160 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



Mihvich to Slierratt's Wood, back to Birchwood Park ; awaj'- again over to 

 New Close Sprink, and back by Draycot Gorse and Bromley Wood. Changed 

 foxes ; ran on to Birchwood Park and Fradswell to Mihvich, on up to Sandon and 

 Shaw's Wood, and on to Ilardiwick Heath ; had a ring and ran back to Sandon ; 

 had a ring and lost. Must have clianged three times. Time, three hours and 

 a half." 



The season finished with a moderate day at Sugnall on 

 April 9tli. Record for 1888-89, forty-eight foxes killed, 

 and thirty-three run to ground. Seventy-nine days' hunting 

 altogether. 



From the Staffordshire Advertiser, February 23rd, 

 1889 : 



NORTH STAFFOEDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



Woore, Fehruary l%th. — We generally expect a fair day's sport from this 

 fixture, and it proved no exception to the rule. The weather, following the 

 adage that " after a storm there is a calm," was both mild and pleasant, after the 

 gales of last week. It gave us all great pleasure to have the Marquis and 

 Marchioness of Stafford with us. The Cheshire, Sir Watkin, and the Shropshire 

 were represented by a contingent from each. It is pleasant to see strange faces, 

 and it is only courteous to give them a hearty welcome ; but in these matter-of- 

 fact days, when the hunting world is so exercised in the matters of damage done 

 to farmers — poultry funds, wire funds, etc. — it is for them to consider if a 

 contribution to the above would not, in their own mind, make them feel them- 

 selves still more welcome. The first draw was at Canridden ; this proved blank, 

 but Mill Hay responded to the second call. Reynard found the coast clear at the 

 bottom, and got away without any hindrance, as the Master kept the field at the 

 other end of the covert. At first it appeared as though his fancy was Admiral 

 Gorse, but he bent to the right to Sillenhurst; but, being headed, he inclined 

 again to the left, crossing the Woore and Doddington road. Again tending to 

 the right, he crossed the Woore and Madeley road at Gravenhunger Moss to 

 Gravenhunger Hall. Near here, a gentleman well known in the Hunt, who had 

 been going thoroughly well, met with a fall, which at first looked serious, through 

 there being wire in the fence. I feel sure the party on whose land it happened 

 would be grieved that any one should sustain injury, and it is to be hoped that 

 both he and his neighbom-s will remove the wire from their fences in future during 

 the hunting season. From Gravenhunger Hall the fox crossed the AVoore and 

 Pipe Gate road near Ireland's Cross, then to Dorrington and on to near Bellaport, 

 leaving this to Canridden, and straight back to Mill Hay (where he was found) ; 

 right through he went, and round nearly the same line, but this time, instead of 

 taking us to Ireland's Cross, he went straight and crossed the North Staffordshire 

 Railway. Just as the hounds were crossing a train hove in sight, but the di'iver 

 (to whom our thanks are due) slackened speed and came slowly on until the line 

 was clear. This caused considerable delay, as we had to ride round to Pipe Gate 

 Station, and it no doubt saved Reynard his brush. We again got on his line, and 

 he took us on to Willoughbridge Park, where we lost him. This run occupied 

 about an hour and a half. Bellaport Wood found us another fox, and he took 

 us back to Woore, where I left tliem at 4.30. I believe the day was brought to 

 a close by running him to earth near the Steeplechase Course. By this time 



