c394 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[June 7, 1888. 



at the meeting of May 14 to consult with or obtain consent . 

 of the American Field Trial Club to exercise any of t hese i 

 otherwise inoffensive rights. 



It is more a matter of surprise than regret to us that the 

 Chicago editor, after ten days of anxious cogitations and re- 

 flections, should have concluded for the remarkable reasons 

 he assigns, not to publish our telegram or advertisemt nt, 

 but as there are other channels open to us, we respectfully 

 defer to the wisdom and judgment of this good gentleman 

 as to what publications and news may be proper to give the 

 sporting public through the columns of his paper. Certainly 

 that editor must expect great things from the Southern 

 Field Trial Club if, as tfie result of its (assured) success, 

 others must fail; we congratulate ourselves and similar 

 clubs that at least in such an alarming apprehension he en- 

 joys a monopoly. In all candor we think the pretext upon 

 which the Chicago editor has declined our advertisement is 

 too transparent to deceive anybody, while his unblushing 

 imputation upon the motives that actuated the gentle-men 

 composing the Southern Field Trial Club, is, to say the 

 least of it, impertinent. 



In view of my official connection with the Southern Field 

 Trial Club. I deem it due the public thus to present the 

 facts. J. W. Renfroe, Pres. Southern F. T. C. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The committee appointed to select grounds for the trials 

 of the Southern Field Trial Club, to be run Dec. 3, 1888, 

 have secured ample grounds at Amory, Miss.,which is situ- 

 ated on the Memphis and Birmingham R. R.. about forty 

 miles from West Point. The fields are large and level, with 

 no gullies nor wire fences, plenty of water and birds in 

 abundance, and the grounds are fully protected. 



The hotel accommodations are first-class, board $]. 50 per 

 day, and $1 per day at private houses; horses at $1 per day. 



The Turf, Field and Farm, donates to the winner of the 

 Derby a cup valued at $100, or $100 in cash, at the option of 

 the winner. This gives the winner of the Derby $400. 



The officers of this club are: J. W, Renfroe, President, 

 Atlanta, Ga. Patrick Henry, first Vice-President, Claiks- 

 ville Tenn. W. R. Holliday, second Vice-President, Prairie 

 Station, Miss. T. M. Brumby, Secretary and Treasurer, 

 Marietta, Ga. Governing Committee: J. W. Renfroe, 

 Atlanta. Ga.; F. I. Stone, Chattanooga, Tenn.; R. M. Dud- 

 ley, Nashville, Tenn.: W. H. Sherrod. Florence, Ala.; J. E. 

 Hart. Jacksonville, Fla.,; B. W. Bedford, Como, Miss.: J 

 H. Tresevant, Dallas, Texas; W. E. Venable, Atlanta, (4a.; 

 S. S. BoggS, Pittsburgh, Pa. Committee on Running Rules: 

 F. I. Stone, Chattanooga, Tenn,; J. W. Mernan. keeling, 

 Tenn.; T. M. Brumby, Marietta, Ga. The rules'are nearly 

 ready and will soon be printed, together with the constitu- 

 tion and by-laws, and will be furnished to any one upon 

 application to the secretary. Derby entries close Julv 1, 1888. 



T. M. Brumby, Sec. and Treas. 



NIGHTS WITH THE COONS. 



IV. 



ALTHOUGH I can now be enrolled among the few who 

 hunt coons, my career as such dates back only to last 

 season, but my enthusiasm is as great as the time has been 

 short. 1 spend my vacations, which last from July to Octo- 

 ber, in Windham, Conn. One day the first part of July, 

 while fishing in the Shetucket River. I noticed many tracks 

 in the mud and sand. These proved to be coon tracks; so it 

 occured to me, as coons were hunted very little about there, 

 it would be a good scheme to get a dog and have some fun 

 hunting them. But it appeared that there were few good 

 coon dogs to be had. Seeing an advertisement of some out 

 West that were for sale, I sent for one, which came after 

 much waiting, but not caring to go out all night with a dog 

 we knew little about, we hired a man who owned a good dog 

 to join our party. 



