400 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Dec. 4, 1890. 



COURSING AT MERCED. 



rpHE Interstate Coursing Association may justly feel 

 J. proud of the success they achieved in their three days' 

 meeting on the plains of Merced. Much of the credit for 

 this success is due to Mr. Dominick Shannon, the president 

 of the association, who has coursed in California for twenty- 

 seven years, and to Mr. J. R. Dickson, the secretary, also 

 an experienced courser. Both gentlemen displayed great 

 energy and tact in the general management of the meeting. 

 The most striking evidence of their good judgment, how- 

 ever, was in the selection of the judge, Mr. John Grace. 

 Not a single murmur of disapproval was heard as to any of 

 his decisions, while his quiet, gentlemanly bearing won the 

 admiration of all. Integrity is an essential element in the 

 character of a judge of a coursing meeting, but it is of 

 scarcely greater importance than a thorough knowledge of 

 the rules of coursing, and the ability to apply those rules 

 correctly. Mr. Grace combines these qualities and might 

 well be called the American Hedley. The slipper, James R. 

 Wren, performed his duties admirably. 



The Californians are said to be of the opinion that their 

 dogs are the fastest and best in the world, and it must be 

 admitted that they have as yet no reason to change that 

 opinion. If the blue ribbon is to be taken away from them 

 and carried eastward, it must needs be with better dogs 

 than those that strove for the honor this year. 



The plains of Merced afford the grandest coursing ground 

 in the world. For several miles on all sides the land is in 

 some places perfectly level and in others gently undulating. 

 There'are also creeks wide enough to test a dogs ability to 

 leap, and, in one part of the field, a board fence high enough 

 to satisfy the ambitious of the most agile fencer. There is 

 no wire to injure the dogs, and the soil is for the most part 

 sandy, affording excellent running. Jack rabbits are so 

 plentiful that five courses an hour, including the delay inci- 

 dental to picking up the dogs, were run without any diffi- 

 culty or undue haste. The courses were, in some instances, 

 from one to five miles, according as the jack rabbit chose 

 either to run into a hole or to take a straight line and run 

 merrily away from the dogs. If any of our English cousins 

 should think of coming over with their dogs to win on these 

 plains, thev ought to be warned that short-winded sprinters, 

 that may do for inclosed coursiLg at Haydock Park, will be 

 of no use whatever here. 



The winner of the Interstate Cup, Al Farrow, a dark- 

 brindle dog, by Menlo Chief out of Black Bess, was whelped 

 in March, 1888, and weighs 651bs. He has been carefully 

 trained for three months, and came to slips in the pink of 

 condition. He won all his courses meritoriously. Sam 

 Nash, the runner up, is a white dog 3% years old, weighing 

 GOlbs., and is by Ckickopee out of Lilly of Killarney. He 

 was unfortunate in that he had, several gruelling courses 

 before he met the winner, but in spite of this he ran a good 

 game dog. King John, winner of third place, is a black and 

 white dog 16 months old. by Pat Molloy out of Banshee, and 

 weighs 581bs. He ran with great fire, and proved himself to 

 be a great puppy. He was bred by Father Mac, the genial 

 Catholic priest at Merced, who is one of the most enthusi- 

 astic of California's coursing men. 



In the Consolation Stake, the winner, Nellie Bly, a red 

 bitch, is a fast and close worker, 2% years old, weighing 

 4llbs., by Tullamore out of Lady Cleveland. El Rio Rey, 

 the runner up, was much inferior in speed and did not 

 appear to be especially clever. Drytime, who took third 

 place, is by Britain Still out of -Haytime, and ran better than 

 her owner expected her to, considering that her condition 

 was not of the best. 



The reception accorded to the gentlemen who came from 

 the East to attend this meeting was a most cordial one and 

 emphasized the fact that Californians are a very hospitable 

 people. If the trip across the continent shall result in 

 establishing closer bonds of sympathy between the coursing 

 men of the East and West the losers should be as happy as 

 the winners. J..HEBBERT Watson. 



First Day. 



