Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
FIELD AND KENNEL

L L
While there will always be a difference
of opinion as to which setter dog has ex-
ercised the greatest influence on the breed
in this country, the difference will not be
as great as one might suppose. for, ask
this question Of twenty men who have
given the matter careful consideration,
the probabilities are that nineteen OF them
would name either Gladstone or Count
Noble, and the twentieth would have little
to offer in support of his choice if he
named any other. Gladstone being the
older Of the two dogs, a brief notice of
him will be first given. In 1876 l.. II.
Smith Of Strathroy, Canada, imported d.
rect from the kennels of Mr. Percival
lewellin the bitch Petrol, then a whelp
to Liewellin's Dan Ouke-Rhoebe). AS a
field trial performer Petrol had been a
signal failure in England. and even as a
shooting dog she was of little use. but as
the dam OF Gladstone she won Il high
place in canine history. Mr.. Smith pre-
sented one of the puppies to Z. Fl. Bry-
son. the well known setter fanoier of
Memphis, Tenn, who went to Canada to
make his selection when the puppies were
only four weeks old
After Mr.. Smith had taken first choice
nlr. Bryson chose the puppy which he
later named Gladstone. Even as a puppy
Gladstone gave evidence of possess! ng
the marvellous speed for which he after
ward became famous. When put in the
hands of a trainer the latter reported to
his owner that the puppy was worthless
as field dog since he could not keep
up to him on horseback He was later
placed in the hands OF Joseph Drew, TO
whom belongs the credit Of developing
him. Gladstone was a black. white and
tan, and when in condition weighed about
fifty pounds. His first field trial ap-
pearaIlce was at Waterloo, Iowa, and in
describing his performance the American
Field said 'GladStOne was put down and
the next seen Of him was in the next
county, thirty miles away" AS a field
trial dog Gladstone made good but not
a great record, being placed four times
and only once did he win first. this being
in the all-age stake of the eastern trials
in 1880. He was defeated in an endurance
race by the Campbell setter Joe, jr., the
conditions of the race being that points
and birds alone counted. AS shooting
dog Gladstone is said to have been per-
lection. He was dog of tremendous
speed and range, Of endless endurance
and his style was perfection. His owner
Mr. Bryson, said of him that he was
equally good on all game, quails, prairie
chickens. snipe and woodcocks A gen.
tleman who often saw him In the field
once said to the writer: Nothing can
convince me that any other dog ever
moved with the ease and grace that Glad
stone did,
But it was as a sire that Gladstone won
undyfng fame. At a time when there
were not great many high bred bitches
in this country and when there We're not
nearly as many field trials as now he
sired twenty-five field trial winners,
which won fourteen f1rsts fourteen sec
onds. nineteen thirds and two fourth
places, or forty-nine places in ALL Strange
to say, none of the sons of Gladstone
proved really great sires. but his daugh-
tiers bred to Count Noble produced great
field trial winners and the greatest sires
of winners in setter history, notably Gath,
Radingo, Count Gladstone ", and many
others the get OF which included practi-
cally all Of the national championship
winners. BY a strange coincidence both
Gladstone and Count Noble died in the
same year, 1891. Count Noble being the
younger by nearly four years.
By many what is known as fire hunt
the writer has never looked at it in that
light. To paddle along some lonely
stream or watercourse where deer or
other wild animals are the only living
things encountered it may be thus term
ed, but to go out at night when one is
likely to come in contact with cattle,
horses or hogs and have to tell them
from deer by the reflection Of their eyes
alone requires both skill and experience.
To those unacquainted with this kind of
hunting it may be necessary To say that
when the hunters lantern or other light
throws its reflection, the eyes of the deer
or other animal alone are seen, the body
being invisible at any considerable dis
lance. To an inexperienced hunter all
eyes look alike, and many a steer and
horse has been killed by his ignorance.
To an experienced one, however, each
eve tells its story, just as well as the
body would In the day time. A noted fire
hunter once told the writer that to him
of a Sleer at night than any other ami |
NAL, and were the only ones that ever |
confused him.
The writer has known scores of |
hunters who could go out and be |
fairly certain of getting a deer at |
fully fire hunt" coons. There may
be pIenty of them, but he has not met |
them. A few years back he was spend |
ing the night on ranch in the west |
and at supper time one OF the men |
came in and said he had seen where !
two deer had fresh bed not far off, |
and proposed that We go after them. |
It was a raw, damp night. and we 1
started out about 8 o'clock, the ranch
man carrying the light. When we |
reached the place he threw his light, 1
and the writer. who was standing i'm
mediately back Of him, caught sight /
of two balls of fire. which looked /
ahead they were seen again apparently
the same distance away. 1t will be un-
derstood that to the one having the
light the eyes are visible all the time.
but to the one behind the focus changes
with each step. Soon the fire holder
stopped. took deliberate aim and fired,
and the deer could be heard crashing