Dec. 23, 1886.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



481 



THE NATIONAL FIELD TRIALS. 



THE eighth aimnal meeting of the National Field Trials 

 Club begun on Monday, the 13th, with the All-Aged 

 Stake. There were 37 nominations, 22 of them filling, [See 

 drawing in last issue, p. 409.] The judges appointed were 

 Major W . H. Key, of Florence, Ala., Dr. Kawlings Young, of 

 Corinth, Miss., and Mr. C. W. Pans, of Cincinnati, O. Dr. 

 Young was unwell and not able to be present on Monday, 

 and Col. J. H. Tresevant, of Dallas, Tex., was chosen to fill 

 the vacant place. On Tuesday, Dr. Young arrived and joined 

 his associates in judging the remainder of the heats. 



In several of the heats we cannot agree with the decision of 

 the judges. Our reasons will be found in the record of the 

 performances of the dogs. The honor and integrity of the 

 gentlemen who performed the onerous task is above sus- 

 picion and that they made their decisions conscientiously no 

 one will for an instant doubt. The only explanation we can 

 offer for the difference in opinion betweem them and us is 

 that they failed to see some of the work that was done, or see- 

 ing it failed to rate it at its proper worth. It is often the case, 

 especially with dogs of high courage, that a grand bit of work 

 is done that half a second later would have been impos.sible, 

 and it requires close observation and often nice disLrimina- 

 tion to determine whether the work should score to the good 

 or the reverse. Upon several ticcasions a conference with 

 one or more of the judges .showed, greatly to our surprise, 

 that we held opposite opinions regarding the character of 

 the work just jjerfoi'med. In two or three such cases, after 

 the finish of the heat, a quiet remai-k to the handler of the 

 culprit Avould elicit a reply that gave us no reason to change 

 our notes. To score all the minute details of each or any 

 heat is simply impos.sible. To impartially record all the 

 work of importance and to lay before the readers a complete 

 history of the running is our highest ambition. 



BE3S HILL AND BEAUMONT. 

 On Monday morning it was cloudy with a 'strong breeze 

 from the nortliwest and a raw disagreeable day. Toward 

 noon there was a break in the clouds. The .sun came out 

 and the evening was pleasant, giving promises of good 

 weather. The drawing took place at eight o'clock, and forty 

 minutes later a start was made for the Jones fann some two 

 miles northwest of the town, and the first brace was piit down 

 in a cornfield at 9:28. Both are medium in size and move 

 easy at about an equally moderate rate of speed. Ben Hill 

 was handled by H. S. lievan, of Lamar, Miss., and Beaumont 

 byW. S. Ellison, of Atoka, Tenn. After three-qruirters of 

 an hour, during which time considerable ground was worked 

 over without a find. Ben struck .scent of a running l>evy and 

 after making several points and doing soTue nice roadiiig he 

 got close to the birds which were flushed and missed by his 

 handler, wlio was just ahead. Beaumont had struck the 

 scent behind Ben, and roaded a short distance but could 

 not make it out. Following the birds into some woods Ben 

 made a feint, and as his handler came up be drew on and 

 located his bird. Beaumont meantime put up a brace and 

 came round and backed Ben nicely. Bevan put up the lard 

 and scored a miss. Soon after Ben flushed and Beaumont 

 followed suit and stopped on point to another, and Ben 

 backed him an instant and then bi'oke and went on and 

 flushed the bird. Both then pointed and backed several 

 times, but nothing was found. Finally they were ordered 

 up and the decision[|was reserved till eveningj when the heat 

 was awarded to Ben Hill. Down fifty-eight minutes. 



GLADSTONE'S BOY AND LILLIAN. 