Wolf Tone — Faugh-a-Ballagh. — The latter dog was young 

 - and not in good condition, and Wolf Tone won the course 

 with points to spare. 



Whip— May Boy.— A long course in which Whip showed 

 superiority in speed and working qualities and won easily. 



Prima Donna— Nettlefield.— Prima Donna led and taking 

 the jack and working it well won with ease. 



Verdure Clad— Fanny.— A short course. The dogs ran 

 even to the jack: Fanny then took the jack and made three 

 points. The jack ran through the fence and got away too 

 soon for Verdure Clad. 



Babazoun — Juanita. — Juanita took the jack at the turn 

 after a long run up, which was pretty even; then Babazoun 

 darted forward and killed too soon, the course going to the 

 bitch. 



McGinty— Hoodoo.— The former led by several lengths, 

 and taking possession won easily. 



El Rio Rey— King John.— After a long gruelling course 

 King John won with several points in hand. 



Baby— Play Boy.— A closely contested course; Play Boy 

 falling, Baby put in some work, but Play Boy recovering 

 himself joined in and won. 



Sea Shell— Saturday Night,— Sea Shell led by a little, 

 Saturday Night following was left behind and Sea Shell 

 finished with plenty to spare. 



Maud Jones— Norwegian.— Maud Jones came up well clear 

 of Norwegian, and beat him after a course of considerable 

 length in which the bitch did most of the work. 



Al Farrow— El Rey.— Al Farrow led to the jack and tak- 

 ing possession easily beat El Rey. 



Maid of Erin— Kingston.— Both ran well to the jack; Maid 

 of Erin took possession and won after a good deal of close 

 work. 



Snowball — Examiner. — The pair came up on even terms, 

 but Snowball taking possession worked closely and after a 

 few exchanges won. 



Bruuette— Dan B. —Brunette led by several lengths and 

 won easily. She then sighted a fresh jack and ran a very 

 long course alone, being so exhausted that she died shortly 

 after being picked up. 



Catherine Hayes— Susie S.— Catherine Hayes led and won 

 easily. 



Jim Corbett— Waterwitch.— Jim Corbett led by several 

 lengths and won the course with several points to spare, 

 Waterwitch doing no work whatever and running a perfect 

 sloven. 



Dexter— Bessie,— After a close run up, Dexter took posses- 

 sion and kept it to the finish, Bessie having lost her chance 

 by a bad fall at the turn. An unlucky trial for the bitch. 



Lookout— Lady in Blue.— Lookout' led and did all the 

 work, Lady in Blue never being in the course. 



Sam Nash— Freestone.— Sam Nash came up well clear of 

 Freestone, and after several exchanges won with little to 

 spare. 



Ben— Geraldine.— Ben had a slight advantage in the run 

 up, and after several exchanges made a fine kill and won. 



Mischiefs Last— Joe McCauliffe.— The former led to the 

 jack and did most of the work, winning easily. 



Drytime— Nellie Bly.— Drytime led to the jack, took pos- 

 session and worked the jack for several points in excellent 

 style, when Nelly Bly came in on the second turn and killed 

 too soon, Drytime winning. 



Tralee Boy— Dandy Jim.— A long course in which Dandy 

 Jim did most of the work and won easily. 



Governor— Bo Peep.— Governor led up to the jack, and 

 made four points before Bo Peep came in and killed too soon 

 to wipe off the former's score. 



Second Day— First Ties. 

 Wolf Tone— Whip.— Whip led six lengths and made first 

 and second turns, kept possession of the jack and finally 

 killed. 



Prima Donna— Fanny.— Prima Donna led four lengths 

 and made two turns before Fanny nicked in aud made two 

 turns. Prima Donna then got the jack, and showing supe- 

 riority in speed and cleverness, won. 



Juanita ran a bye with Tralee Boy, and after killing went 

 after a fresh jack, thus effectually spoiling her chances of 

 winning the stake. 



King John— Play Boy.— King John led in the run-up by 

 very little, but scored all the strong racing points in a long 

 course and won easily, the jack being lost. 



