WILL ORVIS. 109 



him, uikI upon his death his hunt-servants were dismissed 

 and the horses and hounds were sold at Tattersall's. 



Nearly twelve years after the death of " the Squire," 

 his last huntsman. Will Orvis, lost his life whilst followino- 

 the hounds in a disaster unparalleled in the history of fox- 

 hunting. He had exchanged the ploughs of Essex for 

 those of Yorkshire, and entered the service of Sir Charles 

 Slingsby, Master of the York and Ainsty Hounds, and one 

 of the best gentlemen huntsmen that ever lived On 

 February 4, 1869, a fox from Monckton Whin, after giving 

 an hour's twisting run at a tremendous pace, attempted to 

 cross the river Ure at Newby Ferry just in front of the 

 hounds. The river was very high from floods, and the fox 

 and all of the hounds were carried over Newby W^eir ; but 

 they all g<Jt out safely, and the hounds took up the scent 

 immediately on the opposite side. A ferry boat was at 

 hand, and this was entered by Sir Charles Slingsby, Or\'is, 

 Sir George Wombwell, and about ten others with their 

 horses. The horses became restive, and the boat capsized, 

 with the result that the Master and Orvis, and four others 

 were drowned. The rest contrivetl to reach the shore, but 

 even Sir George Wombwell ne\-er had a narrower escape 

 — though he had formed one of the gallant .Six Hundred 

 at Balaclava. 