 Both of these dogs are well known. Glad appeared to be 

 off as he did not move nearly so well as when we saw him 

 last. He was handled by Tucker. Lillian started off well 

 and had the best of it in speed. She was handled by Stephen- 

 son. They were put down in some woods at, 10:36, alid worked 

 out to a cornfield where Lillian made a cast along a thicket 

 and pointed, and Glad backed her, Stephenson went ahead 

 ro flush and one bird rose, but settled again within a few 

 yards. Both dogs went on a few steps and pointed, and as 

 the handlers went up the beVy flushed and settled along a 

 ditch in tall sedge and briers a short distance away. Lillian 

 soon had one fast, and Glad coming up also pointed or 

 backed, we could not determine which. Stephenson put up 

 the bird and killed it. and Lillian sent to retrieve fluslied 

 one and then brought the dead bird nicely. We then turned 

 hack for a marked bird, which flushed wUd. Lillian made 

 a point near the place and her handler claiming to see a bird 

 on the ground, shot at it, but no attempt was made to find 

 the bird. A little fui-ther on one got up near Glad and soon 

 after both pointed at nearly the same time a single that was 

 flushed to order. Turning back Glad made a nice point that 

 Lillian backed at sight very prettUy. The birds were prob- 

 ably running, as nothing was found. We then turned into 

 some woods, where Glad made an elegant point that Lillian 

 at ^once honored. Glad drew on and again pointed and 

 Tucker went ahead to flu.sh when Glad drew on and again 

 pointed and Tucker put np the bird and missed it. A few 

 yards on Glad jumped into a point and almost at the in- 

 stant Lillian also pointed, and birds were flushed in front of 

 each. We then turned down to a branch, and as Lillian 

 went across she flushed one and dropped on point to another 

 that also went a second or two later. Glad meantime pinned 

 one just beyond that flushed just as Tucker came up. Turn- 

 ing back Lillian made a nice point and Glad backed her in 

 fine style. Stephenson claimed that she was pointing where 

 birds had been flushed from, but just then one rose m front 

 of her and the heat was ended with Lillian the winner. 

 Down twenty-eight minutes. This was an interesting heat 

 and the work was brilliant with but few mistakes. 



DON'S DOT AND DOBA. 

 Don's Dot, handled by Short, ran at High Point. Dora, 

 handled by her owmer, ran here last year. Dot showed more 

 speed and range than she did at High Point, but had no 

 chance to point, as Dora had the legs of her, and as soon as 

 Dot showed sign of game, Dora would cut in ahead, and at 

 last, when Dot was di'a\\ang on a bird, Dora went in and 

 flushed it. and the judges ordered them up awarded the heat 

 to Don's Dot; down thirty-four minutes. We then went to 

 lunch. 



PET GLADSTONE AND DAISY F. 



Both of these dogs ran at High Point with the same 

 handlers. Pet made a Jiiuch better appearance than in her 

 heat at High Point, and showed up quite speedy and a wide 

 ranger. Daisy also came out strong and got awav in fine 

 style, having the best of it in both speed and range. They 

 were put down at half-past one and %vorked back to where 

 the first brace were put dowTi in the morning without a 

 point. We then turned down the creek and shortly after 

 Pet ran into a bevy on nearly bare ground and fliished'them. 

 Following them up Pet made a beautiful point to a single, 

 Daisy baclcing her nicely. Tucker put up the bird and 

 scored a miss. Daisy then got in a very nice point to one in 

 the bottom of a deep gully, and Rose to order flushed and 

 missed it. Working down on the opposite side of the gully 

 Daisy pointed and then drew on a running bevy, and as she 

 located them Pet also pointed the same birds; Tucker put 

 them up and missed. The birds settled on top of a knoll in 

 the sedge, and as Daisy was climbing the stee_p bank she 

 caught the scent and made an elega,nt point, and^Pet backed 

 her instantly in fine style. This was very pretty. Hose put 

 UP the bird and scored another miss, and soon still another 

 on a bird that Daisy had pinned in the sedge. Pet then 

 flushed one, and the heat was ended with Daisy F, the win- 

 ner. Down one hour. 



LADY C, AND DAN GLADSTONE. 



These dogs also ran at High Point with the same handlers 

 TJiey ywe nearly equal in speed and range, Dan having the 



best of it in style. They were put down in sedge at 2:44. 

