The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-01
Has Killed Red Fox.

80 1t Is also Interesting 70 know lnat3 tile
M!ddlesex pack has killed n red fox this
i season in the difficult country a 'll1 ing
y Lincoln, Massachusetts,. "a clever account
or which. ii, written by Mr.. J. p. Cham
berlaIn. appeared, In the RIDER ana
< Driver. recently. sas5
e III to that time tie Grafton packs hnd
4 accomplished, It il said, the only XII IN
the open in Massachusetts.
The following sketch OF the match ana
II of the Af!ddlesex hounds is interesting:
Much interestis takenin the foxhoun n 9
q match which Is TO take place IN me
(! Piedmont Valley. Virginia. early In No
ycmber. his match is the result o.
II controversy between Harry We smith
+ master of hounds at tho Grafton hunt
8nf Grafton. Mass, and AZ FL Hlgglnson,
master Of hounds Of the n dleaex HUNT Il
II off, Lincoln. Mass. These two hunts DIT
Il fer from others In Massac husetts from
Il the fact that the masters Of hounds arc
sole owners OF the entire packs
Harry w. Smiths pack consists OF
II tends. are the best blood obtDlna hle'
They are all OF the most successful South
ern strain and, he declares. the only
hounds that have ever been known TO
kill a fox in9New England. On the con.
trary. Mr.. Higelnson's hounds are Of
clear English strain. They have come
! direct from Mr.. Fernie's pack In Leices-
tershire, England.iand have taken first
prizes at every competition where they
/ have been shown in the last year
Hope It Will Be Conclusive.
Naturally, these Two mon hope that the
match will prove conclusirely which breed
OF foxholnd is the better adapted to
I. sport in. the United States. 1nthts march
the killing OF the fox will be the test.
Tho Judges, who are selected by the two
masters. will give tho decision. which
Will confer the honor on one5pack or the
other. The number OF hounds to be run
in either pack viii be left to the judg-
lnent Of their respective owners. 4 full
pack as selected by them will be run
on each runA:ng day. The first days
pack will be chosen by lot, After this
they will run on alternate days. The
masters OF tbs Piedmont, the Loudoun
and the Orange County hunts, III Mr.
GINA, have shown their interest In this
contest by extending tho courtesy of the
use of their country to the contestants.
IA stake of so,0b0sa side will also be put
up to await the decision.
Fifty years ago the sound Of the rally
Ing horn OF the master OF rhcunds,s the
sight of the swift pack breaking through
swamp and Woodland the CLEAN Of the
bright coats OF the followers III full p,lr-
suit. would have occasioned consterna-.
5tion along country highways. Now, how
ever, In many parts Of the country the
hunt club Is an established factor.
OF these hunt clubs, the Grafton was
founded IN 1895. The grounds, with 81,
Joining estates of club members, cover
Two thousand Ave hundred acres scarcely
4traversed by town road.
1t was In the spring Of 1899 that the
MIddlesex Hunt was started. The coun-S
try hunted was at first within a. radius
Ola few miles Of the kennels, Each year
the limit has been extended further and
4 further Into the country, for foxes seem
to. be plentiful about Lincoln, and land
owners are good natnred, allowing the
) hunters to ride freely over their fields. !
Mr., Higgingson in February 1904. pro-
4 cured fromsC. w. 3. Fernle a draft Of
These were from a pack that hunts the