Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-01-27
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UNCLE TOMS LETTER.

Gle Dave West, J. J. Philips and some
of the others had after a red fox. This
was about 30 years ago or longer. AT
least it was when the red fox first in
vaded Middle Tennessee, and proceed
ed to make themselves at home. Their
rendezvous was Horse Mountain, near
Shelbyville, the Steel Hills near Bell
buckle and as far north as Christiana
No difference at which end of the
range above mentioned the fox was
started, it would go to the other and
back. Our dogs didn't understand
how to run red fox like they did a
grew, but we kept on trying them un-
til we got them pretty we'll trained.
So the hunters decided that they would
all get together and catch one of the
red foxes, or try it.
We met early one beautiful morning
with almost hundred dogs, all
hounds. Each hunter was Boosting of
what his dogs would do, etc. l looked
at Uncle Dave West, one of the Oldest
hunters in the crowd, to see how he
rel'shed their boasting. I knew Uncle
Dawes dogs aud 1 believe if anybody
in the crowd had dogs that would stay,
his would be the ones. We went to
Mullins woods and in little while
we heard some of our start dogs begin
to give mouth, and quicker than it
takes to pen these lines such roar
of dogs l never heard before nor since.
1t was like the battle of Chancellors-
ville-one continual roar of all night
long, as the old soldiers in it remem-
ber. So the fox lit out for Horse
Mountain, then around the mountain,
taking course for Steel Hill, ten
miles away. Men and dogs scattered
for mile or more. Instead of going
to Christiana it turned back toward
Sbelbyville, in the neighborhood of
Fostersville. AS they crossed the Steel
Hills l saw the fox coming, but I
couldn't hear the dogs. After little
heard one of Uncle Dawes dogs and
one of old man John @. Davidson S
coming and they we're sure coming,
just the two. The fox was at least a
half mile ahead of them and they
were about that far ahead of the pack
We all knew the route the fox would
go, for red fox runs very much like
a deer, and if not bothered will cross
at certain place nine times out of
ten. Away went the men under whip
and spur, over fences, through field
and woods, as fast as horsefesh could
carry them. Late in the evening,
about sundown, about twelve or fif-
teen hounds were all that were after
it and very we'll packed. Uncle Dave's
and Uncle John Davidson dogs were
still leading, but twenty steps was
about all. Dark came and the fox,
much to our relief, reduced his route
to less than half Some of the hunters
lay down and went to sleep, and one
or two whose dogs had all quit, went
home.
Uncle Dave West was a-foot and
seemed to be in better condition for
an all nights chase than any man or
horse in the crowd, and he would grin
when we would pass him or overtake
him, and say, keep. up with them,
boys, Ranger is closing in that fox. -
Along after midnight only six dogs
were in the race and / don't think [
ever heard dogs give mouth more earn
est or regular. Every once in a while
Uncle Dave or Uncle John would say,
IT'S hard to tell what dog is the lead
er." Daylight came and they were
still after it. making good time. We
headed around and saw that they were
in less than a hundred yards of the fox
and would catch it. About sun up the
fox ran through a mans yard and his
sur dog caught it, but the bounds were
in at the catch in less than a minute.
Our boasting hunters had to set them
1p, which they did without grumb-
ing. This was the first red fox we
lad ever caught or ever had in our
1a0uS. lHlS was ohO hooo O<AOAcAhS
OK race was ever in, and more dogs
md men connected with it. Dogs that
will STAY "a hours in a hard race are
'ew and far between. l don't know
whether we have any that will do it
low.
A red fox when pressed on the start
won't run long They seem to get
.attled or something Davidson's
,tock of hounds was of Virginia ori-
rim and moved a red fox or deer. The
,est hounds were the old fashioned
black and tan, with little blue on
heir breast, and to my notion, the
,est all around fox hounds Tennessee
,yer had. The next best as stayers
vas the little blue beagle, but for gen.
,ral racing the beagle was too slow
hey rarely ever ran but trotted. I've
,een them in fifty steps of a fox just
rotting, and so was the fox. Every
low and then the fox would stop and
ook back and wait till the dogs were
light at him and then trot off. That
uited me.
UNCLE TOM.
Tracy City, Tenn.