Sea Shell— Maud ' Jones.— Maud Jones came up four 

 lengths in front of Sea Shell and got very little help from 

 her opponent in a long course, in which the jack finally ran 

 into a hole. 



Al Farrow — Maid of Erin.— A close fast race to the jack, 

 Al Farrow leading all the way and keeping possession during 

 a long course, in which the dogs killed together. 



Snowball ran a bye. 



Catharine Hayes — Jim Corbett. — Catharine Hayes led up 

 by a little, turned, and taking command of the jack did not 

 let the dog come in at all. 



Dexter— Lookout.— Dexter did very fine work in this 

 course, working his jack perfectly after leading up clear of 

 Lookout. 



Sam Nash — Ben. — Sam Nash led up by two lengths and 

 took first and second turns. Ben then came in, and after 

 several exchanges Sam Nash picked up the jack, making a 

 good kill. 



Mischief's Last— Drytime. — Drytime led two lengths to 

 the jack and took first turn, in straightening out Mis- 

 chief's Last took possession of the jack and did considerable 

 work. Finally they got together and made two points each. 

 Mischief's Last then tripped and both dogs were picked up, 

 being too tired to keep the jack. Drytime showed a fine 

 burst of speed, but was not in condition to stand so gruel- 

 ling a course. 



Dandy Jim— Governor.— Governor led to the jack and 

 took first and second turns. Dandy Jim then came in, and 

 after some exchanges they killed together. 



Second Ties. 



Whip— Prima Donna.— Prima Donna led to the jack fully 

 three lengths, and took first and second turn. Whip then 

 got possession and worked the jick for several points. 

 Prima Donna got a bad fall, and Whip then took possession 

 and turned the" jack to Prima Donna, when she fell a second 

 time, and then Whip had it all his own way to the finish. 



Juanita— King John.— The weeds were high where the 

 dogs were slipped; each dog was in turn unsighted, the jack 

 taking his course across a ravine, King John leading. The 

 bitch then came in and made a turn. King John then made 

 two turns. The bitch then made another turn, and King 

 John then took possession and in the scramble at this stage 

 the dogs killed together, King John winning with not much 

 to spare. 



Maud Jones— Al Farrow. — Al Farrow led eight lengths. 

 The dogs coming together the bitch made a turn and Al 

 Farrow then took the jack, turned and killed. 



Snowball— Catharine Hayes. — Snowball led and coming 

 toward a ditch made, a drive for the jack but missed picking 

 it up. Both dogs fell into the water, and following the 

 jack Catharine Hayes took possession and worked it for 

 several points. About 300yds. from the place where Cath- 

 arine Hayes finished with a kill Snowball stopped in the 

 course. 



Dexter — Sam Nash.— Dexter was unsighted at the start. 

 Sam Nash made a straight run, the jack being killed before 

 Dexter had a chance to join in. A no course. 



Mischief's Last — Governor.— Governor led to the jack and 

 after a closely contested course killed, winning by very 

 little. Mischief's Last fell in the middle of the course. 



Third Ties. 



Whip— King John.— Whip had a little the better of the 

 run up. The jack swerved toward King John, who put in 

 some good work at close quarters. After an exchange the 

 dogs killed together, King John winning. 



Dexter— Sam Nash. — These dogs having run a "no course" 

 were again put into slips. Sam Nash led three lengths and 

 after making first turn a racing jack took the dogs a long 

 distance before Sam Nash made the second turn. Some 

 close work followed, Sam Nash having the better of it and 

 winning easily. 



Al Farrow— Catherine Hayes.— Al Farrow led four lengths 

 and beat the bitch pointless." 



Sam Nash— Governor.— Sam Nash led four lengths to the 

 jack, making several points before Governor for no appar- 

 ent reason stopped and watched the other dog go on a long 

 distance to a kill. A very disgraceful performance upon the 

 part of Governor. 



Fourth Tics. 



King John—Al Farrow.— Al Farrow led six lengths to 

 the jack, and took a turn, keeping possession for several 

 points, and winning easily with a good kill. 



