DEATH OF STEPHEN DICKIN8. 201 



"January \st, 1896. Sandon.—F onniX in Sandon Wood. Ran fast to 

 Hardiwick Heath, and back to Shaw Wood, and lost him. Drew the other 

 coverts at Sandon, but did not find. Went back to Holly Wood. Found. Ran 

 by Cotwalton, over by Spot Gorse and Hilderstone, round by Fulford, then to 

 the right and into Hose Wood, Draycot, through and by the gorse, and lost at 

 Sherratt's Wood. 



'^January 20th, 189G. Madeley ViUar/e.—Drew Wrinehills, but did not 

 find. Found in Checkley Wood. Ran fast to Finson's Hay, past Onneley and 

 Aston Cliff and Radwood up to Maer Hills ; changed foxes, and ran back to Barr 

 Hill, and round by the Bittern's back to Maer Hills to ground. Got him out 

 and killed. 



" January 27th, 1896. The Loggerheads:' The meet for this day (Monday) 

 was entered beforehand in Stephen Dickins's handwriting, but in Boxall's hand- 

 writing we fiml the following melancholy addition : " JS^ote. — Poor Dickins was 

 taken ill out hunting. Came home early. He never came out again." 



As already stcited, Stephen Dickins died on Tuesday, 

 February 4tli. The cause of his death was pneumonia 

 supervening on a chill. He was with difficulty persuaded to 

 go home from the Loggerheads and to hand over the horn 

 to Boxall ; but he was suffering much pain, and evidently 

 was quite unfit to remain out. He had every attention, 

 and was under the treatment of two eminent medical 

 men, but all was of no avail, and he succumbed, as 

 mentioned above, about a week after his first seizure. 

 The attendance at his funeral showed the esteem in which 

 Dickins was held, not only by the North Stafford Hunt 

 followers, but by members of the neighbouring Hunts, 

 many of whom were present, while many others sent 

 wreaths. Boxall, who had filled the post of first whipper- 

 in with great success since 1877, was deservedly promoted 

 to the huntsman's place, while S. Dickins, junr. (son of the 

 late huntsman), was promoted to Boxall's place, E. Jones 

 being second whipper-in. For the future we shall quote 

 from William Boxall's diary in giving the record of runs. 



•' January 31st, 189G. CMpnall Mill. — Found in Burnt Wood, Ran fast 

 through Chipnall Wood ; ran to ground in a drain near Hales ; bolted and 

 killed. Found in Peatswood. Had a ver}'^ good run into the Shropshire 

 country, and back through Peatswood, and killed near Pelwall. One hour and 

 twenty-five minutes. 



" February lUh, 1896, Chipnall ViUage. — Found near Cheswardiue Hall. 

 Killed on the liigh-road. The fox could not get over the wire fence. Found 

 again in Chipnall Wood. Hounds ran fast to Borough's Rough (Hales), back to 

 Chipnall Wood, through it nearly to the mill, back by the village through the 



