Washington sentinel., 1899-04-29

TGEndpS no GGlSuluR ldulAIy III
the world is more renowned than
the Saxe-CoburgS and their ances- |
tors on account of its members
having been lovers of the chase.
Duke Casimir Of Coburg CI564 to
1653) wrote a hunting book OF
which, unfortun ately. only two
copies are known to exist, one be
ing preserved in the Festung (tor-
lress) which Overlooks the town
OF Coburg, and which has now
been turned into a museum, and
the other in the possession OF the
well known sportsman Count Hans
Wilczek, OF Vienna. The illustra
tions OF this rare work, which
clearly paint the customs of the
time, were executed by the Dukes
Court painter Wolff Pirkner, a
native of BaYreuth. Duke CAST
mir was, amongst the rulers Of his
time, the most intrepid huntsman
and the keenest sportsman, having
no doubt imbibed his love for the
chase from his guardian and father
in-law the EIector OF Saxony. The
annals oil that date report many
extraordinary deeds of prowess
and intTepidity, and it is told OF the
Emperor Maximilian, Count Gas
ton de Folk, and others, that they
used to tackle bsars without
hounds and with spear only,
Duke Casimir was the
FIRST OF his line to use rifles. Nu-
merous examples of the richly
inlaid, terribly cumbersome and
heavy wheel lock rifles can be
seen in the armorY in the Castle
Of Coburg and at the rife collection
at Dresden. From this mighty
and passionate hunter, Casimir,
German princes in general inheri-
ted the love OF sport, and many
are the examples we have before
US of royal sportSmen Of our own
time, and it is we'll known that
Coburg blood runs in the veins of
almost every reigning family OF
Europe.
There exists still a sport with a
strong element OF danger, a sport
which at the present time is in.
dulged in by only few, and, what
is more remarkable still is INDUCED
in principally by two OF the oldest
occupants ot thrones-namely, the
Emperor Of Austria and the King
Of Saxony. This is the chamois
chase, the pra ctice of stalking the
most nimble, quick, clever and
cautious denizen Of the mountain
Vastnesses OF the Tyrol, Syria, and
Switzerland. In this sport the late
Duke Ernest oil Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha was the third in trio OF in
trepid royal mountaineers and
chamois hunters. The chamois is
a most difficult animal to stalk.
When grazing upon the few
patches of green to be found
among the rocky heights OF the
Alps, herd is always surrounded
by sentinels which keep up the
closest observation OF the neigh
borhood, and at the approach Of
danger give signal. Immediately
the herd disappears in the crags
and caves of the vastness. Their
scent IS extraordinary, aud it is
only possible to get near them by
creeping against the wind; they
are only found at height Of 5 900
feet, and invariably select for their
place Of pasture spots most diff
cult and dangerous to reach.
The late Duke Ernest acquired
a large and splendid estate in the
northern Tyrol and built a castle
or shooting box almost in the CEN
tire OF this vast domain. The castle
bears the name oil the district
Castle Of Hinterriss. The pre-
serves contain over 900 cham
ois, and Duke Ernest never went
a year without Indulging in his
favorite spor- During his lifetime
he was frequently accompanied BY
his nephew, the then Duke Of Ed
inburgh, and the Prince of Wales,
we believe, has also visited the
beautiful, romantic place, situated
not far from the Lake OF Achen
" The Castle Of Hinterriss
is building irregular in shape, OF
light grey stone, castellated and
surmounted with small turrets. IL
lies in long and narrow valley,
and is approached by a drive
through a pretty garden. In the
distance are the mountain. peaks,
crested here and there with never
melting SHOWS, and their lower
slopes covered with pine forests
and meadows rich with the beauti-
full and varied fora of Alpine re-
gions.
The late Duke generally used
to 60 accompanied only by a gen
tleman-in waiting. Dressed in the
native costume OF a moun'aineer.
his rifle slung across his shoulder.
and carrying a stout stick, he
would start at sunrise to climb the
craggy peaks, not returning until
late in Ghe evening. Some of the
paths which he had to follow in the
course Of these expeditions were
very narrow and bordered by
precipices many hundred feet deep,
and it is remarkable that a man or
his age and size should have found
no difficulty in threading his way
along these treacherous mountain
tracks. The Duke Of Edinburgh
was not unirequently the guest
OF his uncle, and accompanied
him in these expeditions. In con-
nection with these expeditions
an amusing anecdote is told. On