' Russell was an enthusiastic
sportsman, but he Was also a jealous and
efficient parish clergyman and an earnest and
abrasive preacher. He never suffered his
smusements to interfere with his clerical du-
ties and his popularity among his parlshlon-
ers and neighbors of all classes was unbound
ed Although his income always Was small
| one his charities were munifcent and for
| wears he rendered valuable assistance to the
| hospitaIs and infrmariss of North Devon.
l Mr. Russell was ordained In 1890 by the
Bishop of Exeter, DIR. Pelham, the favor1fe
| of George ". After passing twelve years as
| curate of South Motion and afterwards OF
Iddesleigh he was nominated by the Dean of
| Exeter to the rectory of SEymbridge, near
Barnstaple, which he held for forty-hve
years, during which period he restored the
church, which is one of the finest in the dis
L trIce. In 1919 MI. huSS611 WAS pEcScAGcU W
Lord Poltimore to the rectory of Black Tor
rington, but, although this living was more
| valuable, yet it was in comparatively new
country and he never was really quite happy
after quitting Swymbridge, where he is to be
buried by his own express wish.
Mr. Russell hunted for the first time IN
| 1914, when he was out with the Devon and
Somerset staghOunds, of which the late Earl
| Fortescue was then master. When he went
| to South Motion he kept a small pack OF
| otterhounds and hunted regularly with the
pack kept by the well known PEARSON"
1 Froude, of Knowstone. On removing to
/ Iddesleigh MIR. Russell started pack of fox
hounds and showed such fine sport that he
| made his name famous as mighty hunter
throughout the west, and the Dukes OF
| Northumberland and Bedford, Sir William
Molesworth, Lord Clinton and other great
landowners gave him free leave to draw their
| covers whenever he pleased. Like the late
l Lord Wemyss, Mr.. Russell was able to ride
| almost any distance, and at this period he
1 often rode fifty miles to meet, hunted and
| rode home at night. On leaving Iddesleigh,
Mr. Russell sold his pack to Mr.. Hext, OF
Restormel, but within two years of his set
l ting at Swymbridge he started another pack
which he kept till 1871, when he sold then
/ to Mr.. Villebois, of Markham. He was, more
over q regular follower of the stag-hounds
, | on the neighboring Exmoor. OF late Mr.
l Russell kept few barriers, which he recent
I ~ bOlu, uOW6ESE, 10 DdH1ISS VI
land, who next season will hunt the Soutl
Hams country with them
For some time Mr.. Russell was q gooC
, deal worried by Bishop Phillpotts. Wit
, | thought that hunting clergyman must nee
, | essarily be Parson Trulliber but after
; l few years he succeeded in obtaining tina
| great prelate's confidence. 1t is related tina
: during the Bishops first visitation he was Oh
! his way to Barnstaple when there passed
. first, pack of hounds in full cry and then
,, long procession of horsemen in black coats
: whereupon the Bishop exclaimed to his chap
lain: Good heavens! this neighborhoo
, must have been afflicted by some fearful epi
. demic. never saw so many men in mourn
= ing before" The chaplain, who had recoe
nized his reverend brethren as they passed
made no reply. When Mr.. Durnford 9Th
well-known fellow of OrieD was settled at
parish near Exeter, he once encountered tn
). Bishop in what the latter considered very ur
clerical gsrb and he aecosted him with, pray
Mr.. Durnford, do you think your attire
quite suitable for clergyman to wear abor
70 1 his parish?" ''Oh! my lord was surprise
1t to find that my neckcloth had washed black.
|, | ooh, indeed then I suppose your trousel
q | have washed white?"