The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-31
CUNNING OF A FOX.
NeraciOus Tale That Comes from the
WiIds of North Carolina.

Raleigh Special in New York Press.
Here is true story showing that the fox
can reason and act accordingly:
Capt. John B. Eaves. chairman OF the
Republican state committee. J. c. L. Har-
ris, secretary of the committee. Robert w.
Logan. United States commissioner. and
]. d. Miller, all except Harris living in the
town of Rutherfordton. n. c., were one
spring morning chasing fox. 1t was a
cool, crisp morning, and there was just
enough dampness on the leaves and grass
to enable the dogs to scent Reynard with
out making a break. The chase had been
going for two hours and more. and the
forty dogs in the pack had been making the
welkin ring. The fox was running around
in a circle not more than three miles across
and the hunters at sunrise had assembled
on knoll at about the center OF the circle.
which overlooked the territory which Reyn-
ard appeared TO have circumscribed for
himself in his jaunt with the dogs. The
music of the dogs was inspiring, and the
race was perfect in almost every feature
that goes TO make this the most delightful
sport
The knoll overlooked ravine about one
hundred yards distant from where the hunt
ers had taken their stand. Across this
ravine giant and venerable chestnut tree
had fallen and the devastation OF time and
the elements had caused the bark 10 drop
from the tree Miller was the leader of the
hunters, and while standing on the knoll,
as Napoleon did at Marengo. Austerlitz and
Waterloo, he saw the fox come into sight.
with the dogs four five hundred yards
behind him. The fox ran straight TO the
chestnut tree and disappeared therein.
Up to this time il was not known that
the log was hollow. The length OF the
chestnut across the ravine was about sew
enty-five feet In about the time IL would
have taken the fox 10 have Travelled
through the log, he came out on the OPP
posite side OF the ravine and made on
log and there lost the trail. The hunters
watched them for a few minutes and then
Miller called them across the raVine and
put them upon the track, and away they
went in full cry after the fox.
In about thirty minutes the fox came in
sight again, with his tail up and showing
no signs OF WEAKNESS. The dogs were
somewhat farther behind than before. The
hunters watched the fox and again he ran
into the log and out on the opposite side.
The dogs halted again, and again were put
on the trail by Miller. The fox was gone
about thirty minutes again and came back,
and again ran through the log.
This was the third time the fox had gone
through the log, and Mr.. Miller remarked
he looked like he had been rested and was
fresh for the race. The dogs were becom-
ing Wearied. The chase had been going on
for nearly five hours. Miller went TO the
end of the log where the fox came out each
time and securely stopped IL up. In about
thirty minutes the fox ran into the log the
fourth time. Miller then stopped up the
other end Of the log, and the hunters then
cut into the log and extracted therefrom
three ful-grown foxes. They had been
resting each other by racing in turns in
front of the pack