The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-17
NOVEL FOX CHASE.
How Reynard is Hunted in the
West.
HOW THE SURROUND" IS MANAGED.
From the Nashville American.


sections of the western states, however,
| owing to the small farms, secure fences and
! opposition of the landowners, the lovers OF the
chase are forced to this less wildly exciting
choice, and description of one ON large
scale conducted Christmas day, year ago,
may not he without interest.
| Elaborate preparations had been made. and,
although heavy rain fell the night before it
was not allowed to interfere with the long
! cherished plans for the day.
early in the morning, III accordance with
the previously arranged programme, large
numbers of men and boys, armed only with
| long slaves, congreg2tcd at four specified
! points equally distant from 4 certain elevated
tract of land, which had been decided upon n 5
| tho most desirable spot for eliminating the
surround. They were then formed into lines
/ by chosen leaders, and were designated rs the
north, south, east and west lines.
80 well timed was the movement that all
! four OF the lines separated almost ut the same
moment each man taking position several
/ yards from his RIGHT and left hand companion.
| The right and left wings of the lines then
swung around until circle was formed of
over three miles in diameter When this had
/ been accomplished the leader of the north line
| gave signal, which passed from point TO
| point around the circle until all were aware OF
| the order and then the drive began in earnest.
Nearly 1000 were engaged III tho sport and
| the noise OF horns, tin pans clubs and yclls
| ringing through me valley caused inc pulse
| TO quicken and again cnthuSe those whose i'll
| tercst was beginning to flag. For perhaps a
| half hour nothing encouraging was developed,
| but soon the cheering news was heraded from
mouth TO mouth that game had been sighted,
| and with heightened zeal the deep and firing
| mud was hurried through,
Then cchOing and re-echoing shouts convey
| ed the welcome news that Reynard No. was
| scurrying here and there within the living net.
| But the grand outburst of triumphant shouts
| was yet to come,
For three successive drives one notebook
| ing toN OF She gray species, most rare in that
section, had been discovered ut one time with
| IN the seemingly secure circle, yet each time
| had revealed Il cunning superior to his red
| brethren 10y slipping unobscrved, through the
| ranks or else cOncealng himself in some mac
| Cessbe nook When it was understood that
| the coveted prize had been sighted enthusiasm
| knew no bounds, Gray-haired men became
| boys again, and many wagers were laid upon
| his capture for never before had the cunning
old fellow been cncompassed by onc-third the
number engaging in this holiday chase, and
| escape from such a host seemed almost more
! than impossible.
Through valleys and timber, over hills,
| brooks and soft ComhcidS, the hunters con-
| tmued to trudge, and gradually the circle grew
! so small that the men could amoSt clash their
| slaves. Within the next fifteen minutes the
finish was near at hand and as the circle mar
| rowed the men grew five and ten in dcpth.
making a mass SO dense that ground squirrel
could not have passed through, and then the
| prey within that fatal ring was revealed
Two hedragglcd and bcwidered red foxes
were there, bat where was the famous gray?
| No one knew when or where he effected his
| escape, and his methods remain as great n
mystery and puzzle as the identity Of Jul
MUS
The crowd, however, quickly ceased to Ia
ment and busted themselves with plans to ox-
tract double enjoyment from that which they
had succeeded in entrappng. Onco the foxes
fLr l,D
for he ran in stone culvert under the pike
Ready hands were instantly at either end and
| this place OF secrecy was at once converted into
! walled dungeon. The one still at large then
received the attention of all. To still further re-
duce the circle 1t was necessary to scale high
| worm fence, and so many mounted it at the
| same moment that over q dozen panels, yield
| ing to the enormous weight, were quickly lev
| eled with the ground, resulting In an undis-
| tingulshabc mixture of broken rails, legs and
| mud If any were hurt, excitement for the
moment caused bruises to be unfet, and with
| loud shouts of laughter they were again on
foot. pressing forward to the immediate scene
| of action. HeIe ring OF about sixty yards in
| diameter was formed, within which round and
| round Reynard ran looking with cunning eye
| for some loophole Of escape, but every near APP
| prOach to the human foe was met by yelS as
| of bedlam loOsed, and by brandishing of hum
| dredS Of slaves. For many minutes this lasted
| when the worried fox sought the center of the
ring and stretched out upon the cooling ground
| as though to meet his fate without another
| effort. When this evidence of fatigue was
| perceived one of the officers Of tho day
stepped with uncovered head into the arena
| and after many futile efforts gained sufficient
attention to propose the selection of champions
| from The four different lines and allow them to
| give me coup de grace the glory of the victory
! to belong to that side which the successful
! gladiator represented. The plan proved
| satisfactory, and one from the north south,
| east and west was speedily chosen.
| Those upon whom this honor was so CON
ferred at once reduced themselves to running
costume and started in with as firm detcrmi-
| nation to win or die as ever did heroes in
| Olympic games. It is not figure OF speech
| to say that there was dark horse in the race,
| for among them was son Of Africa, and upon
! him many Of the fancy placed their money.
Many and cheering were the shouts Of go
! IN coon, " NOW EOu We got i'm, hes gone
| up" and the ike suggestions Moro than
once dld the "ooon.' thus encouraged, pillow
| The soft soil with his ebony brow, frautcally
! cWtching st the spot where the agile creature
was supposed to be. First fur he did sec0rc,
! but the tail hold broke, and away dntcd the
! nimbie prize.
The eastern champion then determined to
| set merry pace, and chased the fox like mad
! for y few minutes, but the hot pace be-
| gan TO tell, and he was soon distanccd. The
! rcDIc- cntatiVcs Of the north and south pCr-
| mittcd Judgment to take the place Of legs,
/ and not until their adycrsarics had cXhib-
! tied signs Of weakness did they oyer-cXcrt
themselves. Watching a favorable Oppor-
| tuuty they sputed together, and their onset
| was successful. Down as one man they went,
| aud rs one man they rose emblaZOncd with
/ mud and glory, for the left hand Of the north
! grsspcd EcyuaTd's neck and with the right
| hand the hero OF the south held in no loving
! clasp the once beautiful red brush, with IT'S
/ blossom Of white. Iouors we're declared easy
/ between the two contestants, and brief inter
| mission was held, during which a premature
! inquest over the fox IN the culycrt was naug-
| urdtcd.
Removing the stone barriers at either end of
| tho aperture, the game was proddcd out with
! a long pole and Was soon scudding around the
/ circle rs had his unfortunate cOmradc
All this time a gentleman had carried in his
arms q courageous black terrier, which by
| shrH yelgs and violent struggle, pro-
| claimed a desire TO participate ia the gciI-
| cIal irOlic ClamorOus grew the cIcs Of
Al THE DEATH.
! "Loosc the dog but the next moment, with
q yiolrnt squun the excited and eager dog
had Hfmchod himself free and was after the
I fox Ike q uhirlwind. On account Of the
small cucc the dog cSid get Within shopping
| distance every unw and then By cutting his
| victim of 40 angles, bat a sudden tun right
| or left ioilCd the puraucr, who time and a21.u
( turned c)m.cal somcHault in the effort 10
/ halt or tam as quickly.
/ Az last The fox seemed to realize that safety