"Bally Hack" had the reputation of being good coon terri- 

 tory, so we went there, but it is a wild place, and we took 

 along a man who knew all about where the different cart 

 paths led, as he had chopped wood there for many winters, 

 but alas, his chopping had been done in daylight, while 

 coons must be hunted by night. Our party consisted of 

 eight, including the aforesaid wood cutter, an old woodchuck 

 hunter, who hud never been coon hunting, but had always 

 wanted to, the owner of the extra dog, some boys, myself 

 and the western champion coon dog. The dogs were let loose 

 when we got into the woods, and a start was made for the 

 upper end of Follett'.-s upper pond, with Weaver who knew 

 all about the locality in the lead. We had not goue into 

 "Round Swamp" over 100yds., before all hands w r ere turned 

 around, or rather our leader was, for he insisted we were go- 

 ing south, when going north, for so said the compass, of 

 which there happened to be three. The first two produced 

 pointed exactly north and south, but there was not a man in 

 the party that could tell whether the black or white point 

 was north. At this important crisis Mr. B. ; our old wood- 

 chuck hunter, came to the rescue, producing a very small 

 compass, about the size of a silver quarter. There was no 

 mistaking this, as it had but one point, the opposite end be- 

 ing in the shape of a quarter moon, so all then took a lesson 

 in navigation, and learned that the black point means north. 

 It was now discovered we were going straight north, and 

 away from the pond we so much desired to reach. "Not 

 much," said our guide, and nothing would convince him, 

 until he went back to Chestnut Hill Brook we had just 

 crossed; it was west of us and he went east to find it. The 

 brook runs into Follett's pond, he knew that; when it was 

 found running the opposite way, he swore the course of the 

 water had changed. Finally convinced, we found the pond, 

 struck a cart path and started for the ledges. 



About 11 o'clock Rover barked— being a still-hunter he 

 barks only when the coon is treed — so we knew we had a 

 coon up. Our western dog had been following us closely all 

 time, he now "lit out" to where Rover was barking half 

 a mile away, and we all started on a ruu. There were three 

 lanterns in the party, those carrying them went faster, thus 

 leaving the rest of us in the darkness to feel our way along, 

 first falling over stumps, then into water and so on until a 

 cart path was reached going in the direction of the dogs. 

 Arriving at the tree we found it too large to climb; there 

 being no creepers in the party, we held a consultation and 

 concluded to build fires under the tree, climb a tree near by, 

 and try to see Mr. Coon by the light of our fires, of which 

 there were four. They, however, were so near the tree that 

 nothing could be seen, although Mr. M. got up the nearest 

 tree, but M. was frightened, did not dare go up high enough, 

 and after waiting a while he did muster up courage enough 

 to get down without help. What was to be done ? It was 

 now past 1 o'clock, we must get the coon, so three stayed to 

 keep up the fires, and the coon from coming down, while the 

 rest of us started on the back track for the ledges, hoping to 

 tree another coon beiore morning, promising to return by 

 daylight or before. 



Well, after getting lost twice or three times we found the 

 ledges, but no more coons. It was now 3 A.M., and raining, 

 so Mr. B., our woodchuck hunter, concluded he would go 

 home, but as he must "go it alone," was a little afraid ne 

 might get lost, and have to stay it out alone until daylight. 

 He finally started and we found our way back to the coon 

 tree by judicious shouting. All got as near the fire as poss- 

 ible, and some went to sleep. Daylight came at last, the 

 coon was located directly over one of our fires. Now our 

 trouble did commence. I had a Spencer "cornsheller" gun, 

 of seven shots, loaded for foxes. The first shot would have 

 been enough to have disloged him, but this was the first coon ! 



