The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-17
Enjoyed by
Fox Hunters.
WESTFIELD CHASE.
Three Foxes Shot and Many
Missed on First Day.

Westfeld, Nov. 16.-Eighty hunters
and 40 hounds Joined in the first day
hunt of the Westfeld Fur Company
No more magnificent days hunt has
ever been held in New England, and
although but three foxes were secured
every hunter came home from the field
satisfied and happy
No one of the Worcester party killed
a fox, but every man heard plenty OF
music and had a royal time Several
saw foxes, and Arthur G. Dodge fired
both barrels, but failed to kill. Mr.
Dodge got fox, however, and A. B
r. Kinney secured two, but they "cost
money" All three pelts will probably
find their way to Worcester.
The conditions for running could not
have been better, and they lasted from
early morning until night. The air
was mild, almost balmy, and not q
breath OF wind was stirring.
The Westf1eld club knows how to dc
the thing right. Nothing that can ado
to the comfort or pleasure Of the visit
ors is lacking.
The hunters left town at o'caocf
this morning. The dogs were unlesshet
an hour later. A fine dinner was served
to the guests at the Moore farm, which
was the headquarters of the day. The
hunt was over at O'Clock, and tht
brilliant banquet Of the eVeninE
brought the day to a close
The Holcomb pack put in at Furrow.
town, east of Moore's, the headQuar
ters. Inside of 10 minutes they had
fox going and a merry chase followed
Reynald started in by playing arounC
near the starting point for an hour ant
half, and then swung off toward tn,
railroad and was out OF hearing fo
an hour. At the end of that time h,
came back to make two turns arount
Furrowtown, after which he swung /,
the hin east of Moore's and then bacl
over much the same territory. TIL,
fox seemed able to do what he wanted
| to with She hounds. He was running
nearly all the forenoon. amid some 3
gunners, was seen time and time again
shot at half a dozen times and still
kept up the pace. 1t was a magnificen
drive and furnished exciting sport foi
all in the hunt. Old Prince led the run
with his deep, powerful voice.
The main PACK of hounds was pui
in east of Moore's after the HolcomE
pack had got well under way Some
joined in the hunt already begun. but
the larger part took a fox north il
great style.
A. B. F. Kinney and the WalIins
boys put in near the old Pettis place
on Pitcher street, on the hill west Of
Moore's. From the time the hounds
were unleashed until the hunt ended
they kept one, two and sometimes three
foxes going, making the hills resound
with their music. Two score or more
hunters climbed the mountain to enjoy
the fun, while others hurried down the
roads. This hunt gradually worked
north and out of hearing.
In the meantime, Arthur G. Dodge
Of the Worcester Fur Company, who
was with many other hunters on the
hill east Of Moore's, had been having
some fun. AS he stood waiting at the
east side of the hill, he saw fox COM
ing straight towards him at good
speed, some 80 rods away On Reynard
came unsuspectingly, until about 20
rods off. Then he stopped suddenly
with head erect, evidently seeming
danger. AS the fox turned about, Mr..
Dodge let his right barrel go, thinking
it better to risk shot at long range
than not to shoot at all. With the
crack of Mr.. Dodge's gun, Reynard
came down like a lump Of lead, but
only for an instant. A moment later
charge of "B BIS" was close after him,
but it had no effect. Shortly after, Mr..
Ways pup was on but he only fol-
lowed the trail for a short distance.
Three quarters Of an hour later, Wal
ling's Frye" was secured. After work
ing the trail for half an hour, he start
ed the fox near the plains and sent him
back towards Moore's, where the trail
was lost.
md
hunter from Wiben suberb of West
field, had killed a fox. No dogs were
after it. The animal ran up within
Is feet of the hunter in bird cover
and stopped, standing back towards
the hunter Mf Tice "let him have, .
as he expressed it, and blew the top
of Reynard's head off with bird shot.
This had all happened before II
O'clock, and a great deal more A num-
Der of the foxes were seen and several
shot at. At no time during the morning
were less than three foxes going, and
at sometimes six. The sport did not
dun down at noon but continued un-
abated until the dogs We're pulled off
about 4 o'clock
About o'clock four hounds brought
fox from the north down through
when in magnificent shape. Reynard
was hard pressed, and for half a. mile
he ran through hen yards, stables and
farm house gardens, keeping ahead of
the hounds and out of sight of a party
of hunters. At last he slid through a
front gate CROSSED the road and went
off west. The dogs Were delayed a
while in the garden. and the fox gained
little ground, but they picked the trail
up on the hillside and went out of sight
fairly shrieking. The animal was eth
er run in or caught.
Later in the afternoon Mr.. Dodge
bought the fox Mr.. Tice shot, and
brought it to the hotel.
Mr. Kinney appeared with two foxes.
He was unable 20 tell who killed eth
er, but one brush each is credited to
stiles Bush and Frank Williams of
Westfield Two of the foxes were I'M
usually large and beautiful.
Mrs A. G. Dodge of Worcester and
a lady friend were both armed with
double-baireled guns. and had a fox
come their way death and disaster
would surely have befallen him. They
were in several exciting hunts.
Mrs G. N. Lewis of Westfield fol-
lowed the hunt with her husband, and
contented herself by listening to the
music
President John r. Thayer found great
sport and was close in on many hot
cha1e. but did not get a shot; but he