Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
A MYSTERIOUS FOX.
An Animal That is Claimed to he Bull
Iet-PrOef.
Nashville American.

1t is not generally known that fox
chases frequently occur right in the
heart of this city. These chases do
not partake of the nature of the reg
ular meets, but occur spasmodically,
and depend entirely upon the willing
ness of renard to leave his ark of
safety, which is no less place than
the spacious lawn and grounds by
which the Polk mansion is surrounded.
All the fox-chases, and they are not
frequent, occur whenever the animal
is discovered on the street by ooys Or
young men, and some of them have
proved very exciting.
The history of this fox is quite in
teresting. He was presented to Mayor
Phillips by Mr.. Thomas Ballew, on
the night of the last city election. A
party that went around carly the next
morning serenading Mayor Phillips
and the ten council-men who were
elected carried the fox with them.
The animal had 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.. Bal
lew, and, being very tame, frequently
climbed on his shoulders. When the
party were in West Nashville, near
the residence of PresidentJ. B. Byrne,
of the city council, some of the seren-
aiding party cut the collar on the fox's
neck, and the animal jumped off the
horse and ran away. This was liter
ally running the ''red fox" out of
town.
1t vas next seen at the fairgrounds
when DIR. Carver had his wild west"
exhibition there, and was frequently
by the Indians of DR.. Carver's COM
pany, who took great delight Ia firing
at it. DR.. Carver heard one of the
chiefs say that the fox was the spirit
of his brother, who had died out west
a short time since, and was following
him over the country. The doctor
laughed sarcastlcally at the chief, and
the latter told him if he did not believe
it was a spirit fox, to try to shoot it.
This nettled the doctor, who, it is well
known, is one of the champion wing
shots of the world, and be agreed
vita tie chief that he would kill the
fox at the first shot of the rifle or set
up the drinks. The Indian ordered
the drinks, the doctor fred-the fox
ran away unscathed, and the Indian
taunted the doctor into taxi FIVE
more chances at the fox on the same
terms. The story goes that the fox
appeared five times afterward, the doc
tor shot at him five times, and the
big chief to.k five more drinks of
Tennessee tirewater, with the usual
toast that the great Manstou was pro-
tecting the fox, III 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
1t is we'll authenticated fact that
this red fex, which is known as the
''spirit fox, has been shot at hundreds
of times by the best narksmen in the
town, and to all appearances Las
never been hit. As for the hairbreadth
escapes at the mouths of innumerable
bands of half-starved dogs that infest
the suburbs and prowl around the
city, there is no telling how many
renard has had When In Mrs. Polk's
place the fox runs around the grounds
apparently aswell contented as dog,
and it is stated that the venerable and
statey widow Of the dead president has
become quite interested IN the now
celebrated animal