Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
swift-creek swamp It was our party that
memorable Saturday night.


| His enthusiasm In his favorite sports and
his success induced some OF the neighbors
also 10 keep hounds. and large pack
| could usually be secured by the blowing
| or the old huntsman's horn, so well
known both by people and dogs. A big
hunt had been planned, and quite a num-
Der OF the neighbors met 20 share the
| sport. i was a small boy. and rode be-
! hind my father on n splendid bay.
scarcely less fond OF the chase than the
old hunter. AS we travelled the several
miles needful TO reach the hunting
! ground. the old huntsman stirred our
blood with recltals OF the deeds OF his
pack, and amused us with his en-
| thusiasm. 1t was fine morning, and
pretty soon came ringing through the
woods the cry OF a reliable hound, and
| the old hun,sman refined his horse and
| cried. Hush, hushi and every ear was
attention. Then came the cry again, and
| other dogs Joined in The old man seized
| his hat. waved II in the air, stood on
| tiptoe in his stirrups. and gave a yell
| which fairly made my hair stand on end.
| That cry rolled down the deep ravines
and over the hills. and echoed and re-
! echoed. until Il seemed to stir the blood
o. every dog, for in few moments they
were In full cry, and the chase was on.
inexperienced hunters dashed hither
and thither. horses reared and plunged
/ my fathers steed became almost I'M
manageable, and wanted to run with the
I dogs. The country was broken-many
| steep hills with their long sides covered
with the shrubby. angular laurel, and 80
| thick that In many places the dogs could
make their way only with great difficulty.
The foxes (for the old huntsman said there
ftun or hvna sf,A pal O.,
thickets. and, as the hunters say doubled
back and forth. Such advantage had
the foxes in these refugees that after a
while the chase became dull and slow.
! The old huntsman followed closely, and.
urging his pack on. saw. as he thought.
whore the fox had passed through the
fence more than once. He tied his horse
little distance on. and sat upon the
fence. Presently Mr.. Reynard came
trotting lelsurely along before his be-
wildered pursuers, and showed his head
through that same crack in the fence. and
the old hunter pounced upon him. I
thought he had yelled before, but now he
did yell sure enough. But the chase
was not broken up. Still another fox
was up, and the dogs, being strongly
urged. soon gave him vigorous chase.
and he took refuge in deep hole under
n very large rock. Never bafied. the
old hunter said ne would smoke him out.
Nividly the scene comes before me. Way
upon the steep hilside-hunters all dis
mounted. dogs scratching and bowling
and occasionally fighting for the privilege
of entering the den-a great roaring fire
at the mouth Of the cave: men with their
hats tanning the smoke into the hole and
burning their faces mean while making
sport with the confident old hunter. My
boy patience gave out, and the patience
OF men gave out. Finally. the old leader.
showing his chagrln agreed 20 turn away.
Just as he turned his back sadly upon
the fire. the old fox leaped over the fire.
actually smoked out
THE old man wheeled and seized
Reynard by the nape of his neck. and
held him above his head, while he seemed
TO try 10 send his piercing shrek to the
very centre of that great rock.
1.-TWO foxes captured that day alive and
he the captor-he was hero indeed.
His trusted pack is scattered now;
his fleet gray Is dead; the old horn no
longer stirs the hunters thirst for sport.
His thrilling tales Of hunters ex-
periences are no longer told. The old
man sleeps in the silent grave, but will
long be remembered in that community
as a hunter OF marvellous ken"
In speaking about hunting a few days
ago with Il gentleman recently from
Maryland. who is very fond of the sport,
/ was told some interesting incidents in
the latter's experience with gun and dog.
During the fall of 50. - he begun, II was
I'm Wyoming. where small game consists
Of prairie chickens and grouse. the latter
being about the same as our Virginia
pheasants. My favorite shooting is prairie
chickens. as they are much better mark.
Fort Mckinney, which is. or was.
military post built in rs. and abandoned
about six months ago, is situated on
stream called Clear creek. and is about
one mile from the foot of the Rocky
mountains. While there | had the pleas
ure Of meeting with a captain Of the
Ninth United States Infantry, who was
very fond of cunning. He was a fine
shot. but, like us all. had his off days.
As people who are fond Of the true sport,
our conversation very naturally turned
upon shooting chickens, and at that time
l had never had that pleasure for / had
never shot at any birds except our bob
white in Maryland. and | told the party
that If chicken shooting was better than
birds, | would be very glad TO go with
them. The Captain kindly made an en-
gagement for the following day. and.
after chatting for a few moments and
telling how he could knock them every
time with his fine Scott gun. | started
for home to dream of seeing birds getting
up right and left, and the Captain get
ting them all.
As all things have an end so had that
night. A hasty breakfast and away
we started after the chickens. the Cap
tain with his fine gun and dog, / with n
Parker gun and no dog. but full Of hope
and doubt. How many who read this
have experienced the same feeling? ]
have quite often Wen. we had not gone
far before Bruno came to q full stand
and up jumped one chicken. Bangi bang!
went the Captains gun. What, both bar
rels and no chicken! A little hope for
me. and ! said. II can do as good as
that Captain" With a sickly smile he
replied. My eyes became blurred" a
little further and Bruno stood again. Up
jumped two fine chickens got one with
my favorite left-hand barrel, while the
Captain sent two loads of shot to the
winds Did you get him. Captain?"
asked All / heard in reply was some
thing about n d boy-loading his shells.
The chickens were running is why they
got UP one and two at a time. / have
often gotten up seven or eight before the
full flock would get up.
The Captain said, You so out on the
bank while | stay in the bottom and chase
them out" But he wanted to get the
good shooting and let me have a chance
~ those he missed. ] had hardly got
ten on the bank when ] heard the sound
which is most pleasant to sportsman
and makes the blood Jingle through his
veins-the sound Of a fine strong bird
getting ont OF the bushes. and right over
my head he came. 1 sent a load of shot
after him, and something of the same
thought came TO me as did 10 the Cap
tain I'm reference to his shells. But my
old reliable left-hand barrel stopped the
progress Of number two bird / had
hardly replaced my empty shells when
heard the sound, "Bang" "bangl" and
out came fine bird. and / got him with
my first fire. Three birds. and only one
miss Could that be me. or some other
person. | wondered. and my friend not
q feather.
The poor fellow was Disguised. and said
be wanted 10 go home. but l persuaded
BIN to remain. and he afterwards did
come fine shooting. We got about forty
chickens and had splendid hunt.
I trust that nothing said in the fore
going article win discourage any one
who has made his arrangements for
Christmas hunt, or cause him for mo-
rnent 70 hesitate about the outing. Go,
by all means You can do no more harm
amblIng through the fields and woods, oc-