360 1kinQ5 or tbe 1l3unttnQ-«ftelt) 



price offered, and suggested that Sir Watkin should give 

 more for him, on which the Colonel said he was sure he 

 would not give a farthing more, and that the owner had 

 better take the price offered, or there would be no sale, 

 adding, " Sir Watkin is a confounded pig-headed Welsh- 

 man" the said Sir Watkin standing a few feet away, 

 smothering his laughter by cramming his pocket hand- 

 kerchief into his mouth.' 



Colonel Cotton was universally popular, and his tragic 

 death in 1891 filled many hearts with mourning. On a 

 dark winter's evening, he was returning home from the 

 studio of Mr Herkomer, who was painting his portrait for 

 the Tarporley Hunt Club — when, in crossing the street, a 

 hansom ran into him. In trying to escape he ruptured 

 all the muscles above the knee, and the shock, acting on 

 a weak heart, killed him. 



In 1865 John Walker, who had long been a martyr 

 to gout, resigned the horn to Charles Payne. There 

 was more fun among the field in Walker's day than ever 

 before or since. He was both merry himself and the 

 cause of mirth in others. Here is the final glimpse 

 of him which Sir Theophilus Puleston gives : — 



' Major Lloyd sends us an account of a run at this 

 time from the Fenns, whence the fox took them past 

 Bettisfield and Gredington, over the Old Hall property, 

 and leaving Burton's Wood on the right, to ground in 

 the Wyches ; he adds, the hounds went at great pace 

 all the way, and had far the best of us ; it was a real 

 case of galloping. Two incidents connected with this 

 run fix it, he says, indelibly in my mind. The first 

 was an extremely unpleasant one. I was riding a good 

 young thoroughbred, but somewhat sticky. My father 

 >vas on a high-class hunter. When nearing the Wyches, 



