Evening star., 1901-06-26
THE wOoDCOCK SEASON.
Historic Incident OF a Time When
Birds Were Plentiful.

Ii
Birds Were Plentiful.
Local gunners are looking forward to the
opening of the weodcock season, reports
from various nearby covers usually fire.
quented by the game 1eng bills indicating
a fairly good supply. The birds would be
always numerous in eSaeh places if there
We're sufficient measures available for their
protection bat game laws are of little
avail which are not accompanied by pro-
visions guaranteeing their enforcement
and consequently hundreds of woodcock
District and nearby Maryland and Viz
glnla every spring as soon they are
big enough to fly by market hunters and
others Flights from the southwark come
occasionally, however, and make up the
decimated supply of birds bred in this
neighbOrhOod, and such visitors, following
natural fnelinations seek the thick coverts
along creeks marshes and the cool
damp spots In the woods known as Spring
heads"
Time was and not so long ago. when a
good shot could bag fifteen or twenty
woodeock in a days hunting at many
places in the District The small streams
flowing into Rock creek were much IA
vored by the birds, and in nearby Mont
gomery county they were numerous. One
of the best covers for sport was along the
little branch which runs back of Bethesda
Park. along which were many 'spring
heads 1t was here one morning in 1881
that Mr. James Heath Dodge. who has
long enjoyed wide reputation of being one
OF the most expert gentlemen sportsmen
In the country, made bag Of fourteen
woodcock before breakfast. President
teaus deadly bullet at the White House
and Mr. Dodge thought the delicate flesh
OF woodcock might be good for him. He
accordingly went out early from his resi-
denee near Bethesda and, with his char
acteristic skill. bagged the birds. Return
ing home he had them picked and packed
In ice while he was breakfasting. and then
drove into the city and proceeded to the
adJutant generals Office, where he was
then and still Is employed. He gave the
birds to General Drum then adjutant gen.
eral, with the request that they be sent
to President Garfield In letter to Cen
eral Drum. dated at the Executive Man
sion July 13. 1881, Mr.. J. Stanley Brown
private secretary to President Garfield
wrote as follows:
Your note of this morning. with the
accompanying woodcock, was duly re-
ceived
at will probably be of interest to Mr.
Dodge to know that the doctors have or
dered one Of them prepared for the Presi-
dent. Surely woodcock was never put to
better service"
In another letter. written by General
Drum TO Mr. Dodge, the former conveyed
the sincere thanks Of Mrs. Garfield, add
fng Her appreciation Of your thoughtful
Kindness is Increased. If possible. by it's
opportuneness. as she expects the Presi-
"AA NC pOAhitlcu " dppIOpI1dt6 OQ6
Of them"
Mr.. Dodge is still. an ardent sportsman
ana expects to try the woodcock when the
season opens In Montgomery county this
| win be July 1. In PRINCE Georges county
ana IN the District the season opens July
90 n
Georsetown's E1gAf4Werking Hard.
The Georgetown -Untyersity eight will
take It's final row on the Potomac this af-
ternoon. preparatory bo taking a night
train for Poughkeepsie, N. T.. where It
will participate in the Intercollegiate boat
race If the condikions are favorable the
men will be gtverxa trasd at four miles, to
gain an approximate idea Of their speed at
the distance to be-xpwefi July 2.
The men were given some hard work
Yesterday by Coach. Claude zappone, but
today the work wifi perhaps be harder and
longer. Only the crew and the substitutes,
together with Janitor Pearson. will leave
tonight. with possiblN Manager johnson.
who Is in charge OF. the aquatic interests Of
the university. Fises days will be afforded
in which to practice on the Hudson, get ac-
quainted with the course and improve the
team rowing. It is understood that If the
local crew secures place in the race
the showing will be regarded as satisfac-
tory
Tennis Championships In England.
The All-England lawn tennis champion
ships. which began at Wimbledon. England,
Monday. are providing fine exhibitions The
greatest interest IS manifested In the
doubles. In which D. Davis and H Ward.
Americans. are competitors. In the sec
ond round Of the singles yesterday 8. H.
Smith defeated w. ". Eaves.
Decisive Game Wen by Harvard.
Before the greatest crowd that has ever
attended base han game on the Yale
field. Harvard yesterday afternoon tri-
umphed over the blue IN the decisive games