SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



market against five thoroughbred horses, carry- 

 ing eight stones and a half, should resort to 

 the northern trail hound. A high authority, 

 the Field, said that the duke's ' sole chance 

 in the forthcoming great match was in his 

 adoption of the northern trail hound instead 

 of the true foxhound.' This dictum we 

 strongly protest against, and think ample testi- 

 mony may be easily produced to prove the 

 most successful trail dogs that have ever ex- 

 isted were true foxhounds. Many a cross 

 has been attempted by sanguine breeders to 

 bring out a dog capable of contending against 

 and beating the foxhound at trail running. 

 All such efforts have been given up as failures. 

 Hunting determination in a ten or twelve 

 miles chase, dogged perseverance to run a 

 scent till the end is accomplished, and a fine 

 sense of smelling to aid the work, are not to 

 be found except in very rare and exceptional 

 cases out of the true foxhound breed. Half- 

 bred dogs are as a rule useless for trail 

 hunting. With a breast high scent they 

 may run 4 or 5 miles, but will then generally 

 give in. 



The following are a few more instances 

 of good foxdogs and successful trailers. Sixty 

 years ago the late Mr. John Todd of Water- 

 head, Gilsland, had a large, pure-shaped, reso- 

 lute dog called ' Towler.' He was for years 

 regularly hunted with the Gilsland pack. 

 He is still spoken of by those who recollect 

 and have heard stories recounted of his mar- 

 vellous speed and stoutness as by far the best 

 trail dog throughout all the north country in 

 his day. Twenty years later Mr. Todd had 

 another 'Towler.' No better foxhound at 

 all points was ever slipped from a couple. 

 To form an estimate of his capabilities for a 

 trailer it is sufficient to state that at six and 

 seven years old he several times defeated the 

 celebrated ' Brampton bitch ' while in her 

 prime. 



' Tipler,' a dog bred and kept at Swaits 

 near Gilsland, ran several 10 and 12 mile 

 matches. His speed and endurance were so 

 extraordinary that he won them all with ease. 

 This dog was the admiration and boast of 

 both old and young foxhunters throughout 

 the country in which he hunted. He was 

 considered the most certain and reliable dog 

 that ever chased a fox over the wild moors 

 and hills of the north. It was ' Tipler ' when 

 the ' arvel ' was being drunk that had the 

 credit of securing many a brush. 



The late Mr. Holmes of Colees a gen- 

 uine foxhunter of the ' olden time ' had a 

 ' Towler ' considered to possess extraordinary 

 speed on a trail and highly esteemed as a 

 persevering dog after live game. This gentle- 



man understood dog trailing and foxhunting 

 well, and scouted the idea that half-bred dogs 

 could compete successfully with the pure bred 

 foxhound. 



There was another noted ' Tipler ' which 

 we must not omit noticing. It belonged 

 jointly to John Paterson and Alick Wallace, 

 both of Carlisle ; was a big, resolute, spotted 

 dog standing 24 inches high with a well 

 developed large head, broad chest, and some- 

 what long body. The career of this trail 

 hound for the three years he lived was dis- 

 tinguished by startling incidents. One was 

 perfectly astounding, as the reader will see 

 below. When once fairly settled on a 

 trail and warmed to his work ' Tipler ' was 

 a wonderfully persevering dog ; he would 

 rush without a stop or pause through the 

 thickest hedge or ' face any mortal thing.' 

 He could always be depended upon for com- 

 ing in at a rattling pace and mostly finishing 

 off a clear winner. During a brief career 

 in east Cumberland he started frequently 

 amongst the best dogs, and on trails varying 

 in distance from 5 to 12 miles in almost 

 every instance carried off the chief prize. On 

 one occasion Alick ' carried ' his favourite 

 westward to Cockermouth. Trail hunts 

 took place on two successive days, ' Tip- 

 ler ' won the first day and ran next to 

 Gilkerson's ' Butler ' on the second day. 

 The first day's trail was one of the most 

 spirited runs ever witnessed. Fifteen prime 

 dogs started, and when they approached the 

 goal, the umpire was obliged to mount a 

 fence in order to decide which dog made the 

 first spring to clear it, three of the foremost 

 running neck and neck, or rather nose and 

 nose, for a considerable distance. Returning 

 by way of Wigton he encountered a good 

 field on two days and was again victorious, 

 thus scoring to his credit three important 

 chases and a good second place. This was 

 in 1839. 



We now come to a strange accident which 

 put an end to a brilliant career and might 

 easily have proved fatal. Some sports were 

 advertised to be held at Elijah Kennedy's, 

 Warwick Bridge. ' Tipler ' in first rate 

 condition went to contend in the trail and 

 started full of vigour and life, but never 

 returned within sight of the winning post. 

 Alick, who had charge of the dog on that day, 

 to use his own words, ' laited it an' better 

 laited it ' until he was completely worn out. 

 On reaching home long after nightfall he was 

 half broken-hearted at his loss. By daybreak 

 on the following morning both John Paterson 

 and Alick were astir to renew the search, and 

 at length succeeded in finding the lost dog 



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