Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
KANGAROO HUNTING.
. Famous Chase By the Mel
bourne Club, Of Australia.
How the King of the Marsupials Is Taken
BY Civilized and Uncivilized Sports
men-The "Old Man" and
tho "Bluc-Flier.'
[Origtnal.i


A few miles from the old town of
McIvor (Which now bears the name of
lleathcote), in Victoria, Australia, and
which lies off the road to the Beech
worth "diggins," are the mountains
which are well known, not only to Dig
GERS in search of gold, but also to sport
agmen of Australia, as the resort of
}argr tlocks of kangaroos at all seasons
of,hc year. The view obtained from
the mountains in this vicinity of Vic
toria is grand and sublime in the ex-
treme, and almost battles the power of
description. Standing upon the top of
one OF these mountains, many of which
are at least nine hundred feet above the
plains, you obtain a view of q wide ex-
panse of country. One sees toward the
east a wide-spreading plain, sprinkled
with occasional clusters of bright green
bushes, and terminated by the hills arc
seen scrated ranges of mountains ex-
tending in unbrokon chain until lost in
the blue of the sky. On the west YOU
behold another series of mountains ex-
tending inland to a great distance. The
atmosphere is SO clear at times that
from one OF these mountains you can
see about ono hundred miles around.
1t would Nbe difficult to imagine a
more delightful temperature and a
more genial climate generally than
Victoria at this summer season of the
Year. The purity of the atmosphere
and the exhiliarating effect which it pro-
duces upon the human system, is mos st
remarkable. At no time of day or
Year is it ''cold.' Upon the coolest
days at any season of the year the glo-
rlous tropical sun holds its mastery
over the elements and shines forth to
beautify and vivify Australia's noun
1alns and plains. In the hottest season
OF the year, the heat is not, in the
strict sense of the word, oppressive.
Despite the heat that at even this sea-
son prevails, one can enjoy a good gal
Top of twenty miles over the plains in
'He cooling breczes, which nearly al
ways are blowing seemingly to palliate
me fervor of the sun and to counteract
any depressing tendency it may pos
sess; especially is such a ride enjoyable
with a fine Kangaroo hunt in view.
The way in which Australia sports
men hunt the kangaroo may best be de-
scflbcd by giving the incidents of o
grand hunt given in the month of De-
eember. 1868, by the Melbourne Hunt
ing Club, in honor of the Duke of Edin-
ourg h upon his visit to the island in
mat year. The writer and his old friend
1aa family physician, DR.. J. X. L.
y Doherty-then residing in Australia
ana now IA member of the British House
VI Commons-were pleased to receive
an invitation from members of the club
~ accompany the party, and, having
m m,aue all due preparations. met its full
membership, the Duke and a few other
invited gentlemen at the Heathcote Ho-
lv, on the morning appointed for the
nunt The party numbered some fifty
oportsmen and about twenty hounds.
al things being in readiness, we set
"ut about two hours before daylight
aho rode slowly along toward the
ptalns' some six miles distant, a party
vi SIX stookmen having been detailed to
seour the neighboring mountains in ad-
,ahce and to drive the kangaroos into
W." extensive plateau, where the Duke
mnu party We're to be in waiting. The
fn ,Ifhing dawn was exquisitely delight
oi. Inc soft, sweet breeze and the
gu olue sky were such as only can be
maa Va tropical cline. AS we emerged
"poh the plain we saw several fine kan
T"ioos quietly feeding at a distance, but
a AMY speedily discovered our approach
1.r s%campered away into the shell
,ho1 the eighboring wood. Al
"sn VIC kept cur dogs well in hand,