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UNMARKED WIRE. 



T WILL BY THIS TIME bo common knowledgG that 

 _ - the kmonted death of Mr Richard Fort, joint Master 

 of the Meyncll Hounds, was duo to his horse being turned 

 over by wire wliieh was concealed in the fence. From 

 an account of the inquest we learn " that the wire was 

 probably originally at the top of the hedge, which had 

 ■grown up over it, and there was no warning notice." This 

 is most deplorable from every point of view, and though we 

 are fully aware of the diffioultios which hunt committees and 

 wire comrnittocs on the one hand, and tenant farmers on 

 the other, have in contending with the wire trouble at tlio 

 present time, we would strongly urge that the renmant of 

 the hunting world in every district make an immediate point 

 of ascertaining the whereabouts of all unmarked wire in 

 their vicinity, and have its presence carefully and clearly 

 indicated. For many years past danger signals have born 

 used with great success in many parts of the country, and 

 somo wo have seen were much better than ot.her.s. It is, we 

 think, necessary that the signals should stand out some- 

 thing like three or four feet above the fence, and that they 

 should be painted in bright colour — the best we ever saw 

 were scarlet and white. Thoy should also be placed where 

 they oaunot fail to attract attention, and if the fence is a 

 long one there shoaild be more than one signal. And where 

 the ground is undulating the position should be carefully 

 studic<l and th» signals placed so that anyone galloping 

 towards them would become aware of their presence. We 

 Jieard recently of a signal being placed in the open field 

 some fifty yards in front of a fence, because immediately 

 beyond it the ground dipped abruptly, so that a 

 further signal in the fence would hardly be e^een 

 until a horse, going fa.-^t, was close at it. We know that 

 at tihe present time farmers cannot spare the labour to 

 take up wire, and that the subject is surrounded with diffi- 

 culties which did not exist in pre-war days; but careful 

 marking mu.st minimise the danger to life and limb, and 

 is a duty which is incumbent on* all those who are helping 

 to maintain the hunts until better days arrive to see that 

 all possible precautions are taken. . j ,-> 



THE LATE ^tR R. FORT. 



With great regret wo have to record the death of Mr 

 Richard Fort, joint Master with Mr Frederick Gretton of 

 the MoynoU Hounds. Mr Fort succumbed on Thursday 

 <^vening of last week to injuries received in the iiunting 

 field earlier in the day. The fall to which the accident was 

 due was caused by wire, and Mr Fort's horse rolled oyer 

 him, causing fatal internal injuries. The Ices to hunting 

 gt^nerally and to Derbyshire in -jiarticular caused by Mr 

 Fort's death is very great, and a large measure of 

 sym-pathy will be forthcoming for his widow and relatives. 

 Born in 1856 Mr Fort was educated at Eiton, and thence, 

 after a short spell at Braseiiose College, Oxford, he went 

 to Sandhurst as a university candidate, and was afterwards 

 granted a commission in the 11th Hu.'ifars. lie left the 

 service in 1881, and became liberal member b.r Clillier.ie 

 shortly afterwards, holding the scat until 1885, wlien he did 

 not seek re-election. In 1898, on the icii'remont of the 

 late Mr Hamar Bass, Mr Fort became Master of the 

 Moynell, and this position he held until 1903, when 

 ho was succeeded by Mr Gerald Hardy. Mr Fort was out 

 of office for twelve years, but in 1915 he joined Mr F. 

 Milbanik in the Mastership, and a year later continued 

 (Office in conjunction with Mr F. Gretton. Mr Fort was an 

 enthusiast in all that pertains to hunting, and a very fine 

 rider to hounds. As a tribu.te of respe-ct to his memory the 

 Meynell have suspended operation.s until Feb. 14. 



