THE ACCIDENT AT NEWBY FERRY. ng 



' We chopped the first fox in Cayton Gill, but found 

 ' again in Monkton Whin, at 12-40. There was a splendid 

 ' scent, but the fox twisted about a good deal, and, though 

 ' the pace was tremendous, yet, after an hour's running, 

 ' the fox crossed the river at Newby, just in front of the 

 ' hounds, and only about two miles and a half from where 

 ' he was found. 



' The river was very high from the floods, and a very 

 ' strong stream was running, in consequence of which 

 'the fox was carried over Newby weir, and the whole 

 ' of the hounds also ; but they all got out safely, and 

 ' took up the scent immediately on the opposite side. 

 ' There is a ford just below, with posts marked with 

 ' different distances up to the height of five feet, so as 

 ' to show when the river is fordable ; but on that day 

 ' the river was so high that not even the posts were 

 ' visible. We were all, therefore, obliged to make for 

 ' the ferry. 



' The ferry-boat was overloaded, and no sooner did it 

 ' get into the stream than the water began to rush in 

 ' over the sides. Sir Charles Slingsby's horse, old Saltfish 

 ' (whom he bought the first year he took the hounds, 

 'fifteen years ago), finding there was something wrong, 

 'jumped into the water. Sir Charles held on to the 

 ' reins to induce him to swim alongside, but, not calcu- 

 ' lating sufficiently the force of the stream and the weight 

 ' of the horse, he was overbalanced and fell in. (I have 

 ' seen several papers state that there was then a rush 

 ' made to one side ; but the horses were so closely packed 

 ' on board, like bullocks in a bullock-truck, that they 

 ' could not have moved from any cause.) The boat 

 ' then swayed once or twice, and finally turned completely 

 ' over, for several seconds leaving nothing to the view 

 'but the bottom of the boat. It seemed impossible that 

 ' any could be saved, but by degrees heads began to 

 ' appear ; and Mr. Clare Vyner, having scrambled on 

 ' to the upturned boat, gallantly assisted all he could 

 ' reach to gain the same haven. The boat, being still 

 ' held by the chain, acted as a breakwater, and therefore 

 ' all those that came up near the boat had no stream to 

 ' contend against. Unfortunately, Sir Charles Slingsby 