Sam Nash ran a bye. 



Final Course. 



Al Farrow— Sam Nash. — After a half hour's rest *hese 

 dogs came together for the final course. Al Farrow led 

 three lengths to the jack, and after getting possession made 

 several points and soon widened the gap, and after several 

 points in the racing stretches killed, winning easily. Sam 

 Nash is a fine greyhound, but his feet were badly cut up 

 when he was put into slips for the final course, and he was 

 thus placed at a disadvantage, his opponent coming to slips 

 in fine condition. 



SUMMARY. 



Interstate 'Coursinu Association, Merced, Gal., Nov. 18 and 

 19, 1890. President, Mr. D. Shannon. Secretary, Mr. J. R. 

 Dickson. Field Stewards: M^rs. Bradv, Butterwortb. Mc- 

 Donald, Fleming-, Given and O'Brien. Flag Steward, Mr. W. 

 Hatpin. Slip Steward, Mr. J. R. Dickson. Judge, Mr. John 

 Grace. Slipper. James R. Wren. International Cup. for all 

 ages, at $ 10 each. Winner, $5500; second. $300; third, $100: win- 

 ners of two courses, $20 each; 48 subscribers. 



1. 



j- heat 



Mr. B. Grogan's brindle dog 



Wolf Tone 

 Mr. P. Canty's brindle dog 



Whip 



Mr. J. Douglass's black bitch ( 

 Prima Donna ( 



Mr. J. Baker's blue and 

 white bileh Fanny 



Mr.- J. Shea's brindle and 



white bitch Juanita 

 Mr. P. O'Connell's white dog I >,„ „. I 



McGinty f bbat * 



Mr. Mclnerny's black and 



white dog King John 

 Mr. P. (Janty's blue dog Play 



Boy 



Mr. D. Shannon's black and 

 white bitch Sea Shell 



Mr. M. A. Howard's brindle 

 bitch Maud Jones 



J Mr. P. Gallagher's black and 



Mr. J. J. Rademaker's brin- 

 dle dog Ai. Farrow 



Mr. J. Eagan's white and 

 brindle bitch Maid of Erin 



Mr. E. O'Connell's white and 

 brindle dog Snowball 



\ beat 

 j- beat 

 \ beat 



j- beat 

 [ beat 

 [• beat 

 [ beat 



whi te dog Faugh-a-Ballagh. 

 Mr. A. Tracev's black and 



white dog May Boy. 

 Rookwood - Landseer Ken- 

 nels' white and black bitch 

 Nettlefield. 

 Rookwood - Landseer Ken- 

 nels' brindle dog Verdure 

 Clad. 



Rookwood -L mdseer Ken- 

 nels' Babazoun. 



Mr, W. F. Watson's black 

 and white dog Hoodoo. 



Mr. P. Kelly's fawn and 

 white dog El Rio Rey. 



Mr. D. J. Healy's black and 

 white bitch Babv. 



Mr. I. E. Watson's black and 

 white dog Saturday Night. 



Rookwood - Landseer Ken- 

 nels' brindle and white dog 

 Norwegian. 



Mr. D. Shannon's brindle and 

 white dog Ei Bey. 



Mr. D. J. Healy's fawn dog 

 Kingston. 



Mr. P. Canovan's white dog 

 Examiner. 



beat 

 c beat 



j Mr. T. J. Cronin's black and 

 mat } white dog Dan B. 



Mr. E. O'Connell's black and 

 white bttch Susie S. 

 j Mr. J. H. Witson's black aud 

 1 white bitch Waterwitch. 

 , 1Mr JMr. J. Eagan's white and 

 omit. ( black bitch Bessie. 

 y,„„ f j Mr. H. Wormington's blue 

 Dml ' ) and white bitch Ladyin Blue 

 J Mr. P. F. Canovan's black 

 ) and white doer Freestone. 

 S Mr. D, J. Healy's black and 

 oeat \ white bitch Geraldine. 



j Mr. T.Hall's black and white 

 oeal 1 dog Joe McCauliffe. 