 Dan made a cast into a sorghum patch and made an elegant 



Soint, but drew on as his handler came up and roaded some 

 istance, but could not make it out. Lady also came up and 

 dropped on point, but nothing was found and we turned 

 down to a branch, where Dan, while at speed, ran into a wire 

 fence and cut his mouth and broke off a tooth, but he was 

 soon going again. Turning up the branch Lady droin^ed on 

 point near a cane thicket, but nothing was found. Ave then 

 beat out a large extent of ground without result. Finally 

 word was sent to the front that a bevy had been flu,shed by 

 the spectators and Ave turned into the woods after them. 

 Lady found them on the edge of i branch and dropped very 

 prettily to them. Stephenson put them up and winged one 

 that Lady retrieved alive very nicely. Leaving our horses 

 we followed the birds into a thicket, where Lady dropped to 

 a single that was running and Dan backed her. As bteph- 

 enson went ahead Ijady drew on and roaded out tlie bird 

 very nicely and it was flushed ahead of her. Botli then 

 roaded some distance and Dan followed up his bird and 

 located it nicely, Short to order flu.shing and .scoring a Tuiss. 

 We then took two or three turns in the woodw, bnfc nothing 

 was done except that botli challenged and roaded, but had 

 to give it up. Finally the judges consulted and a gun was 

 fierd and a bird thrown for Dan to retrieve, which he did in- 

 differently, and they were ordered up Asitli^Dau the Avinner. 

 Down one hour and twenty-eight nnnute.s. So far as we 

 could .see Lady had decisively the best of it and we are at a 

 loss to understand why Dan was awarded the heat. 



LirFRA AND NOBLE C. 



fjufi-a, handled by Nesbitt, was ju.st from Abilene with 

 her well won laurels still green and much was exi)octed from 

 her, but she appeared to be stale and did not show up nearly 

 at her best. Noble C. ran at High Point. He came out here 

 in much better form and ran a very good race, doing some 

 fine work. They were put down at 4:1.5 in a c otton lipid and 

 worked toward town. Noble made a east into a corn field 

 and made a styli.sh point to a bevy, and as Lufra caught 

 sight of him she made an elegant back a longdistance away. 

 Stephenson, to order, put up the bii ds and killed one, that 

 Noble retrieved only fairly well. Lufra was unsti'adv to 

 shot, but stopped to order. Following up the Intd.s, some 

 very tuce work was done by both dogs, each getting a point 

 at the same time, from which birds were pu! up, Xeslutt 

 scoring a miss. Soon after another got i)\> tliac Nesbitt 

 killed and Lufra retrieved it well. Noble tlien got a good 

 point and soon after Lufra got in one and bii-ds were tiushed 

 to each. Noble then cast back and pinned one tliat Ijad lain 

 and Stephenson, to order, put it up. The dogs were then 

 worked towai-d .some birds that hacl tieen marJied down, and 

 Noble pointed and Lufra baclced liim. iait ihc liirds haci 



Srobably run as nothing was found. A little further on 

 'ohle made a point in a thicket to a bird thar tiiushcd wild. 

 Lufra came op and pointed wlici'o the lard rose fi'orii. Soon 

 after Noble cast ahead along ii dircii and nniile a noint to one 

 that also flushed wild. Meantinif Tjufra was i-o.-idiug out 

 this bird, but .she got them too late a?; the heat -.vas decided 

 in favor of Noble C, Down thirty-seven niiuuf eH. In speed 

 and range Noble had the In-.st "of it. In stvle they were 

 nearly equal. It was nearly five o'clock and this ended the 

 work for the day. 



TUESDAY. 

 CHICKASAW 11. AND .SPOKTSMAN. 

 On Tuesday morning the weather w.as delightful, proud.s- 

 ing a good hunting day, and with tiie exception ot a trifle 

 too much wind a portion of the time the day was all that 

 could be -wished. Birds were not very jdenty and nearly all 

 the heats were prolonged in consec/uence. ' The dogs were 

 put down at 8:35 on the Runt Farm, \\-hich in former years 

 has held more birds than any other grounds here. Sports- 

 man, handled by Tucker, is well kinjwn. Chickasaw, han- 

 dled by Short, ran at High Point. In .speed, range and style, 

 Chickasaw had the best of it. Sportsman was the first to 

 find, pointing a bevy nicely. Chick had challenged, but 

 went on down wind and flushed a bi'ace and stopped as the 

 other got up; Tucker killed one. Sportsman was a trifle un- 

 steady but at once dropped to order. He then retrievecl well. 

