BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 21 



W. S. BELL. 



No man in the city of Pittsburgh stands higher in the estimation of his fellow- 

 citizens as a sportsman, counsellor in the city's varied interests and in business integ- 

 rity than the subject of this sketch, Mr. W. S. Bell. 



He was born at his present place of residence in the city's suburbs September 18, 

 1852, and, early in life developed a fondness for outdoor sports, indulging every op- 

 portunity as a youth, inheriting this desire from his father, who was an enthusiastic 

 devotee of both rod and gun. 



From 1877 to 1882 he was connected with J. Palmer O'Neil & Co., gun dealers, 

 and with the now well known Mr. S. A. Tucker, was the first of the experts to at- 

 tend shooting tournaments, Mr. Bell shooting a hammerless gun, and if not the 

 pioneer in use of the hammerless was certainly among the very first who saw the fu- 

 ture of it and used it. He was also an ardent advocate of small bores, using a twenty 

 bore in the early 8o's, when guns of such small bore were ridiculed as a toy, but he 

 has steadfastly adhered to it ever since, recently importing a pair of single trigger, 

 twenty bore guns, made by the celebrated maker, William Cashmore, upon which are 

 handsomely engraved some of his dogs, from photographs taken in the field, on his 

 extensive and splendid reservation in Tennessee, where he maintains a superb kennel 

 of dogs used entirely for his own sport, which he indulges moderately, as his keen 

 conception and enjoyment of nature are more to him than a well filled bag. Although 

 one of the best shots afield he does not desire to kill for numbers, and limits himself 

 to twenty shells a day, frequently bringing to bag twenty birds. 



Mr. Bell being an expert with the camera spends much time while out shooting 

 in making photographs of his dogs, and possesses a collection very rare and interesting 

 from which he derives much enjoyment. Marse Chans, winner of first in the Mo- 

 nongahela Club trials, is among the thirty setters and pointers owned by him, among 

 which are many other excellent performers kept for his private shooting and that of 

 friends only. 



As a judge at field trials Mr. Bell is perhaps best known. He was first asked 

 to officiate in 1880, and later has been sought by many clubs, acting in capacity of 

 judge in almost every state east of the Mississippi river in which trials have been 

 held, also in Manitoba and on the Pacific coast, rounding out an experience and ef- 

 ficent service equal to that of any of our well known judges. His executive ability 

 is surpassed by none, equalled by few. Being skilled in woodcraft and well versed in 

 the habits and haunts of game, with a keen perception of class in dogs, a good mem- 

 ory for analyzing their work and skilfully directing a trial, caused his service to be 

 sought everywhere. Recently he has declined many invitations because of the petty 

 bickerings, preferring the enjoyment of an outing on his preserves to the exacting 

 duties of a judge, where he stands among the foremost. He has also acted as a judge 

 at bench shows with great credit, having been honored with invitations at some of 

 our best ones, including such as the Westminster, etc., but he can rarely be induced 

 to serve. He formed the Monongahela Field Trial Club, and successfully demonstrated 

 that trials could ibe held in the middle north, always advancing some new feature, 

 among which was the furnishing of wagons for transporting the dogs to the trial 

 grounds, and the feeding of them and giving medals to commemorate their winnings. 

 In 1895 he advocated a bag limit to be placed on the state's statutes, and has urged 

 before the last two sessions of the legislature a gun license. 



Mr. Bell has been an active Mason since 1880 and has been honored and en- 

 trusted with the most exalted positions, serving in the meantime as chairman of many 

 important committees, notably the committee on decorations in 1898, when the great 



