Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-22
A PHANTOM FOX.
How a Presidents Widow is Inter.
ested in an Animal ImpenetrabIe tn
Bullets

BdshViue American.
1t is not generally known that fov
cnases frequently occur right in the heart
Oi tnls city. These chases do not partake
OF the nature of the regular meets. lint
occur spasmodically, aud depend entirely
upon the Willingness of Reward to leave
MS ark OF safety, which is no less a place
thah the spacious lawn and grounds by
Mnlcn the Polk mansion is surrounded.
All the toX chases, and they are not fire.
quent, occur whenever the animal is dis
covered on the street by boys or young
men, and some of them have proved very
exciting.
The history of this fox is quite interest
ing. He was presented to Mayor Phillips
by Mr.. Thomas Ballew, on the night of
the last city election. A party that went
around early the next morning serenading
Mayor Phillips and the ten Councilme1
who were elected, carried the fox with
them. The animal had a collar around
its neck, to which was attached a chain.
the other end of which was made fast to
Mr.. BalleW's saddle. The fox rode on the
horses back, behind Mr.. BaIlew. and
being very tame, frequently climbed on
his shoulders. When the party were in
West Nashville, near the residence of
PRESIDENT j. b. Byrne, Of the City Coun-
eli, some OF the serenading party cut the
cOIIaF on the foX's neck, and the animal
jumped OH the horse and ran away, This
was literally running the ''Red Fox'' out
of town.
1t was next seen at the fair grounds
when DIR. Carver had his "Wild West,
ENhlDltlon there, and was frequently run
INTO the woods during that week by the
Indians of Dr.. Carver's company, who
took great delight in firing at it. DR.. Car
yer heard one of the chiefs say that the
toX was the spirit of his brother, who had
dled out West short time since, and was
following him over the country. The
doctor laughed sarcastically at the chief,
and the latter told him if he did not be-
IeVe IL was spirit fox, to try to shoot it,
This nettled the doctor, who, il is well
known, is one of the champion wing
shots of the world, and he agreed
with the chief that he would kill the fox
at the first shot of the rifle or set ND
the drinks. The Indian ordered the
drinks, the doctor fired-the fox ran away
unscathed and the Indian tainted the
doctor into taking five more chances at
tne toX on the same terms. The story goes
that the fox appeared five times after
wards, the doctor shot at him five times.
and the big chief took five more drinks
OF Tennessee fire water, with the usual
toast that the great Manitou was protect
ing the fox, in which form the spirit of his
brother would follow him until he died,
when he would also turn into a fox and
they would cavOrt around the country
after the "Wild West" show together.
IL is Well-authenticated fact that this
red fox, which is known as the Esprit
fox" has been shot at hundreds of times
by some of the best marksmen in town,
and to all appearances has never been hit
As for the hairbreadth escapes at the
mouths of the innumerable bands of half
starved dogs that infest the suburbs and
prowl around the city, there is no telling
how many Reynard has had.
When in Mrs. Folks place the fox runs
around the grounds apparently as we'll
contented as dog, and it is stated that
the venerable and stately widow of the
dead President has become quite interested
in the now celebrated animal