J Mr. J. Byrnes's roan bitch 

 1 Nellie Bly. 

 ( Mr. E. O'Connell's black and 

 Dua 1 white dog Tralee Boy. 



j Mr. H. Boyd's white and 

 ( black bitch Bo Peep. 



\ beat 



beat 



beat 



Catherine Hayes beat Jim 



Corbett. 

 Dexter beat Lookout. 

 Sam Nash beat Ben. 

 Mischief's Last beat Drytime. 

 Governor beat Dandy Jim. 



Catherine Hayes beat Snowball. 

 Sam Nash beat Dexter. 

 Governor beat Mischief's Last. 



beat Catherine 



Mr. J. E. Watson's black) 

 bitch Brunette f 

 Mr. M, Tieman's white and I 

 red bitch Catherine Hayes j 

 Mr. J. Shanahan's white and ' 



brindle dog Jim Corbett 

 Mr. J. Hough's white and 



brindle dog Dexter 

 Mr. T. J. Cronin's white and 



black dog Lookout 

 Mr. T. J'. Cronin's white dog 



Sam Nash 

 Mr. Mclnerny's white dog 

 Ben 



Mr. Mclnerny's black dog 



Mischief's Last 

 Mr. J. H. Watson's fawn 



bitch Drytime 

 Mr. J. R. Dickson's white 



and black dog Dandy Jim 

 Mr. J. Eagan's blue and 



white dog Governor 



Whip beat Wolf Tone. 

 Prima Donna beat Fanny. 

 Juanita a bye. 

 King John beat Play Boy. 

 Mwid Jones beat Sea Shell. 

 Al Farrow beat Maid of Erin. 

 Snowball a bye. 



Whip beat Prima Danna. 

 King John beat Juanita. 

 Al Farrow beat Maud Jones. 



. jv. 

 King John beat Whip. Al Farrow 



Sam Nash beat Governor. Hayes. 



v. 



Al Farrow beat Kin? John. Sam Nash a bye. 



Mr. J. J. Rademaker's brindle dog Al Farrow beat Mr. F. J. 

 Cronin's white dog Sam Nash. 



CONSOLATION STAKES. 



Babazoun— Nelly Bly.— Nelly Bly led up three lengths 

 and after taking the turn lengthened out a long lead; after her 

 second turn a few exchanges were made, and the jack then 

 ran to a bole, Nelly Bly winning easily. 



Maid of Erin— Joe McCauliffe.— Maid of Erin led to the 

 jack one length and made first turn, after which Joe McCau- 

 liffe took possession and after several points won easily. - 



Norwegian — Geraldine. — Geraldine led by a length and 

 made first turn, and Norwegian going around very wide, the 

 bitch went on for a turn, and after a few exchanges the bitch 

 drove the jack to a hole and won. 



Bo Peep — Examiner. — Examiner led to the jack by three 

 lengths, serving himself to two turns. Bo Peep then made a 

 turn. Examiner then turned, and thereupon Bo Peep went 

 on to the jack and killed too soon to wipe off Examiner's 

 score. 



Wolf Tone — Jim Corbett.— Jim Corbett led four lengths 

 to the jack and did all the work, Wolf Tone not giving him 

 any help whatever. 



May Boy — El Rio Hey. — This was nearly a repetition of 

 the course just described, El Rio Rey leading three lengths 

 and doing all the running. 



Faugh-a-Ballagh— Dan B.— Dan B. was unsighted from 

 the slips. Faugh-a-Ballagh got on the line of the jack, and 

 when Dan B. was sighted he was fully a quarter of a mile 

 behind. Before Faugh-a-Ballagh could get to the jack 

 Dan B. overtook and passed his opponent, and then made 

 three turns and a kill, winning easily. 



Fanny— Freestone.— This was a great race to the jack, 

 Freestone coming up two lengths in front. After a long 

 give-and-take course down the field Freestone turned the 

 jack to Fanny, who killed, Freestone winning, 



Bessie— Drytime.— Drytime led to the jack by three 

 lengths, took first aud second turns. Bessie took third and 

 fourth turns, after which Drytime took possession and 

 killed, winning the course. 