 Following after the birds both dogs pi .luted and then roaded 

 where birds had probably run, but they failed to make it out. 

 We then took a turn along a hedge, and Chick made a .styl- 

 ish point to a smgle and Sportsman backed him very nicely. 

 Short, to order, put up the bird, which flew toward the 

 judges a,nd was not shot at. This was a very pretty piece of 

 work. We then worked down near a branch in some sedge, 

 where Sportsman made a point and Chick backed him. As 

 Tucker went ahead to flush. Sportsman drew on and roaded 

 for some distance. Chick also roading. Sportsman stuck 

 pretty close to the trail, but before he could locate liis birds 

 Chick made a cast, and as he turned back and flushed the 

 bevy. Short killed one that Chick retrieved well. Taking 

 the dogs round for the wind Chick made a nice point that 

 Sportsman at once honored. As Short came up a bird flushed 

 near Chick, but he held his point and Short put up another 

 one just in front of him. This was well done, but he spoiled 

 it all a few minutes later by making a bad flush with the 

 wind in his favor, and worse than this, he came very near 

 scoringacha.se. We then turned into some woods 'where 

 Sportsman made a nice point to a beA^^. Chick coming 

 toward him down wind probably did not see him, as he ap- 

 pears to be perfect in backing, ran into the birds and flushed 

 them. This ended the heat with Sportsman the winner. 

 Down fifty-four minutes. 



MINNIE S. AND BRIDGEPORT. 

 This brace Avas put down in the woods near where the last 

 brace Avas taken up at 9:33. Minnie is of medium size, rather 

 a nice mover, Avith only a fair amount of speed; she Avas 

 handled by Bevan. Bridgeport ran at the Western Trials, 

 dividing third; he Avas handled by Stafford. In speed and 

 range they Avere nearly equal; Bridgeport shoAved the most 

 style. When flr.st put down both alternately pointed and 

 backed on trail of the bevy found in the preAdous heat. They 

 Avere then Avorked through to some sprouts where the bird's 

 had been marked, and three or four birds AA'cre flushed near 

 the dogs and handlers, but the thicket was so dense that Ave 

 could not see Avhich was to blame. Soon after Bridgeport 

 flushed a brace that he should have pointed and dropped to 

 wing. Both then pointed once or tAAuce, but nothing Avas 

 found. A persistent effort was then made to get the dogs 

 on a marked bird, but after considerable maneuvering the 

 task Avas abandoned and the bird was flushed by one of the 

 judges. We then turned back into the sprouts. AA'here 

 Bridgeport made tAvo or three points to Avhich nothing was 

 tound. Another marked bird Avas reported, and the dogs 

 Avere ordered in that direction. Minnie succeeded in finding 

 it this time, but scored a flush instead of a point. Both 

 then got in several pretty points and backs, but nothing Avas 

 found, except in one instance a hare Avas seen to go. Finally 

 both Avere found on point Avith Bridgeport a little in 

 advance, and Stafford to order put up the bird. A long time 

 was spent and considerable ground worked over AAuthout 

 result, and the dogs Avere ordered up to go doAvn again. 

 DoATO one hour and three minutes. They were again put 

 dOAvn at 12:34, after the finish of the heat betAveen Niobe and 

 Bob Gates, and sent into the woods after the scattered bew 

 Bridgeport ran up a bird and stopped to wing, and Minnie 

 backed him, Minnie then flushect one and instantly stopped 

 to Aving. A little further on Bridgeport made a point and 

 Minnie caught sight of him and backed at the same instant 

 that she flushed the bird. Bridgeport then made a point 

 just in season to escape the penalty for a flush. A little 

 further on they hacked each other, and soon aitey Bridgeport 

 half point-ed and Minnie backed ham. The jj^gpa then com- 



pared notes and aAvarded the heat to Minnie S. BoAvn fifteen 

 minutes; altogether one hour and eighteen minutes. We 

 could not see upon what grounds the decision was made. 

