The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-26
). X x
EXCITING FOX HUNT.
First Meet of Five Days Pulled off
With Unexamplcd Success.

The Mecklenburg, Chase City. Va.
Oct. 25.-The first meet of the Vir-
ginia Caroline Fox Hunters Associa
ton, five days hunt, was pulled off
this morning with unexampled sue
cess. With rs puppies, competing for
the Derby stakes, two foxes were run
down and fairly killed before ten
o'clock this morning. Mr.. Huffman,
of the Norfolk Kennel and Hunt Club,
and Mr.. Parkinson. of Danvilie. were
both first in at the death, as each
had his hands on the fox at the same
moment. And Miss Peasants of Boyd
ton, a dashing rider as we'll as a
charming and attractive girl, won the
coveted honor of receiving the brush,
although closely pressed by several
ladies who had also been riding with
the hounds. The Mecklenburg Hotel
was the scene of an enthusiastic gath
ering this morning when the large
and ardent crowd of sportsmen and
sportswomen hastily summoned from
their comfy beds by the mellow
peals of the hunting horn, filled the
lobby discussing the weather, and the
prospects of a catch. While hasty
hunt breakfast was being disposed
of, anecdotes of this hounds and that
hounds wonderful performance were
convinced of the futility of any COM
petition with his favorite dog. And
then the master sounded ''boots and
saddles" and the horses were brought
| up, and the eager crowd, wrought up
by this time to a fever pitch of ex-
element, were ready to be off. But
a slight check came to their enthusi-
asm today-the marShals appointed
by Master of Hounds OVERLY, had or
;,, al1A aIy n
only the five judges, the owners of
entries and the press representatives,
were allowed to ride to the fore.
Through the misty light of early
dawn. shot with beams of the rising
sun. cavalcade of men and horses went
winding through the sleepy city and
out into the primeval forest. And
soon the sharp note or a puppy's voice
rent the air, and the pack ranged wild
| in brown straw field and shifted
| the soil anxiously-"Only rabbit,
said the M. F. Fl.
Call them Off" mile or two
further on the fox scent was picked
up, trailed awhile ana lost. Then sud-
denly after tedious wait. the puppies
having worked out the puzzle drawn
for them by the cunning fox, came
down the low grounds on red-hot
scent, all giving tongues. There was
about ten minutes of life worth a
month of ordinary existence. when fox
and hounds were within seeing dist
ance of each other, though screened
bv bush and underground. Then in q
tangle and furry of briers, fox and
hounds were seen in a mad melee
Several hunters swung off thell
mounts to have his brush, but he
stole away and run about a hundred
yards farther and met his finish. The
whole hunt got UP in time TO see the
death and pronounced it most sue
cessful mornings work. 1t was JUST
| ten o'clock when the catch was made
and then everybody turned towards
| the Mecklenburg Hotel to refresh
themselves. A great many people are
here now. both for the hunt and for
their health. The excellent Llthia
and Calcium waters, furnished the
guests are known to be positive cures
| for number of ailments and attract
a large number of prominent New
Workers and others in search OF a
winters resort with other attractions
which the Mecklenburg has in abund-
ance. There are $4,000 acres of hunt
| ing preserves stocked with rabbits,
quail and deer in abundance. rms
mornings trial was a class composed
of yearing puppies from the kennels
! of overly. Lewis, Roger Williams,
Jordan Faucet, and Hunt, and
pretty lot of well-bred youngsters they
we're. Annie, a small white and black
belonging to Mr.. Edmond OVERLY,
was one OF the foremost dogs foi
speed and driving. Mr.. Jordan's Belle
and Rather were in at the death. a
meeting will be held this afternoon
! to award the ribbons for all-around
work The prizes offered are: first
bit and bridoon; End, pair OF
| steel stirrups 3dr. hunting lash foi
| the Derby Other prizes will be Sc
| lected for each days hunt.