92 



'&& m* CXSL4. 0^~afC£>. 



January 4, 1876. — Baisdale, ran to ground. Got hound poisoned, 

 in Hoggart Wood (Ingleby). Killed Renny to-day. 



April 10, 1876. — Ingleby. Hound poisoned. 



November 19, 1880. — Met at 4 a.m. These are the darkest days 

 I was ever out in my time. 



April 23, 1888. — Pinchingthorpe by invitation ; ran to ground. 

 Called off, very rough. 



On this occasion the Bilsdale no doubt combined with the Cleveland. 



February 6, 1891. — Upsall Castle. Killed ; ran another to ground ; 

 whipped off at dark eighteen miles from home. 



On one occasion, when a hound was poisoned, Bobbie 

 wrote me a very neatly penned note with the desire that I 

 should publish it. The letter ran : — 



Bilsdale Hounds. 

 Who met at Buck Inn, Chopgate, on Tuesday, November 26, at 10-30. 

 A fair lot of horsemen were there, and about 40 on foot; through being 

 a foggy morning was delayed until 11-30, then left Chopgate and went 

 up the Green through the Bilsdale Hall to horro (Orra) planting, where 

 the hounds threw off. They got on a drag and were soon away at a 

 rattling speed, they running strait for Middle Head Crag, where foxes 

 are very often run to ground after a few minutes' spin. Someone had 

 a spite against hunting, were trying to destroyed the hounds by laying 

 poison. One of the leading hounds got it, and died on the spot, about 

 one mile from Chopgate. After a bit of delay Bobby Dawson was 

 there, he swore it was the best dog in the pack. Bobby says « it is our 

 best plan to gether up the hounds and gan away yam, or we lowse 

 every dog in the pack.' This dog was kept by Mr. Ainsley, Sun Inn, 

 Bilsdale, who is noted for keeping the best dog in the pack. £5 reward. 



The late Mr. John Dale a few years ago sent me some 

 reminiscences of Dawson, and among them was an instance 

 of a fox being poisoned near where the hound met its fate 

 thirty-five years ago. Says Mr. Dale : — 



" A fox was found poisoned in the wood on Bilsdale Hall Farm, 

 and Dawson, together with Spink, were sent to hold an inquest. It 



