Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-04-08

descendants alueA 4*H< tAllY III Ehs
development Of CT reat State Of
Kentucky. in whisI| we of Mary
land, take vast aa|zEnt 81 natur-
al pride.
As stated in fho beginning of
this article, st. Mss county is a
peninsula and i th6 other county
} of the State, and I'll birthpface of
religious freedom il this Western
World, fact most leasing to every
son of the place. Diving to her
many rivers, bays aad creeks, there
are dozens of small sninsulas hav-
ing their local nalres. such as
Scotch Meek. 81 Isses's Neck, St.
Georges, Mediey's Neck, New
Town, Bedlam Neck, &c.
Medley's Neck is near the center
of the county, and from colonial
to the present days, has been ia
nous for its hospitable men and
women and their love of in and
outdoor amusement. 1t was here
my old friend, VIM. A. Combs lived,
and near him two other congenial
friends, Frank Stone and Jim
Combs, all devotees Of the horse
and hounds. Medley's Neck is
formed by the Potomac river and
Brltton's Bay, the extreme end of
which is low and covered with
stunted pines, cedars, water bush
and tall salt grass. making an ex-
cellent cover for foxes, and is known
as Higgins besides which, the
many crippled ducks that formerly
fioated up there afforded good aud
easily acquired food for them. In
the days of which | am writing,
red foxes occupied the water side
localities, and the greys the upland
or timber regions. Now the reds
have almost disappeared from the
county and the greys have taken
complete charge, but the cause
seems to be unknown.
Such a paradise for foxes was
Higgins, that if half a dozen were
killed there during winter, others
Immediately took their places and
whenever we wished to be sure of
starting a fox, Mr.. Combs would
say as we mounted our horses and
called up the dogs, snow for Hug
gins, boys" From his home to
this noted cover, is about four miles,
and | shall never forget galloping
down there in the long ago, one
calm, frosty morning with our lit
tie pack of fifteen or twenty true
and trusty hounds at our heels and
starting them on the point, while
we remained in the road to see the
dash out for the open country be-
yond. They had not left us more
than ten minutes, when we heard
old Walker open and several Others
chime in, which was speedily fol-
lowed by general burst, when our
chief OF hounds cried out, "he's
up boys-out of the Neck rs quick
as you car," but before we could
gather up our reins for the run, we
saw the fox plunge into the open
field, scarce hundred yards off,
followed minute later by Mr..
Combs Rover, the feetest of the
fleet, and the whole pack in full
cry, such as would have brought
smiles upon the lips of Pan, him
self. There was music in the air,
there was young blood in our veins
and the blood of Priam and Auto
crat was roaring through the hearts
ST our gallant steeds as we fairly
flew along the road, the fox and
dogs in full view nearly every yard
of the four miles run TO the high
lands and timber. Here our Gun
ming red took a course with the
wind, as they always do, when they
have the option of selecting their
direction, crossed Brooke's Swamp
and headed for st. Andrews forest,
six miles away, in the midst of
which he ran afoul of George Duke
and party who were trying to beat
up grey in the woods. Dukes
dogs packed to ours at once and
the startled fox took . double to
the eastward and then he straight
ened out for another serious run,
reversed his first course and made
bee line for the Potomac bank,
into which be leaped, the pack be
ing in full view running like be-
lated storm clouds up the river
beach. This burrow was on Blooms
bury, the home of our friend, Frank