had seen, so I gave him a second shot; this was a settler, 

 and he dropped dead in the crotch of the limb and stayed 

 there too. The tree was a black oak four feet through, we 

 could not climb the tree, and the coon was over forty feet 

 from the ground. What w as to be done ? Why cut it down, 

 of course. Now we discovered that our old party who left 

 us at 3 A. M. carried the axe home with him. Well, there 

 was a house half a mile from us, I would go for an axe, and 

 Harry T. went with me. We found the house, got the axe, 

 and started back, but how differently everything looked by 

 daylight. At night, where we started at the time Rover first 

 barked, all supposed we went east, instead it was south. Of 

 course we started east with the axe, as we supposed our coon 

 was at least a half mile east. We did not shout until we 

 thought that distance had been traveled; but could not find 

 the place, so returned and commenced over again, always 

 going east; this we did for two hours, until we'got lost and 

 found the place, which proved to be not over :300yds. from 

 the house at which we got the axe, and only 75yds. from a 

 brook I had fished every year for the past twenty years. The 

 coon weighed lolbs. We got home about 9 A. M. pretty well 

 tired out and hungry too, as no one took any lunch, not ex- 

 pecting to be out after 12 o'clock. 



Stupid fellows, some may say, but this was my first hunt; 

 I know how to do it better now; just such a combination of 

 circumstances could not possibly happen to us again or any- 

 body else. If this inv first attempt at recording any of my 

 hunting experiences, does not prove too tedious, will write 

 you about some remarkably successful hunting I did the last 

 of December with my two dogs Rover and Nero. J. G. L. 



Camurioge, Mass. 



V. 



The Forest and Stream has given us from time to time 

 descriptiocs of coon hunts, all of which have been entertain- 

 ing in a greater or less degree. I do not find, however, that 

 any of them remind me of my own experience in that line, 

 which I regret to say was limited to a single instance, and 

 although not barren of result, it was not exactly in accord- 

 ance with the anticipations of those interested. 



At the time of which I speak, I was a youngster, fond of 

 shooting and fishing, and losing no opportunity to gratify 

 my tastes, so that when it was proposed by some of the boys 

 on the farm where I was visiting to go coon 'hunting, I eagerly 

 assented, and waited impatiently for the time to arrive when 

 we were to set out. 



At length we started, the party consisting of three boys, 

 armed with a small shotgun, and a man, whom we were 

 obliged to ask to join us, in order to secure the services of 

 his dog, which was reported to be "death on coons." I believe 

 a proper coon hunt is conducted by moonlight, the dogs find 

 the coons in the cornfields near the edge of the woods, drive 

 them into the trees, and then await the arrival of the hunters, 

 and we intended to proceed upon this plan, but the first re- 

 quisite was wanting, there was no moon, and the night was 

 as dark as a pocket. This did not. discourage us, although 

 it made the travelling difficult, but the boys seemed well ac- 

 quainted with the country, although I was lost from the first 

 moment of entering the woods. We stumbled along until 

 the baying of* the dog told us that he had found game. It 

 took us some time to find him, but we at length discovered 

 him in the bed of a small stream, making a fierce attack 

 upon a number of tame geese, which were the property of a 

 neighbor. Calling the dog off, we tramped on through the 

 woods for some time without result, but after a time he was 

 again heard. A coon, sure, we thought, but we were again 

 disappointed. Following up the sound took us to the same 

 stream at the same place, and here we discovered the "coon 

 dog" had just succeeded in killing one of the geese. Fearing 

 the dead bird might be discovered by its owner, we hid the 

 remains in a fence corner, and proceeded our way. 



Soon we saw the glare of a fire, and as we were near a corn 

 field, it was suggested that we gather some ears, take them 

 to the fire and roast them, wdrich we set about doing. On 

 nearing the fire we found it had been made by a couple of 

 Indians, who had treed a coon, and as they did not appear 

 to be provided with a gun, We supposed that they intended 

 to wait until mornimg, and then either fell the tree, which 

 was not a large one, or what was more likely, climb it, and 

 shake off the coon into the clutches of a lean hound which 

 accompanied them. 



We roasted our corn, and while enjoying our repast, sud- 

 denly both dogs rushed to the foot of'the tree, barking vigor- 

 ously. Our companion, the owner of the "coon dog," seized 

 the. gun, and pointing it toward the tree, fired. Down came 

 the game, and we all, dogs, men and boys, rushed to the 

 spot, to find not a coon, but a large black and yellow cat, 

 which was recognized as belonging to a neighboring house. 



