Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-08-21
HARE AND HOUNDS.
A Greyhound Coursing at Gosforth
~@ark, England.
Three Days OF British sport-Letting
Go the Kare-Greyhounds In
Full Chase-Brutality-
Betting.
[COr. Toledo Blade. ]

lSOl. 1OlcuO DLtue.J
Greyhound coursing Is form Of sport Of
which the north of England is particularly
fond. II comes under the head Of sport, but
it seems to Inc to be tho most degrading,
cowardly form Of amusement ever devised
1t may be we'll enough for a party Of hunters
to take n keen run dcross country while the
finely bred greyhounds give the wild hare d
lively chase Iu that case the hare has sous
chance for his life. There is some possibility
of his reaching covor. But In coursing that
chance is one to O hundred.
There was an annual coursing-match d
short time ago at Gosforth park, q pretty bit
of country some five miles from Newcastle.
The papers had been full of It for weeks be-
fore, giving the entries. the pedigrees Of ths
more famous dogs, the bstting-m fact every
item Of interest about this great meeting,
which, 1t was said, would 10 tho most sue
cessful ever held had never seen a cours-
ing, and my curiosity was raised to such a
point that when a friond proposed going /
readily assented.
The coursing grounds proper are about 700
yards long by 400 wide They are mclosed
by board fence about three feet high. At
the lower end of tho grounds thsre is bit Of
brush work, affordipg an opening In one or
two places to the woods beyond. At the up
per end there is first q sort Of shed in which
stands the slipper" with the greyhoundss
Back Of this runway leads to the preserves,
vhare the hares ure kcpt. At various points
on the rounds arc small boys, whose duty ID
is to fri5Ltcn tho hare back into the course;
II In trying to make his escape he gets too
Locr the fence.
A bias. from a hunting horn announces
that the sport is about TO begin. Az the uni
pires take their places in the field the judgs
rides into the inclosure and galops up to the
slippers shed. The judge presents a fine fig.
ure as his magnificent horse, q thoroughly
trl.ined hunter, bears him easily along over
ths smooth green turf. lie is a portly man,
weighing perhaps fourteen stones, and Is ar
rayed in q bright scarlet coat with brass
buttons, white pantaloons, skin-tight, high
top-boots Of pntentleather, and ON his head
what We call "base-ban cap" Of scarlet
He Is very graceful rider and he and his'
beautiful animal make a picture.
After seeing that everything ct the slip
per's was all right, the judge gave signal;
and In an instant there was O buzz Of excite
ment as bunny was seen scanper1ng away
from the lane leading from the preserve His
long ears were close down on his back and he
fairly flew over the ground. As he passed
the slippers shed that worthy made his ap-
perance with two greyhounds in leash he
ran with them short distance and when
bunny had about fifty yards start he slipped
the leash and both tho dogs started at tre-
mendous pace after the fleeing haro. The
hounds were magnificent specimens and were
very evenly matched. AS thoy bent to their
work their bodies almost touched the
ground Gaining on the hare one OF them
made an extra effort, passed his companion,
and was about to seize the frightened puss
when bunny doubled suddenly and ron aimose
into the mouth of the second dog. Before
they could change their courac, however, tho
hare was off in a different direction, working
as well ,s be could towards the bottom of the
inclosure where the cover was. But the
hounds had como too close to their game to
give up easily, and they followed poor hares
windings, AMI turning 80 closely that long be-
fore the desired cover had been found the
eane was up and the hare killed, both dogs
being so near together at the finish that it
was declared @ dead heat, and had to be run
over again.
This is the style of the sport that lasted for
three days at Gosforth park 1t wes simply
two highy-bred, carefully trained greyhouudS
against poor, frightened-to-death hare. Yet
thore was large attendance each day, and
vast amounts OF money changed hands. The
chief feature of the meeting WAS the Gosforth
cold cup for which there were l2S entries.
The method of deciding the contests was as
follows: The first day oil OF tho l2S dogs
ran, one-haK of course, being defeated. The
next day si1ty.fo hares were slaughtered,
and thirty-two dogs were winners. AT
the next trial these thirty-two dogs tried
conclusions, and sixteen wore retired. Aud
so on, each trial reducing the number one
half, until at length but two were left, and
the ono Of these two who killed the hare was
declared the winner Of the cup, having met
and vanauished every other winner in town.
Az but two dogs ran at a time, the sport WIS
very rapid, and the gamblers won and lost
with rapidly that was delightful.
The hares used in this manly and enobling
sport are carefully kept in preserve ad-
joining the coursing ground, whence they
are driven out for their race for life or death.
Most of them arc SO frightened when thoy
find themselves out Of the preserve that they
lose their wits entirely and fall an easy prey
to the hounds Occasionally ono finds the
cover but that Is an exception to the rule
On the programme the contesting dogs arc
listed IN the order IN Whlcn tney run, eacn
pair of names inclosed In q bracket. Then,
as they are oftentimes so near alike and so
close together at the finish that the betting
men and spectators cannot tell which had
made the kill and won the run, flag Is
waved from the scorers stand-a white flag
signlfying the first of the two names, a red
flag the second, and a yellow one a tic. In
the lattor case the judge, who rides after
each course, orders another trial
The dogs have quarters on the ground and
receive as much care as a baby. They are
washed and dried; their food is weighed for
them; drink measured. They are taken out
for a walk at certain hours, and must rest
Just so long They are given a canter ut
stated times, and occasionally they ere put
over the course at full speed. They are beau
tiful animals, and some Of them are very
highly priced, Still it seems As though they
would enjoy life just as we'll even If they did
not have keeper to sleep with them every
night during coursing meeting, as was tho
case at Gosforth.
va.rant's PhilosOphy.'
[Atlanta Constitution.
IL Rncfr van-'