The Washington times., 1905-04-23
CHAMPION coon
HUNTER IS DEAD
Reputed to Be Best Dog
in Class.
IN THE c0Rc0RAN GALLERY
Had Record of One Hundred and Ten
'Coons in One Year-Funeral
Exercises.
IN THE c0Rc0RAN GALLERY

Ben, for whom his admirers claim
the championship OF all the coon
dogs that ever came to earth, is dead
and the members of the Carrollton
Coon Club and all coon hunters for
many miles around-for Ben had a wide
reputation-are in mourning.
Ben was born In the fall Of 1883 and
got his name from President Harrison,
who was elected over Grover Cleveland
at that time. He died. last Thursday
night on TIE farm Of Henry Withrow,
in Fox township. He had just finished
victorious struggle with lively coon
when he staggered over beside a fence.
lay down and died. True to his character
he had his boots on when he fell
Kentucky Hound.
Ben was a. pure-bred Kentucky fox
hound and was launched into puphood
on the farm Of Hugh Marshall. He was
handsome black and white dog with
tan ears. Having the best of fox hound
blood. he was fine on the scent, but not
overcast on his feet.
This latter fact doubtless put into his
head the idea of cutting across country
instead Of following a fox trail closely.
y
up in front at the proper points This
extraordinary shrewdness spoiled him
for fox hunting purposes. and he was not
at all popular until it was found that
he had developed into a splendid coon
dog.
Five Years, Old.
Ben was about five years old when it
was found that he could pick up a
coon trail and follow it when other dogs
would not know that there ever had
been a coon In the neighborhood. Once
having got the scent. there was no rest
for Ben until he had freed his game
Squire Hand!ey and the other members
of the Carroiiton Coon Club can tell
uumberless- stories of Ben's pertinacfty
He has a record of 10 'coons in one
year. for which Hugh Marshall vouches
Zen never He'd One night he barked up
a tree on which the most careful search
failed to reveal the coon. Tru Myers
even went over the tree with a torch
without bringing the game to light.
John H. Fimple declared that Ben mad
at last given a false alarm. but Squire
Handley retained his faith IN Ben Final
ly the tree was fe1led and the coon
emerged from omewhere-nobody ever
found where-and was run down.
Looking for Dog.
IN SO the CarroItton, ,.Coon Club was
looking for a good dog and canvassed
the country over Everywhere Handley,
Fimple and the rest woulo run across
dogs that were mot as good as Old
Ben. but pretty near as good" or that
he had in some way absorbed some of
the good qualities of Old Ben Finally
they asked where they could get Old
Ben himself, since he seemed to be the
daddy of all the coon dogs, and they
found the cid hunter in Bergholz
Ben was then eight years Ole. but he
was still active and his scent was keen
In fact. he retained his sharp nose until
the last. although age showed on him
otherwise. Handley and FImple brought
Ben home with them that night and,
just 10 prove his worth, set him at work
in Il heavy rainfall Ben and another
dog were together, but the latter animal
never knew that there was a coon until
Ben traced it into pile of stones
That established Bens fame forever
Picture Here.
Ben is probably the only coon dog
whose picture is preserved in the Cor
coran Art Gallery. at Washington This
last honor came through John r. Finn
pie. Ben is buried on Hugh Marshalrs
farm, and the spot is to be marked with
Il suitable heaostone.
When Fimple comes home from Wash
ington in May fitting exercises will be
held, and among the chief mourners will
be Sheriff Tip Queen. Hugh Marshall,
Henry Withrow and Win Myers. Old
Ben Is dead. but his fame lives and
his merits are perpetuated in several
generations of coon dogs now living
that have had the benefit of his cum
ming in their training