The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

pack of imported English fox hunters in
a spirited run across six miles of billy
and undulating country to the southwark
of San Mateo and Belmont. A company
of Burlingame Club horsemen started
with the chase and trailed along the
course much according to the ability of
their horses and the temerity of their
riders.
1t was a fox hunt in name only, but the
twenty English hounds, true to their in
stinct, confidently and with unfailing
zeal pursued trail over which a fiunky
on horseback had dragged fox-scented
sack an hour before. A COYOTE skin had
also been trailed along the proposed
course as a special inducement to the
California hounds, which, though used to
sighting their prey, ran comparatively
well until toward the end of the chase
when they finally refused longer to take
an interest in the pursuit of an animal of
which they had not even once caught
glimpse.
The California dogs were from big
ranches. They we're coyote-trailers and
fighters by choice and by long experience
There were six of them, the pick of fifteen
pairs belonging to Dan M. Murphy and to
James Sargent Jr., at their places near
Gilroy, over sixty miles away. Their
owners had brought them to the hunt
confident of their ability and hopeful that
they would be among the first along the
scent.
When the run was ended they were still
sure of the merit of their coyote fighters,
for they did not con slider that the test had
been conclusive where only manufac-
tured trail had been offered. Another
race In the near future will be the result.
The starting place was near the crossing
OF the Pescadero and Crystal Springs
roads In the partially wooded, smooth,
green hills back from San Mateo about
four miles. There the trail began.
There congregated the dozen riders that
would follow the hounds, the few reck-
less drivers In buggies that would dash
along the roadways most convenient to
the general course of the chase, and the
few passive spectators that would see the
start and then return leisurely to Burlin-
game to await the homecoming of the
huntsmen and the hounds in the evening.
Mr.. Murphy's black and tan hounds
had been brought 10 the spot in wagon.
Mr.. Hobart's black and white spotted
English trail followers had as usual with
them come trotting together in well
behaved and easily controlled pack
They are off Walter Hobart, as master
of the hunt and with horn in hand, fol-
lows close behind the low baying pack
that with noses near the turf rushes up
over hillside and disappears.
ID. ID. Hlnshaw, l.. McCreary and Cap
tain Wainwright as whips are among the
leaders, too, and near them gallon Joe
Grant, II. Wheeler, J. Lawson, Mr.. Page
and several others, all on light horses.
with docked name and tail. Mr.. Murphy,
in small cart, is already far along on the
winding road near one point of which the
hunt will pass. After him, with racing
speed, go Mr.. and Mrs. E. D. Beylard in
o light little buggy, and others follow.
Dan Murphy waited almost breathlessly
near turn in the road. With his hand
TO his ear he listened for the oncoming
pack. From far over hill, and only
family waited on the late afternoon
breeze, came a quick, hoarse yeIp, along
with similar sounds of less volume
"Ah, that's my George; / know his
voice p impuIsively calculated Mr.. Muir
ply. 81 thought he'd be in the lead"
In moment more distant bald hilltop
bristled with few scurrying figures out
lined against the sky, and then the pack
came straggliug oown the long slope, fol-
lowed presently by the first of the riders
and later by others that appeared one
after another up over the crest of the hill.
The hounds came nearer and Mr.. Muir
ply strained his eyes TO discover his black
and-tans among the leaders. Hot on the
trail, the English dogs swept across the
intervening level space and turned up an
other hillside. Twelve of them had
passed before one of the black-and-tans