Evening star., 1936-11-19
In the Hunt
Country
Activities Among the
Horse Lovers of Vir-
ginia and Maryland.
BY NINA CARTER TABB.

Belvoir, Va, Is one OF the
newest and most interesting
u hunts In Virginia. Organized
at meeting In Mackenzie Hall. In
May, 1898, It's first season of active
hunting was closed in April, 1885.
This month they started their second
season with Capt. Homer B. Petit,
Corps of Engineers, and Maj. Alex
3. MacNabb, Cavalry, as joint mas
ters. The first hunt took place Sum-
day, October 20, 1885, In the form
of o drag over the meadows south
Of George Washington's Grist Mill,
and was followed by hunt breakfast
at Mackenzie Hall. Hunts took place
on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday
mornings and the same days of the
week have been picked this year.
Many members of the STAFF and Field
entertained at hunt breakfasts during
the season.
Through kindness of officials of the
Cavalry School Hunt, Antietam Hunt,
Warrenton Hunt, Orange County Hunt
and Riding and Hunt Club of Wash
ington an initial pack OF seven couples
was gotten together. This season
hounds from the Redland Hunt and
local breeding has increased the pack
to 10 couples of working hounds.
The kennel facilities have been greatly
enlarged and modernized during the
past Summer and are now capable
OF housing 80 couples comfortably
Application for recognition by the
Masters of Foxhounds' Association has
been made, the hunt having completed
its first year of active life. Recog-
milton by the association will, when
granted. place the Fort Belvoir Hunt
on the roster of established American
hunts and will permanently assign
to this hunt the territory hunted by
Lord Fairfax and George Washington.
As an aside, the historical back
ground OF this young hunt should be
mentioned. Much has been written
concerning the foxhunting activities
of Washington and his old friend,
Lord Fairfax, over the same country.
Sportsmen who have devoted their
lives to fox hunting in America have
welcomed the coming Of this hunt
for its historical associations and it
Is not unlikely that the hunting lore
Of this region will be commemorated
In fitting manner during the COM
ing season by It's hunting neighbors.
One Of the Oldest and best known
hunts In England Is the Belvoir Hunt
pronounced "beaver'). The express
purpose Of the Belvoir Hunt is to
provide sport for members of the
policy OF the staff to conduct its
hunts In manner suited to the needs
and riding ability of the majority of
the f1eld. Obstacles may be avoided
when 1t appears that some members
OF the field may have difficulty
passing them. The staff governs the
runs In such way as to avoid
unouly fatiguing horse and rider.
The Belvoir Hunt adhered to drag
hunting its frst season, but hopes To
take to real fox hunting in the COM
Ing year. A drag hunt is on a pre-
pared scent, the dragman preceding
the hunt by several minutes. For an
inexperienced field drag hunts are in
etructive
The normal hunt staff consists of
the following ofhcials: The master
the whippers-in. the secretary and the
field master. Those ofYicials appointed
by the hunt are designated as homo
rary, snd those employed, az In large
hunts, do not carry that title. The
Fort Belvoir pack, for instance. is
hunted by the master instead of by
professional huntsman, as is fire.
ouently the case. The joint masters
viii alternate in hunting the pack.
The whippers-in are the masters
assistants, whose duty it is to exercise
control over the pack. The secretary.
In addition to the Office duties, Gus
tomarily collects Gaping fees" from
non n-lnembers who ride with q given
hunt. The field master is the oficial
who controls the distance between the
staff and the field and is the rider
TO whom members of the field look
Tor instructions. The masters are
very eager to assist members of the
engineer mess and their guests to pro-
mote their pleasure at the hunts.
Suggestions and criticisms which will
In any way improve the hunt for those
are solicited by them.
The staff of the Belvoir Hunt for
this season is as follows: Joint mas
tiers, Capt. Petit and Maj. MacNabb;
honorary whippers-in, Maj. James A.
McCallam. Maj. Stanley L. Scott,
Capt. Thomas North and Second Lieut..
John p. Buehler; honorary secretary,
Second Lieut.. John II Donoohue.
huntsmen, Pvts. Kermit Hackett and
Alexander Copeland; kennel hunts
men, Pvt. Will Morgan, in charge of
kennels, and Pvt. Lloyd Robinson,
dragman.
HUNTING LOG-TOMORROWS
MEETS.
Virginia.
Middleburg Charlotte H. No
land and Daniel c. Sands, Joint mas
ters; Hickory Grove, 9 am.
Orange County hunt - Fletcher
Harper, NJ. r. H.; J. r. McMann's, 10
am.
Maryland.
Green Spring Valley hounds-John
x. Shaw, jru and Frank A. Bonsal, jr,
joint masters; Shawan, 2 pm.
Elkridge- Hartford hunt. S. Ladew.
M. r H.: Churchville, IL am.
MRS. R. T. J. BARBER
BURIED IN WILMINGTON