200 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



CHAPTER XIY. 



DEATH OF STEPHETs" DICKINS — WOORE AXD XORTON MEETS 



SKETCH OF STEPHEN DICKINS AS A HUNTSMAN — 



W. BOXALL SEASON 1896-97. 



The season of 1895-96 was a very fair season indeed for 

 sport, l)ut unhappily it was a sad time for the North 

 Stafford Hunt, for on February 4th, 1896, poor Stephen 

 Dickins died after a very short illness, to the great regret 

 of every member of the Hunt. A better huntsman never 

 carried the horn, and a more honest, faithful official never 

 served under any M.F.H. ; but we shall have occasion to 

 speak in greater detail of Dickins's career and achieve- 

 ments later on in this history, so that here we only record, 

 with sincere regret, the sad loss to the North Stafford 

 Hunt. The following are extracts from Dickins's diary : — 



'^ Novi-mher Qth, 1895. Binl-in-TIand. — Found in Bromle}' Wood. Ran 

 fast by Field and Leigh to Loxley and back, into Cany Coppice to ground. 

 Time, fifty minutes. "Went back to Brindley Plantation. Found. Ran a ring 

 and lost. Found another in Brindley's Wood. Ran several rings round 

 Sherratt's Wood, Draycot, etc., but did not kill. 



" Nov&inler 16</«, 1895. Norton Bridge. Station. — Found at Shallowford 

 Gorse. Ran fast by Pirehill and Aston, round under Yarlct Hill to Enson, 

 round by Whitgreave, back over Yarlet Hill, and away to Cold Norton Gorse, 

 and lost him. One hour and five minutes. Did not find again. 



'■^ Decpmher 9th, 1895. Norton -in- Hales. — Found in Brown Hills, and ran to 

 Betton House and lost. Drew Golling's Rough, but did not find, but got on a 

 fox outside. Ran round by Cob's Cot and Norton-in-Hales to Bellaport, round 

 to Buerton Gorse, and away to the Glades and back to Golling's Rough, and 

 nearly to Buerton, and lost him. One hour and thirty minutes. 



^'■December l\th, 1895. Sandon. — Drew Sandon Wood blank, l)ut found in 

 the Drumble on the hill above Sander's Wood. Ran fast to Ilardiwick Heath, 

 and lost him. Did not find again until we got to the Downs Banks. Found, and 

 ran by Kibblestone and Cotwalton up to Holly Wood. Stopped hounds at dark. 

 An unlucky day. Three of the liest hounds spoilt over the rock at Kibblestone 

 Hall — Damper, Heedful, Actor. 



