The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-02

Ear.y American Npnrt

Tho first settlers Of this country could
htruly be called sp0rtsmen. although they
were hunterS-hunters from necessity
Ihere was no other way to provide f0r
their own and their families subsistence
Ihey were obliged TO kill wild fowl and
deer for their daily food. and the beasts
or prey for their protection: il required
a generation or two 10 breed domestic
fowl for food, and to drive the wild
animals beyond thu bounds Of settle
ments. The faith rs, husbands, and bro.
theirs Of the then Colonial Dan es Of
Anne RIGA were not awakened by the music
Of the buntsman's horn: too often IT was
the Indian warwhcop or the baying OF
the wolf. II by chancr 70 was a peaceful
awakening, their first act was TO feel if
their scalps still covered their heads. and
If their heads were firm upon their shout
ders. for perchance their dreams hal
been Of Smithheld fires or ;he Tower
block. There were no pleasures Of ths
chase for them. \ hundred years later
the still extensive forests and dense
swamps afforded cover for deer and wild
fowl. and every wild creature peculiar TO
the climate and country took refuge
there.
Sly Reynard couched in his den. and
made nightly raids upon our great
grandmothers' poultry preserves. and
was regularly hunted by dogs and
men until he was bagged II II
took run Of forty miles TO
accomplish IL.
At the period when our ancestors be-
came sportsmen. a writer thus describes
a days sport: "A day being fixed upon
for a general hunt all the sportsmen
meet at a given point with their hunts
a. 100 fattf of
us that keep more than ten couple. but
then every one having some dogs they
make very large pack when they are
all collected. The sportsmen are then
equally divided. one half going one side
OF the swamp. the other on the opposite
side. They arrange themselves within
gunshot Of each other and being all
armed with double-5arrelied guns. are
ready for sport. which commences the
moment the dogs and huntsmen are turn
ed in. As soon as the dogs enter the
swamp the game run out. and are fired
upon by the first spOrtsmen they cross.
they then run back 10 cover and double,
with the dogs in full cry. II is not
unusual In one OF our largest swamps tc
drive out Of il In one days hunting. deer
wolves. bears. foxes. wildcats, and
great quantity OF wild turkeys any OF
winch lle sportsman SlIovAS as lie tiliihs
proper" IL is interesting TO note their
disposition 10 mercifulness. for he con-
tinues: I'VE never follow one deer after
he has made his escape from the swamp
unless he is wounded for there IS no
running down a deer with us. | have
seen started I'm one days hunt forty deer
The wolves we always run down: as they
are very strong and large. they
will run from four 10 five hours
If they are not shot In the
chase. they come 10 bay In a thick cover
with their backs TO a hurricane root
where they Will defend themselves against
packs OF dogs. their bite being very
severe. Our bears and foxes and Wild
cats are soon tired. and will always take
10 "A tree. from which they are shaken
down 10 the dogs.
Hunting wolves has always been con-
sidered fine sport by ardent sportsmen
The etiquette Of the hunt at that period
was very strict When a notice OF
hunt was given. the time Of meeting was
stated. and IL was considered derelic-
ton OF duty on the part of the mlntsman
10 be late. and the master ~ the hounds
was considered discourteous II he kept
the assembled company waiting
Hunting clubs we're not the
fashion OF the times but wealthy
landowners in the colonies kept
large stables OF good horses and
large kennels Of good hunting dogs. and
their neighbors OF similar taste but less
fortune uniting fixed upon certain days
TO hunt, and practically formed hunt
ing-club. -Harpers Weekly.