 Bridgeport outworked her from start to finish, and was 

 entitled to the heat. 



jack; cade and eichmond. 

 This brace Avas put down at 10:37, in sedge. Jack is a large 

 dog and runs rather heavy. He was handled by W. W, 

 Titus. Eichmond, handled' by Short, ran at High Point. 

 He .showed the mo.st speed and style. After ciuite a turn 

 Jack ran into a bevy, down Tvind, and flushed part, of them 

 and tlien, AA-ith the wind in his favor, he put up the others. 

 Failing to find the scattered birds we beat out considerable 

 ground to a sorghum patch where a hevy flu.shed under the 

 horses and settled in the sedge. Two of "them dropped near 

 Richmond, and as he came to the place he flushed one of 

 them and soon after the other got up near his handler. Rich- 

 mond theji cast down along the edge of some sedge and made 

 a nice point, and Short Avent ahead to flu.sh Avhen Richmond 

 drcAv on after him aAvay from the bird which Avas flushed 

 near .Tack, Avho had come up and pointed it as Richmond 

 drcAV on. Short killed it Avith his .second barrel and Rich- 

 mond retrieved it well. The dogs were then taken across a 

 deep gully after the birds, and Jack scored a flush on three 

 birds that he should have pointed. Richmond soon after 

 made a nice point to a single that Short Hushed to order and 

 killed, and Jack retrieved it. Richmond then made a point 

 but soon Avent on. The judges then compared notes and 

 awarded the heat to Richmond. DoAvn fifty -four minutes. 



NIOBE AND BOB GATES. 



This brace was put doAvn in an old field near the road. 

 Niobe is a pretty little bitch Avith an easy, graceful Avay of 

 going and (luite a turn of speed. She was handled by Elli- 

 son. Bob Gates, handled by Steidiensou, won the All-Aged 

 Setter Stake at High Point. In speed they were nearly 

 equal; in range and style Boli had the be.st of "it. Soon after 

 starting Bob made an elegant point to a hare, and soon after 

 Niobe also pointed one. Working doAvn the gxilly Bob made 

 a point, and as his handler Avent ahead to flush Bob drew on 

 after him a\A'ay f rom the bird, the judges flushing it soon 

 after. The bird fleAv over the reporters, and Mr. Irwin made 

 a pass at it and knocked it to the ground. It recovered, 

 however, and a\ ent oft' in a sadly demoralized condition. 

 Bob made another stylish point at the edge of the woods at 

 the lower end of the gully to a bird that his handler f.iiled 

 to flush, but it got up when the other handler came along. 

 We then turned up into the woods, and Niobe dropped on a 

 pretty point to a bcA-ythat Ellison flushed to order and killed 

 one. Niobe, sent to retrieve, Avent to the bird and mouthed it, 

 but refused to bring it, and her handler went to her and put 

 it in her mouth, but she only brought it a few steps and 

 dropped it. FolloAving u.p the birds Niobe pointed iu.st as a 

 bird flu.shed Avild a short distance in front of her. Bob then 

 made a very hand.some point, and Niobe backed an instant 

 and moA'ed up but dropped to order. Stephenson Avent ahead 

 to flu.sh, when Bob dreAV on, and alternatelv pointing and 

 roading running birds, working them out very nicely. They 

 flushed just ahead of him and Stephenson scored a mis.s. A 

 little further on Bob made a nice point to a single and Niobe 

 backed him very prettily. Stephen, to order, put up the 

 bird and scored another miss. They Avere then taken up and 

 we crossed to a large open field wliere Bob, making a Avide 

 ca.st, turned back along the Avoods with his nose over his 

 shoulder in the wind, and pinned a bevy in fine style. 

 Stephen.son, to order, put up the birds and killed one that 

 fell across the road. Bob, sent to retrieve, Avent over the 

 two six-feet high fences and brought the bird in good form, 

 This ended the heat with Bob the winner. Doavu fifty-four 

 minutes. Bridgeport and Minnie S. Avere then put doAvn to 

 finish their heat, after which aa-c Aventto lunch. 



