The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-26
a THRILLING FOX CHASE.
Graphic Story of Chase in The Town
of Rich Square.
(Roanoke-Chowan Times. }


Foxes have been more numerous
in the Rich Square section this sea
son than for years, and they nave
caused much loss to poultry falsers'
A large number have been caught IN
the Immediate vicinity by Mr.. DaVld
l.. Minton, of Hartford county, ana
those who hunt with him, but the
number of foxes seem to increase.
They have become so bold that they
come right up in Rich Square ana
during the past week they could be
heard barking most every night by
persons standing on the street or side
walk at the pOstoffice or from any
place in the village. The place OF
rendezvous of the foxes seem to be
on the vacant Farmer lot in front of
the Baptist church. Last Friday Nh.
f.. A. Huggins went to Anneta TO see
Mr.. ID. l.. Minton and secured his
promise to come Friday night with
his Well-traned pack of hounds and
have a chase. Mr.. Minton, accompan-
led by several neighDOrS, started and
tried to keep his hounds in the road
until he reached Rich SqIre and
when he got to the Times office the
hounds started a fox on the Friends
church lot just across the street, bare
ly fifty yards from the Times office.
lhe fox seemed to make bee line
for Roanoke river but when nearing
Leake'S store, two miles away, turned
and came back and attempted to cross
the road about a hundred yards from
the railroad station but was turned
back. a large number of men and boys
being in waiting and enjoying the
chase. Again the fox started back to-
ward the river but after going about
two miles turned and came back the
same way as before closely followed
by the hounds. This time he attempt
ed TO cross the road at the corner of
the Friends church lot but was again
prevented from doing SO by the still
larger number of people who had
gathered The fox turned back again
but this tine MAGE a detour ran
around NJ. II. Corners store lot on to
the Mill lot and then crossed the
street between NJ. II. ConnOrs store
and the old Weaver & Lassiter store,
passing within five feet of Corners
store He then made for CuttaWhi
key swamp going down il for some
distance and then started toward
Ahoskie swamp, going as far as Tagle-
town and then turned back and was
caught in the LambertsOn field with
in a quarter of a mile Of where it was
first started. over thirty horseback
riders followed the hounds while
nearly a hundred men and boys were
a-fOOt and on bicycles.
At the urgent request Of citizens of
Rich Square Mr.. Minton came again
Monday night and started a fox as
soon as he reached here. The news
of his coming had spread over the
surrounding country and this time
every available horse and saddle was
pressed into service, while many went
out on buggies, bicycles and on foot.
Such a large number i'm one chase
had never been seen here before. Mr..
MintOn's dogs have been trained 10
run without being urged on and the
great noise made by some i'm the
chase. especially when they would see
the fox. confused the hounds. SO after
running for two or three hours they
were called off. Another trouble is
so many foxes are started that the
dogs sometimes get on the new trail,
leaving the one nearly run down TO
rest up.
We hope the chase will be repeated
until the foxes are all caught.