Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-09-26
MYSTERIOUS FOX.
An Animal That is Claimed to he Bull
leI-Proof.


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.
ALI the fox-chases, and they are not
frequent, occur whenever the animal
is discovered on the street by uoys or
young men, and some of them have
proved very exciting.
The history of this fox IS quite IN
teresting. He was presented 10 Mayor
Phillips by Mr.. Thomas Ballew, on
the night of the last city election A
party that went around carly the next
morning serenadlng Mayor Phillips
and the ten c1uncll-men who were
elected carried the fox with tkem.
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 PRESIDENT. 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 was next seen at the fairgrounds
when DIR. Carver had his wild west
exhibition there, and was frequently
run into he woods during that week
by the Indians of DR.. Carver's com
pany, who took great dehghtln firing
at it. DIR. Carver heard one of the
chiefs say that the fox was the spirit
of his brother, who had died out west
short time since, and was following
him over the country. The doctor
laughed sarcaSIcally at the chief, aud
the latter told him if he did not believe
it was a spirit fox, to try 10 shoot 1T
This nettled the doctor, who, it is well
known, is one of the champion wing
shots of the world, and he agreed
witn the chief that no would XIII the
fox at the first shot of the rifle or set
up the drinks. The Indian ordered
the drinks. the doct fired-the fox
ran away unscathed, and the Indian
tainted the doctor into taking 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 took five more drinks of
Tennessee tirewater, with the usual
toast that the great Mansion was pro
tacting 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 eavort
around the country after the wild
west" show together.
1t is a authenticated fact that
this red fox, which is known as the
spirit fox, has been shot at hundreds
of times by the best marksmen in the
town, and to all appearances LAS
never been hit. As for the halrbreadth
escapes at the mouths of innumerable
bands of half-starved dogs taat inft st
the suburbs and prowl around the
city, there is no telling how many
renard 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