PATSEY D. AND GAY GLADSTONE. 

 Patsey, handled by his OAVner, Mr. R. C. Van Hoi-n, is 

 Avell knoAvn. He has quite a turn of soeed and shoAvs con- 

 siderable hunting sense. He has been drained to flush his 

 birds to order and evidently thinks it great fun, but the - 

 judges apparently Avere of a different opinion, and he failed 

 to obtain credit marks for his brilliant offorts in this 

 direction. Gay is a very nice moving little bitch Avith a fair 

 rate of speed and lots of style, handled by Titus. They were 

 put down after lunch in an open field and worked toAvard 

 a plum thicket near Avhere a bcA'v had been seen to settle 

 when Ave came up to lunch. Patsey Avent beloAv the thicket 

 and pointed a hare AA^hile Gay went up to the thicket and got 

 on the birds. As Titus came up a single flushed near him 

 and as he went ahead the remainder AA-ent. One of them flcAV 

 directly over Patsey and he remained steady, but as the bird 

 fell to Titus's gun and fluttered on the ground just beyond 

 him he broke in and retrieved it. The bird Avas then throAvn 

 and Gay also retrieved it. Working doAvn to some Avoods 

 Ave turned along the edge Avhen Patsey made a point to a 

 single that Avas flushed by Gay as she came down wind 

 toward him. A little further on Gay made a stylish point 

 but soon went on. Patsey then made a'point.and as his handler 

 came up jumped in and put up the birds. Soon after Gay 

 pinned one that flushed as Patsey dreAv to\yard lier. Patsey 

 then pinned one and Gay drew past him and stole the point 

 the bird going a feAV seconds later. As the dogs went on a 

 bird flushed near them as they disappeared in the thicket 

 Both then pointed with Gay ahead, the bird flushing wild as 

 the handlers came up. We then turned back to the horses, 

 AA-hich had been left outside the thicket, and the judges com- 

 pared notes and aAvarded the heat to Gay Gladstone. Down 

 tAA^enty-seven minutes. This ended the first series Avith the 

 f olloAving result: 



Summary First Series. 

 Ben Hill beat Beaumont. 

 Lillian beat Gladstone's Boy. 

 Don's Dot beat Dora. 

 Daisy F. beat Pet Gladstone, 

 Dan Gladstone beat Lady C. 

 Noble C. beat Lufra. 

 Sportsman beat Chickasaw.U, 

 Minnie S. beat Bridgeport. ' 

 Richmond beat Jack Cade, 

 Bob Gates beat Niobe. 

 Gay Gladstone beat Patsey D. 



Second Series. 



DAN GLADSTONE AND NOBLE C. 

 In the regular order of running Ben Hill and Lillian came 

 together m the first heat of the second series, but Mr. Ste- 

 phenson succeeded in convincing the judges that the rule 

 alloAving a change in the regular order of running when tAvo 

 dogs oAvned or handled by the same person came together 

 applied in this case, and they decided that Ben Hill and 

 Don's Dot should run together and Lillian and Daisy F 

 Mr. Stephenson OAvns Ben Hill and handled Lillian, Ben 

 being handled by Mr. Bevan. This AA-as an ingenious plan 

 to say the least, as thereby both dogs had a chance to remain 

 in for the next series, whereas if thev ran against each other 



one 



dOAA' 



1 must drop out. After Ben Hill and Don's Dot were put 

 ,.^,^'n, Mr. Rose, the handler of Daisy F., protested against 

 the change, and pending a decision the running of the first 

 two brace AA-as postponed, and the third brace in the series. 

 Dan Gladstone and Noble C.-, was ordered to be put doAvn 

 At a meeting of the Executive Committee in the evening it 

 ATas very properly decided to su.stain the protest of Mr Rose 

 The rule was made to protect the interests of the oAvner or 

 handler having two or more dogs entered in the same stake 

 and was never intended to encourage combinations Avhereby 

 OAvnersor handlers could obtain "an advantage over their 

 competitors. Dan and Noble were verv nearly matched in 