After a good laugh at our Indian friends, we decided to 

 strike for home. The dog gave another alarm on the way, 

 but as the souud came from an open field, we did not look 

 for a coon that time. We soon found the dog digging his 

 way into a hole in the ground at the foot of a stump. Pull- 

 ing him away from the hole our friend thrust in the muzzle 

 of the gun, fired, and then inserting his arm drew forth an 

 animal whose identity was made manifest to all of us, 

 dark though it was. It proved to be a very large skunk, the 

 only game secured that night that was considered worth 

 preserving, as the owner of the dog took it home to try out 

 the oil, wmich was supposed to have some medicinal virtue. 



At length about two in the morning, wet ; cold, tired, and 

 well scratched by the. brambles through which we had gone 

 in the darkness, we reached the house, our "coon hunt" re- 

 sulting in a tame goose, a black and yellow cat, and a skunk. 



I do not profess to be a coon hunter, but I have been coon 

 hunting. Chetko. 



Erie, Pa. 



THE ALBANY DOG SHOW. 



ALBANY, N. Yj, June 2.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 The Albany Kennel Club has secured the services of 

 Mr. Chas. H. Mason to judge all classes at their inaugural 

 dog show. Inasmuch as the club has been misrepresented 

 it has issued the following statement, which, from the high 

 character and standing of gentlemen connected with the 

 club, does not admit of any doubt regarding the aims and 

 status of the club: 



The Albany Kennel Club is not formed only for the pur- 

 pose of giving the forthcoming bench show, but is an organ- 

 ization which proposes to give hereafter an annual bench 

 show in the capital city of the State, and whose object is to 

 contribute to the development of the breeding and of the in- 

 terest in dogs in this city. The bench show, which opens on 

 June 13, 1888, will be the first show ever given in this city, 

 and in that respect only is it experimental, and the club aslis 

 the sympathy and encouragement of all those who are inter- 

 ested in seeing the number of good dogs increase. While its 

 plans are not fully determined as yet, it expects, however, to 

 give another show in the spring of 1889, during the week 

 following the Rensselaer Kennel Club's bench show. 



The advisory committee of the bench show is as follows: 

 Mayor Edward Mahcr, Hon. Erastus Corning, Judge Rufus 

 W, Peckham, Gen. John F. Rathbone, ex-Mayor John Boyd 

 Thacher, Gen. Robert Lenox Banks, Hon. A. Bleecker Banks, 

 Gen. Amasa J. Parker, Jr., Hon. Henry Russell, Corporation 

 Counsel D. Cady Herrick, Mr. J. D. Wasson, Mr. R. D. 

 Williams and Col. J. S. McEwan. 



NATIONAL DOG CLUB. — We had in type for this issue 

 the list of members of the National Dog Club of America, 

 but it is held over in compliance with a request from the 

 secretary, Mr. H. W. Huntington, until next week, 



DOG TALK. 



FOX-TERRIER breeders will have an opportunity this 

 year to dip into some new and valuable blood through 

 the Blemton Kennels. In addition to their well-known 

 stud dogs there is a well bred dog of the Clarke strain, a son 

 of champions Regent and Rachel, ason of champion Reckon 

 and Rejoice, the latter a full sister to champion Regent, also 

 the very promising youngster Blemton Volunteer, by Re- 

 sult and out of Diadem. These, if properly bred to. should 

 show us something worth looking at. 



The constitution and by-laws of the American Spaniel 

 Club as published in the American- Kennel Register, con- 

 tained two errors that should be corrected. The place of 

 the annual meeting is not at "New York," but at such place 

 as theexecutive committee may determine. Instead of the 

 committee endeavoring to obtain suitable classes for 

 "cocker" spaniels, all breeds of sporting spaniels are in- 

 cluded. 



Mr. Charles H, Mason's book "Our Prize Dogs" is nearly 

 ready and the many who are anxiously awaiting its appear- 

 ance will soon have an opportunity to peruse the pages of 

 this valuable and interesting work. 



