New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-24
TIE GREAr cHIoAGo MEET

Reference was made some time ago In these
| columns 70 the fox-hunt TO be held In Chicago
on Washlngtons Birthday. II was held The fox
| WAS dead the thermometer was four below zero
and the bitter northwest wind whstled sad
! cherries refrain through the barren boughs Of
| the park trees and among the long and spectral
legs Of the hounds, but nothing dampened the
ardor Of the brave Chicago hunters, and the chase
was ridden.
The fox had been killed the day before, largely
for the safety OF the public Nothing Is more
| dangerous than fox brought 70 bay. The hunt
| ers did not want their highbred Detroit hounds
killed by an enraged fox. Still less did they
desire TO have the maddened animal rush at them
Besides. a live fox can run and probably would
| Get away and they wanted their fox so they
would know where he was. SO they slaughtered
the animal privily the day before, and at the
meet had man start on horseback dragging ule
fox's body behind by rope about ten feet long
Ten minutes after this sportsman had disappeared
the hounds were let out OF the marketoaskets
in which they had been brought 10 the held.
Now followed one Of the most exciting incidents
Of this truly nobs hunt The dogs did not take
the scent but rushed aimlessly among the hunters
now mounted on their mettlesome steeds ready Tor
the chase Nothing Is so discouraging to true iox-
hunting as 10 have the hounds become en'angled
among the horses legs. There can be nothing
more startling than. when you are sitting In your
saddle talking interestedly TO q lady as TO who viii
probably secure the brush. 10 have hound. un-
known TO YOU get directly under your horse ana
think he has discovered the scent and break into
full cry There Is an element OF surprise about 1t
which will unnerve any but the btoutest Sports
man. The hounds and horses were at last
separated. however. and the former started on the
right scent Five minutes later the riders. forty
in number. the beauty and chivalry OF Chicago
started. with red sashes about their arms and
clinging closely 10 the pommels OF their saddles
The great fox-hunt for which the country had been
apxiously waiting was taking place.
The riders did not follow the hounds, ms
some people might suppose they would have
done They order these things better In
Chicago. No jumping hedges, leaping bitches or
attempting to climb tree thoroughbred
horse for your Chicago hunter. No; they " trot-
ted of on the boulevard The true sportsman
always has boulevard TO trot on. He kills his
game the day before, sends the hired man TO dust
of the surface Of the park with it, and trots off
on the boulevard himself.
In few minutes they disappeared, being
obliged to, as the boulevard turned. A little later
the man who had the fox in tow came in sight
clnglng 10 his horse when was making MAD
attempt to escape both the hounds and the fox,
which was tapping at his heels. But he WAS not
deet enough, and when almost back to the stable
the hounds overlook him aud pounced upon the
fox. The hunters were nowhere in sight and the
hounds were put back in the baskets, and all
waited anxiously for the riders to reach the end
Of the boulevard and come back. This happened
in about twenty minutes, when they appeared
riding furiously" They first inquired after the
safety of the hounds. not having seen them while
gone and the leader then denounced the hired
man vigorously for not keeping on the boulevard
The man claimed lie had all he could do TO hold
on TO the rope attached to the fox, and
was obliged to let the horse go where he pleased
II was at last decided that the only mistake Of the
hunt was in not providing longer rope for the
fox and having IL attached TO the saddle. The
hunters then dispersed amid the jeers of IN ILL