in the Seventies and Eighties. 89 



line when found, nay, even the earth in which he would go 

 to ground, or attempt to go, perhaps, only to find that it 

 had been previously visited by the ubiquitous whip ! Like 

 freemasons, the two worked unselfishly together, without 

 sign or sound to the casual observer, and the result cannot 

 be said to have been to the disadvantage of those who 

 threw in their fortunes with the South Durham Hounds. 



" Each played his part, and played it well — 

 Who played it best 'twere hard to tell." 



On his retirement from the position of huntsman, Claxon 

 was presented with a suitable testimonial in the shape of a 

 purse of money by the subscribers to the Hunt, and many 

 friends he had made amongst the tenant farmers in the 

 country, with whom he was always deservedly popular. 

 After a short sojourn at Sedgefield he became mine host 

 of an inn at Little Bytham, near Grantham, but trade being 

 slack there, he subsequently (in 1890) became landlord of 

 the Commercial Hotel, Castle Eden, where his business 

 prospered, and where unfortunately he died on Saturday, 

 August 22nd, 1903. He was twice married, his second wife, 

 who survives him, being a daughter of the late John Coates, 

 for many years private trainer to the late Earl of Zetland, 

 and afterwards to the late Marquis Talon, who kept his horses 

 in the stabling attached to the present kennels ; the hounds 

 were then located at Rushyford. 



The Season of 1887-8 augured well at the start, the 

 November sport being particularly good, especially on 

 November 21st when fifty-seven minutes and a kill, and 

 twenty-five minutes to ground were recorded ; and on the 

 two following hunting days from meets at Travellers' Rest 

 and Great Stainton, both of which are marked in letters of 