Mr. Frank Dole has reconsidered his determination to 

 visit England again this summer. He will leave Philadel- 

 phia in all probability, as his engagement with the Univer- 

 sity of Pennsylvania terminates on June 12. 



We learn that the base ball requirements of the Sporting 

 Life has terminated the existence of its kennel department. 

 "Porcupine" is not so much of a necessity as dui'ing the 

 stormy times of a year or two ago. 



Mr. Wade has purchased the mastiff Baldur, first under 

 Dr, Turner at the last Kennel Club show. Baldur was a 

 year old on the 10th of May last, and his half and full 

 brothers and sisters carried all before them at the late War- 

 wick show. A half interest in the dog has been disposed of 

 to the Wacouta Kennels in return for a half interest in Lord 

 Raglan, which has just been secured by Mr. Craig. Lord 

 Raglan is the sire of Sears' Monarch, about the best dog 

 bred in this country. Lord Raglan will make his mark at 

 the stud if he can produce many dogs from such inferior 

 animals as the dam of Monarch. 



For t he Collie Club Produce Stakes 21 bitches have already 

 been nominated, and there will probably be as many more 

 before all are in. There are also over a hundred puppies in 

 the Futurity Stakes. As the latter is divided into two semi- 

 annual stakes, there is another month's produce yet eligible 

 for the first, and the second is yet to be opem d. 



The champion Gordon setter. Royal Duke, has been retired 

 from competition. He has earned it, and it is always a pity 

 to see a dog which has had such a career kept on the bench 

 till old age pegs him back. 



Miss Florence Bayard, daughter of the Secretary of State, 

 may now be added to the list of lady exhibitors. Her fancy 

 is collies. She won a third prize at Washington with Dundee. 



THE WASHINGTON DOG SHOW. 



""IMJERE were 150 entries at the dog show held at Washing- 

 JL ton last week. Mr. J. H. Winslow judged all classes. 

 Following is a list of the 



AWARDS. 



ST. BERARDS.-Doys: 1st, W. H. Martenet'd Lod IX.; 2d, J. J. 

 Kupli's Lion; 3d, R. Clattghton's Prince. Puppies: 1st, J. E, Wilk- 

 inson's Adonis II. Very high com., D. ft. McKee's Loon. 



NEWFOUNDLANDS.— 1st, Associated Fanciers' Miro; 2d, C- 

 Kioto's Bisiuark: 3d, L. Master-son's Grover. Very hign com.. O 

 Rolf's Dixie II. High com., Prof, Sheldon's Hose II. and W. S 

 Wdrmsley's Little Mac. 



GREAT DANES.— Bogs: 1st, J. R. Wingrove's Lion. Bitches 

 1st, J. R. Wingrove's Jessie II, 



ULMERS. — 1st, Jacob Bros.' Phyllis. 



DEERHOUNDS.-Champion. - Miss Sallie Woods's Bras.- 

 Open— Dugs: 1st, Mrs. F. B. Loring's Brian. 



GREYHOUNDS.— 1st, R. A. Cronin's Boss. 



POINTERS. — Champion — C. W. Littlcjohu's Fritz.-OPBN— 

 Small— Dogs: 1st, withheld; 2d, F. S. Webster's Prince Don. 

 Bitches: 1st and very high com., J. C. Schuyler's Bertie May and 

 Blanche May; 3d, D. W. Oyster's Telie Doe. High com., E. 

 Gortoy's Bessie G.— Puppies— Dof/s: 1st, J.Waubtall's Don. Bitches: 

 1st, F. Pitzer'a Bonnie Joan.— Novice Class— 1st, F. S. Webster's 

 Prince Don. 



ENGLISH SETTERS.— Champion— E. W. Jester's Glen Rock. 

 Open— Dogs: 1st, J. J. Snellen berg's Count Heudricks; 2d, F, W. 

 Jester's Blue Prince; 3d, R. Smith's Dixie Gladstone. Very high 

 com., W. Nailer's Frank. High com., O. S. Killer's Flash and W. 