Lady in Blue— El Rev.— Lady in Blue was not in this 

 course, El Rey leading three lengths and doing all the work 

 in a long course. 



First Ties. 



Nelly Bly— Joe McCauliffe— Nelly Bly led up three 

 lengths in front of Joe McCauliffe, took a turn and kept 

 possession for three more points. Joe McCauliffe then 

 wrenched strong twice and killed. Nelly Bly won. 



Examiner— Geraldine.— Geraldine led two lengths land 

 made the turn. Examiner then came in for possession, and 

 after a long course made two turns aud a kill, winning the 

 course. 



El Rio Rey— Jim Corbett.— EIRio Rey ledup three lengths 

 in front, took first turn and kept possession for second and 

 third turns. Jim Corbett then made a turn and then El 

 Rio Rey drove the jack to a hole and won. 



Freestone— Dan B.— Both dogs ran even to a creek; the 

 jack crossing both dog3 fell into the water. Coming out 

 together they ran together to the jack, Freestone being the 

 first to score. After exchanging several times Freestone 

 took the jack in hand and killed, winning the course easily. 



Drytime— El Rey.— El Rey led and took first turn. The 

 jack then took a* straight line aud Drytime in a long run 

 'made several points before the jack ran to a hole, Drytime 

 winning the course. 



Second Ties. 



Nellie Bly— Examiner.— Examiner led by a length and 

 made two turns, after which Nellie Bly took possession and 

 made four points before Examiner got a turn. The bitch 

 then got in and kept the jack to herself until he got into a 

 hole, winning cleverly. 



El Rio Rey— Freestone. -El Rio Rey led Freestone fully 

 three lengths to the jack, making five points before Free- 

 stone got in for a wrench and a turn. El Rio Rey then went 

 on and killed, winning the course. 



Drytime ran a long bye with Joe McCauliffe, in which the 

 bitch showed great speed and cleverness in handling the jack. 

 Third Ties. 



Nelly Bly— Drytime.— When slipped Drytime dashed 

 ahead' two lengths but was then unsighted, and when she 

 came up to Nelly Bly she came in on Nelly Bly's second turn 

 and made a turn herself. Nellie Bly then getting the jack 

 drove him to a hole and won, an unlucky trial for Drytime. 



El Rio Rey ran a bye with Bessie, in which Bessie picked 

 up the jack after a very short course and in which she 

 proved herself a very fast bitch. 



Final Course, 



Nelly Bly — El Rio Rey, — This was a fast course, Nelly Bly 

 leading two lengths to the jack and making two turns. El 

 Bio Rey then got in for a turn. They then ran into a dry 

 creek, coming out together, the bitch in possession of the 

 jack. Nelly Bly then almost immediately killed and won, 

 a fine performance upon the part of this bitch. 

 Consolation Stake, for|dogs beaten in the first and second 

 courses in the Interstate Cop Stake at $5 each; $100 added by 

 the Interstate Coursing Association. Winner $95, second #45, 

 third, fourth and fifth $20 each; 20 subscribers. 



Mr. J. Bvrne's fawn bitch ) 

 Nelly Bly f bBat 



Mr. T. Hall's black dog Joe ) 

 McCauliffe 



■ beat ■ 



Rookwooii-Landseer Ken- 

 nels' red dog Bab^'un. 

 Mr. J. Eagan's white and 

 brindle bitch Maid of Erin. 

 Rookwood - Landseer Ken- 

 nels' brindle and white dog 

 Norwegian. 

 Mr. H. Boyd's white and 



. black bitch Bo Peep. 



Mr. J. Shanahan's white and I y..„ t J Mr. B. Grogan's brindle 

 blue dog Jim Corbett i oeai 1 A ™ w " 1f ' p ™° 



Mr. D. J. Healey's brindle I 

 and white bitch Geraldine f oeal " 



Mr. P. Canovan's white dog \ -u„ nf 

 Examiner f oeal ' 



f oeat 1 dog Wolf Tone. 



