CLOSE OF SEASON 1892-93. 193 



cover, but nnfortvmately they divided here, six couple going tlirough one end of 

 the cover, and, getting away on good terms with their fox, went on, leaving 

 Tenford Mill on the leftover tiie Breach Farm for Oak Hill Hall, in the direction 

 of Draycot Woods, but after running down to the North Stafford Railway, near 

 Leigh Station, hounds swung to the left, leaving Leigh Church on the right, and 

 ran out of scent near to Checkley village. Time, over an hour, and over a 

 beautiful line of country, the onl}' drawback being that the leading hounds were 

 a long way in front of every one. After getting his hounds together, Dickins 

 put into Mr. Philips's covers at Ileybridge, where they refound what was sup- 

 posed to have been their hunted fox, and soon afterwards killed him. 



Double Snaffle. 



'' February 12nd, 1893. SherraWs Wood. — Fornid in Brindley's Wood, but 

 killed in covert. Drew Birchwood Park and Sherratt's Wood ; did not find, but 

 found in Bromley Wood. Ran very fast to Stailington and Blythe Bridge, and 

 back to Draycot by Garshall Green to Birchwood Park, down to Field and away 

 to Gratwich, and on as if Kingstone Wood was his point, but turned at 

 Grindley Station to Chartley Park and Fradswell past Sherratt's Wood, and 

 killed near Milwich. Time, two hours and thirty minutes. 



" February 27th, 1893. Doddington.— Found in Chapel Wood. Ran by 

 Hatherton Lodge, round over the Park to Shaw's Rough, along the brook to 

 Checkley Hall, crossed the brook and ran up to Betley Road Station, turned to 

 the right, on to Wrinehiil, over the railway, and killed at Madeley. Drew 

 Admiral's Gorse and Checkley blank, but found at Three Brooks. Ran fast 

 round by Buerton, College Fields, etc., to Dorrington, on to Norton-in-Hales, 

 and lost near Bellaport Hall. 



" March Ibth, 1893. Draycot Village. — Found on Draycot Cross, and ran out 

 for Forsbrook and lost. Then di-ew some coverts round Cheadle and Heath 

 House, but did not find. Then went to Hose Wood. Found. Ran fast to 

 Sherratt's Wood and the Bird-in-Hand to Fulford and Stailington, back to Spot 

 Gorse and a rir.g into Moddershall, to gi-ound at Idle Rocks. 



" March 20th, 1893. Woore. — Drew the Woore coverts blank, but found a 

 fox on a farm at Bridgemere. Ran fast by Three Brooks to Buerton Gorse, on 

 by Golling's Rough to Highfields, round Audlem and Buerton village, and killed. 

 Found another at Bellaport. l^n up to Norton-in-Hales, to ground in a drain. 

 Found another in the Drumble near Golling's Rough. Ran fast by Buerton 

 Gorse and College Fields, and killed near the Canridden." 



On March 29th we find this exceptional entry in the 

 huntsman's diary : 



" ^let at Sherratt's Wood. Very dry and hot. Drew Sherratt's Wood and 

 Brindley's Wood, but did not find, so came home. Not fit to hunt. Not to 

 hunt again unless rain." 



There was no rain, so this blank day finished the 

 season. Most of our readers will remember the spring 

 and summer of 1893, which for heat and drought was 

 quite remarkable even amongst the cycle of dry seasons 

 we have had of late years. 



o 



