52 



Although that was not the sort of amusement men went to hunt 

 for, I don't think the gentlemen of the Curraghmore would have 

 allowed these hirelings to stop their hunting if they had confined their 

 outrages to themselves alone. This they did not do, but upon many 

 occasions attempts were made to poison the hounds. Mr. Springfield 

 was ever vigilant, and took measures to get information beforehand, 

 so with the use of stratagems he was enabled, as a rule, to frustrate 

 these base attempts. Several times, however, hounds picked up 

 poisoned meat along the roads and in covert. Springfield and his 

 men always came out well supplied with emetics ; so directly a hound' 

 showed symptoms, one was given him on the spot. By this means 

 many were saved, but from the effects of the poison they did not 

 recover for months, and several lost all their hair. 



The pack had a great escape one evening — Fiddown Bridge, a quarter 

 of a mile in length, had strewn all along it poisoned meat. Hurrying 

 out of a heavy storm which was raging, the hounds were trotted 

 very fast across the bridge and had not time to get their heads down. 

 Thus they escaped. 



The most determined and serious attempt of all was made on 

 the 25th of March, 1884, when the total annihilation of the pack was 

 prevented only by the merest chance and another piece of good luck. 

 Ballinaboola, a low-lying covert of about ten acres, had over 100 

 pieces of poisoned meat put into it when everyone knew it would be 

 drawn. Mr. Springfield had actually brought the hounds to within 

 a few fields on his way to draw it when he found the country so 

 submerged in water owing to a heavy rainfall, that he changed his 

 mind, and went off elsewhere. He became informed of the escape he 

 had, and immediately laid the case before his Committee. 



Accordingly a general meeting of the Hunt was called, and the 

 outrage at Ballinaboola having been explained, it was there and 

 then determined that no further attempts to hunt should be made, 

 and that the hounds should be returned to Lord Waterford. For the 

 Curraghmore gentlemen would not again risk the destruction of such 

 a valuable pack, knowing that sooner or later the ruffianly object of 

 its destruction would be attained, despite all measures of prevention. 



Thus the 25th of March, 1884, was the last day a covert was drawn- 

 by the Curraghmore. 



Mr. Thomas Springfield was a keen and ardent sportsman, and 

 showed exceedingly good sport during his two seasons' Mastership — 

 seasons unparalleled in the annals of foxhunting for difiiculty 

 and opposition. He strove manfully against all, and showed 

 indomitable pluck throughout. Will llawle did his work well, and 

 showed equal courage and determination. He was always as fore- 

 most in charging the mobs of miscreants as he was in riding to his 

 hounds. 



The season 1882-83 was very bad for scent, and the weather was^ 

 terribly broken, so, with the troubles caused by the Land League^ 

 Springfield's sport was not good. 



