Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-11
A NOCTURNAL FOX CHASE.
Moonlight Sport Across the
Potomac


Exciting Meonlighs sport Across the
Potomac.
THE MUSIC OF THE HoUNps-A BRILLIANT
CANINE CoNcERr-How REYNARp FOOLED THE
DOGs-"wHooPrNG EN- Up" AT THE END OF
THE cHAsE-A TALL STORY FROM AN OLD
HUNTER, &C.
On the Alexandria turnpike in Loudoun
county, Va, stands an old two-story. stone
house. The roof pitches down over the porch
in old fashioned style; the shingles are brown
and weather-beaten and here and there appear
patches of moss turned sere and white under
the hot autumn sun. Ivy and woodbine climb
upon the walls. dropping In graceful festoons
around the windows, and their foliage begins to
show the brilliant colors with which il adorns
itself in the late fall before it drops into a
wintry grave. The structure is one of the inns
which dotted the turnpike I'm the old days of
stage driving, and it is yet a country tavern,
though Its pristine glory has departed. In the
bar-rOom, which is also the office were
seated few evenings age party of
five or six gentlemen, among whom
were planters from the neighboring farms.
lawyer, and doctor, the professional
representatives OF the little ''burg." and STAR
reporter who was rusticating during his vaca-
tion among the peaceful Virginia uplands
village gossips, who drop In every evening to
talk about the state of the crops. to discuss
politics, to cuss BILLY Malone" and to have a
quiet game Of ''kyards" in the corner The
usual subjects had been taken up according to
time-honored custom. and disposed of; the
card-players had just finished rubber at euchre
and momentafy silence had fallen over the
group, which was suddenly disturbed by a
grunt and a vicious snap followed by vigorous
scratching. which made the floor shake. Old
Prince" one OF the three fox-hounds which
had come In with their owners, had been awak-
ened from his slumber by the persistent biting
of a big fly. which had settled on his head and
by its annoyance had aroused his canine antipa-
thies.
ibid you ever hear Virginia fox chaser"
said one of the planters, whose atten-
ton was attracted by the interruption,
ton. turning to the reporter. mo? Then we
must have one tonight. 1t is full moon, and
there is splendid dew, and the dogs could
carry trail If 1t was month old. What do you
say!" and he looked towards his friends in the
room. All were agreed. and In about an hour
from that time half a dozen men and a dozen
dogs were
STARTED FOR THE RUNWAY.
OF course. the chase was not expected to be
seen, for the whole enjoyment of the evening
was confined to the "opera," the solos and
chorus of which were rendered blythe dogs The
latter were a study in color, running from al
most pure black, with a smooth coat. through
every shade of black and tan. and black and
white. to white with tan splotches on the head,
and with coat which was as rough and brist-
ling as Georgia porker's. The dogs did not
vary much In shape, but differed greatly in size
and every dog had his own partcu-
lar accent which his owner could rec
ognize as far as he could hear it.
The country was somewhat billy. Pieces of
woodland were scattered here and there, form
ing favorite hiding places for Reynard, and the
hunters. familiar with the ground knew the
runW avs or ridges which the foxes usually seek
when pursued. Stationed on the brow of hill.
at the edge of clearing. the party waited while
one OF the number took old prince" into
neck of woods to ''hark' the game For ten
or fifteen minutes prince" could be heard rust
ling back and forth, first on one side of the ridge
and then on the other, breaking through the
dead branches of fallen trees and dashing into
the underbrush, while the other dogs held in
leash, would vent their Impotence by low
whines and restless movements. Presently a
lOng-drawn, mellow bay told that old prince"
had found his tongue, and In a few moments he
changed his tone into a quick, sharp bark,
pitched in higher key. The other dogs reared
upon their hind feet in their excitement and
tried to leap from their keepers. LET 'em
loose; he's hot onto it," said one of the hunt
ers. and the collars We're slipped and the dogs
were off In an instant. Then. down the hill
side, in the darkness. through the woods and
up the ridge in the direction Of old Prince"
swept
HURRICANE OF YELLING DIsCoRD.
Along the ridge in a confused body mad with
excitement, went the dogs until old prince"
was reached. Then order began to come and
the notes became clear. true and musical The
soprano, alto, tenor and bass with all their COM
binations and variations, rang with startling
dlstlnctness through the clear night air. The
orchestra was not wanting. Cornet and from
bone. flute and Quavering clarinet sent their
vibrating echoes through the woodlands making
it merry for the fox while he hunted for
tall timber" Every now and then for a few
moments there would be silence caused by the
dogs hunting ont some sharp ruse played by
Reynard to throw them off the track. Quickly
however, 1t would be discovered and for little
while a solo would be sung by the leader. fol-
lowed by duo. a trio and a quartette, ending
in a chorus Of delighted Wells as the remainder
of the troupe caught on" For two miles along
the ridge the chase was perfectly distinct: then
down deep ravine whence only echoes came;
then up parallel ridge, and back on a stretch
for three straight miles, over every
foot of which the tonguing could be
heard. /" Here they come" said the doctor.
as the pack swept round in a circle to the lett.
about half mile beyond where the chase was
raised. Scarcely had he spoken when out Of the
gloom of the woods below, little shadow ap-
peared, skipping across the clearing in the
bright moonlight. Nearer, nearer it came; not
motion. not whisper, hardly wink of the
eyelid among the group on the hillside. Closer
came the lodging shadow. and when about
hundred yards from the party it leaped upon
stump and paused in graceful attitude looking
back towards where the tones were sounding in
regular cadence. the members of the party could
with difficulty suppress their excitement for
the shaGOw was the game. There sat the fox as
if he enjoyed the fun, until the foremost dog
appeared three hundred yards behind him. hot
on his trail. Then Reynard giving a short.
sharp bark Of defiance dashed away to the right
towards a wooded ridge in the rear of the party.
In moment the pack came up in full cry. The
leading dog was about two hundred yards
ahead of the one which brought up the rear
and each in his order was yelling with all
his might. The fox ran over the ridge and the
chase swept out of hearing. Shortly, as the
pack raced out of the hollow up to the higher
land the baying again became audible. Thus it
continued for several hours, at the close Of
which the music was alittie slower than when it
began, but that was all. At last. while the
chase was seemingly in fun run there came
united chorus Of angry yells, howls of disap-
pointed rage and excited cries. They issued
from apparently the same spot and betokened
the dogs were barking furiously around his re-
treat.
''wHooPING EN- UP"
"Whoop 'em up, Jim; no more fun tonight"
said the director of the chase to one of the
number, a long, lank countryman, who, placing
both hands to his mouth, emitted a loud and
sustained 'whoo-oo-oo-up," which would rival
diabolical discord at intervals for fifteen or
fuynn min nfn hx- xrl; ab