 11. Ferguson's Ned. Puppies: 1st, F. Herzog's Jac k; 3d, E. Wagner's 

 Fritz. Very high com.. Mrs. E. S. Allen's Ponto.— Novice Class. 

 — 1st, 2d and 3d, E. Wi Jester's Don Dee, Sleeping Beauty and 

 Dreaming Beauty. 



IRISH SETTERS.— Dogs: 1st, E. Maher's Larry S;; 2d, Associated 

 Fanciers' Leo. Bitches: 1st. Dr. E. C. Kirk's Berna; 3d, Associated 

 Fanciers' Lady Fawn; 3d, C. 11. Oftfertt's Flirt. Very high ..-om., 

 A. Dodge's Blonde. High com., J. Clarke's Fau. 



GORDON SETTEES.-CHAMPiON-Dog.' A. H. Crisp's Alf. 

 Bitch: Tioga Kennels' Rose.— Open— Dogs: 1st, C, F. Keys's Ned 

 Keys, Bitches: 1st, Tioga Kennels' Vic; 2d, H. Menken's Fannie. 

 — Puppies— Bogs: 1st, Tioga Kennels' Royal Duke. 



CHESAPEAKE BAY DOGS.-lst, Associated Fanciers' Whif- 

 fler, 



IRISH WATER SPANlELS.-lst, Associated Fanciers' Ban- 

 shee. 



COCKER SPANIELS. — Liver or Black — Bogs: 1st, H. 

 Spragne's Ligero. Bitches: 1st, Dr. W. C. Kimpton's Floss.— Any 

 other Color— 1st, Associated Fanciers' MoneoS. Puppies: 1st, 

 Miss M. H. Langley's Phyllis; 2d, J. S. Kempton's Prince LAicifer; 

 3d, H. Benning's Cachon. 



FOXHOUNDS.— 1st and 3d, Columbia Kennels' Romeo and 

 Juliet; 2d, Associated Fanciers' Chanter. 



COLLIES.— Champion— Bog: Jas. Watson's Clipper.— Open- 

 Doss; 1st and 2d, Jas. Watson's Glendale and Kend worth; 3d, Miss 

 Florence Bayard's Dundee. Very high com., Miss Helen Wy- 

 man'8 Ivor and Miss Becard's Don. Bitches: 1st, Jas. Watson's 

 Mavis. Very high com., H. Potbury's Flora. Puppies: 1st, Jas. 

 Watson's Glendale; 2d, H. E. Barrett's Major II. 



FOX-TERRIERS.— Dofif.?: 1st, J. H. Saville's Truck; 2d, Miss 

 Prescott's Crib. Puppies: 1st, J. C, Hutchinson's Smart. 



BULL-TERRIERS.— Champion— Bog: Associated Fanciers' The 

 Baron.— Open— Large— Bitches: 1st, F. F. Dole's Miss Norah; 2d, 

 Associated Fanciers' Nellie.— Small— Bogs: 1st, F. F. Dole's Sen- 

 sation. Puppies: 1st, R. E. Royce's Jessy. 



BLACK AND TAN TERRIERS.— 1st, CoL I. G. Morrow's un- 

 named. 



IRISH TERRIERS.— 1st, J. F. McFadden's Dennis. 



SKYE TERRIERS.— 1st, withheld; 2d, W. Murdoch's Nell H; 

 3d, G. F. KcElvoy's Nettie. 



TOY TERRIE RS.— 1st, R. A. Mr-Murray's Jack: 2d, James Wat- 

 son's Manzanita; 3d, R. A. McMurray's Fannie. 



PUGS.— Dogs: 1st, Dr. M. H. Cryer's Othello; 2d. F. B. NoyoB' 

 Flip. Very high com., Mrs. B. Miller's Admiral. Bitches: 1st, 

 withheld; 3d, §. E. Babbitt's Daisy. 



POODLES.— 1st, Mrs. Nelson Brown's Ikey; 2d, Associated Fan- 

 ciers' Figaro, 



