The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-01-15
T|R|NG OUT The STAG
A Deer Take" In England's Old
est Deer Park.
H0UNDED UNTIL He GAsPs.
The Game Animal Is MercilessIy
Driven Hither and Yon, Through
Lake and Wood, Until He Falls Ex-
hausted, Though Undaunted.

Lake and Wood, Until ne Falis Ex-
hausted, Though Undaunted.
Parts of certain great parks in Eng
land, such as Fridge park, the oldest
deer park In the kingdom, are kept
practically wild in their original forest
state, while near to the castle is the
cultivated home park Fridge park
contains 5000 acres and Is the only
estate In England, with one exception,
where deer taking with hounds is still
carried on. Fridge park once formed
part Of the royal chase. 1t still retains
the wild beauty it-then had, although
there are more than seventy miles of
lovely drives in it, not counting those
Of the home park.
Deer taking is entirely different from
deer hunting. The object is to take
the animals alive so that they may be
transferred to the home park to be fat
tened and eventually turned into ven
ison.
The sport is by no means as tame as
1t sounds. A seven to nine year old
red deer is an awkward customer to
tackle. He Is powerful, agile and well
armed with antlers and hoofs.
When there is to be deer taking at
Fridge park the meet is planned for II
o'clock at the park keepers house.
The underkeepers, with fresh hounds,
are scattered through the park to head
or the stag should he come their way.
The underkeepers having spread
themselves over the park, the park
keeper, with the "field' Chose follow
ing mounted and on FOOT set of to
find deer which looks ready for fat
tening purposes. Having selected one,
fits the work Of the keeper to get him.
separated from the rest and then to
slip his hound and set after him as
hard as we can gallop. The pace, Of
course, Is tremendous, and as rabbit
holes abound the risk Of a fall is even
betting or, rather, trifie of odds on
the certainty Of our taking a toss"
As our deer bounds away with his
wonderfully easy, elastic movements
The makes for the widest part of the
park, expecting to escape his pursuers.
In one place after another he is met
with hidden keepers and fresh hounds,
till with the instinct of his species he
turns to what he thinks is his sane
tuary-t the lakes. With open mouth
and tongue outhanging he plunges a
good fifteen feet into the water and
swims for the opposite bank. Gasp
ing and firing, he lands on what he
hopes is freedom from his pursuers.
But alas, no! Yet another fresh hound
Is after him. What can he do? He is
too pumped with his already hard
burst to face the hill before him.
He turns around and tears down
through the bracken with hound on
each side of him, ready to pull him
down If they get but half chance.
1t is a dingdong race, under trees,
through boys and bracken, up and
down de1ls and breaks, smashing head
long through everything, anything, to
reach the shelter of the friendly
water once again. With mighty
spring he is in again. For a moment
there is breathing space, for now the
: keepers and hounds, yet some way off
are making for the poor beast, which
IL in the middle Of the lake. Away he
swiIns with graceful movement of his
noble head, glancing all around at his
pursuers, but with his mind fixed on
his line Of retreat. He reaches the
shore, and, with dripping sides. he is
out upon the bank.
Again he makes an effort to battle
and leave behind those clinging hounds
that would bear him down. And now
two great hounds are stretching them
selves out to their utmost pace. Side
by side they race after their firing
quarry; In another minute they will
have him The stag, however, man.
ages to make squirt, though he is
now stiffening rapidly, and just
reaches some park palings surrounding
the big lake.
In an instant he has turned on his
pursuers, and with head down and up
raised fore leg be is prepared to fight
to the death. A hound rushes in, but
in twinkling he is on his back,
hurled away like a piece of wood.
This checks the other hound, which
lodges and bays around the stag.
Seeing that things are now getting a
bit too warm for him, the stag sudden
.ly turns round and, smashing the pal
1ngs like match wood. finds himself
again in the Icy water Of the big lake.
Away and away he swims, up this
long stretch. the water seeming to re-
vive him. for he swims the eastern
length. three-quarters Of mile, and
then lands at the far end while we
follow on the shore. He swims till his
feet touch the ground and stands fac
ing us.
An we can do now IS TO end the stu
alton as speedily as possible. Al keeper
deftly throws a rope with a loose
knot over the stays antlers. In a
moment four burly keepers are haul