462 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Dec. 25, 1890. 



BLUB RIDGE KENNELS' " GATH'S MARK," 



EDGEMARK AJJD KATIE NOBLE. 

 This brace was cast off at 10:02, Iboth going well, Katie tbe 

 faster and covering the ground in better form. After a short 

 run at edge of pines, Katie was lost; when found she was on 

 a point, her handler flushing, she was steady to wing. Mov- 

 ing on to scattered birds, each dog made a flush, Katie down 

 wind and Edgemark cross wind, both in difficult places to 

 get a point. Dogs were taken up and carried to open fields 

 Half a mile away and put down in stubble, Katie first false 

 pointed, and Edgemark refused to back, but soon after found 

 a bevy, pointing it staunchly, Edgemark backing in good 

 style. During most of the heat Katie, being tbe best ranger, 

 was working ground most of the time ahead of Edgemark, 

 increasing her chances of finding before him, and this de- 

 feated him. Tbe dogs were ordered up at 10:52, 



FLASH AND SLEEPY NOBLE. 

 At 10:54 this brace was put down in the open and shortly 

 afterward Flash pointed a bevy, getting well into them as 

 they were flushed by handler on all sides of him. Following 

 them to ravine, Sleepy Noble got two points. Several birds 

 flushed from the last point and he was unsteady. TMs ended 

 the heat at 11:22. Flash was the better dog in all except 

 style, in which they were about equal. 



EZRA NOBLE AND COUNTESS EOXIB. 



At 12 M. this the last brace was put down, and they ran 

 for 22 minutes. Just before they were taken up Countess 

 pointed a small bevy, Ezra at tirst'blinking on the back, but 

 finally settled down to it. Following scattered birds, Count- 

 ess flushed a single, which ended the heat. 



After a short consultation the judges announced their de- 

 cision. Katie Noble first prize, Edgemark second, Flash 

 third. The judging throughout the week was most com- 

 mendable and satisfactory. 



SUMMARY — ALL- AGED STAKE. 



White Fawn with Inspiration. 



Perseverance with Countess Roxie. 



Edgemark with Sue Noble. 



Prince with Shot. 



Silk with Fan Fan. 



Ezra Noble with Hazel. 



King Item with Flash. 



Katie Noble with Sleepy Noble. 



Rock II. with Victor the Blue Stocking. 



Tempest with Rosa Lee. 



Second Series. 



Edgemark with Katie Noble. 



Flash with Sleepy Noble. 



Ezra Noble with Countess Roxie. 



Final. 



Katie Noble first money. 



Edgemark second money. 



Flash third money. 



DOG CHAT. 



THE Central Field Trials have finally dragged their 

 weary length to a close. Judges, handlers and all con- 

 nected concur in tbe opinion that something must be done 

 to curtail the time which it takes to run these trials, and we 

 were informed that some step will be taken in this direction 

 by the Board of Governors before the next trials, A great 

 many dogs are run a full hour, and are kept in the second 

 series, when it is plain that they have little chance of get- 

 ting into the money, from an exaggerated idea of giving 

 every dog a fair chance. That is all right to a certain ex- 

 tent, but handlers and others grumble at the extra expense 

 that this incurs for board and horse hire. The running at 

 High Point was done in clean-cut, sharp style, and it was 

 admitted that, though little time was wasted over the "duf- 

 fers," there was no doubt whatever that the proper winners 

 were picked, according to their style of trials. The half- 

 hour amendment at Lexington was a good move, and a still 

 further reduction of half an hour in the preliminary series 

 would no doubt be welcomed by every '.one. The judges 

 showed a commendable zeal and thoroughness in their work, 

 and very few decisions were given hastily, nor until it was 

 palpable to all which was the better dog. It has been a 

 matter of remark that the pointers have, considering the 

 hard country they have had to travel over, done remarkably 

 well, and the English setter men must look to their laurels 

 or they will be snatched from them. The work of Ightfield 

 Deuce, the Englisb;pointer;;Spotted Boy, winner of the Derby 

 at Central Trials; Duke of Hessen, second in All-Aged at 

 High Point; Zig Zag, Tapster, Tray of Montery, which was 

 afterward purchased by Mr. E. Dexter: Shot, Rock II., was 

 all of a high order and was quite on a plane with the setters. 

 On Monday night, Dec. 15, Mr. Brailsford, having been able 

 to get the heat for absolute winner of the All-Aged Stake 

 off his mind, decided to go home in time for Christmas, and 

 left on the evening train, to sail on the City of Berlin, 

 Dec. 17. To show the estimation in which he was held by 

 the handlers at these trials, they decided get up an address 

 testifying to the esteem they felt for him, in the following 

 words: 



To Mr. W. Brailsford and A. Cameron; 



The undersigned owners and handlers participating in the 

 trials of the Central Field Trial Club, now in progress at 

 Lexington, N. C, beg to express to you on your depart ure 

 for your home across the ocean, our lasting esteem of your- 

 self for your gentlemanly and endearing qualities and ap- 

 preciation of your courteous bearing and fair handling in 

 the competitions. We sincerely hope that this visit to America 

 is but the first of many, and that we will have tbe pleasure 

 of welcoming you again as a friend and competitor. May 

 your journey be safe and pleasant, and prosperity and hap- 

 piness attend you, is the fervent wish of Edward Dexter, 

 D. E. Rose, W. W. Titus, J. B. Stoddard, Chas. W. Barker, 

 Frank Richards, J. M. Aldrich, Geo. Gray, T. M. Aldrich, 

 N, Tall man, S. C. Bradley, Chas. Tucker, N. B. Nesbitt and 

 J. M. Tracy, N, Wallace, John Davidson, the judges. 



We all went in a body to see him off at the train, where 

 the address was read to him and Mr. Cameron by the flick- 

 ering light of the lamp on the platform of the depot by Mr. 

 J.M.Tracy. Mr. Brailsford made a neat speech in return, 

 expressing his thanks for the courtesies and kind treatment 

 he had received in this country, and trusted that this would 

 not be his last visit; if it was, he would still have this kind 

 testimonial to remind him of the friends he had made in 

 America. Three cheers were then proposed by "Billy" Tall- 

 man and were given with a will that must have effectually 

 roused this sleepy little town from its dormant state. Mr. 

 Cameron will follow latei% as he had to run Mr. Johnson's 

 Pitti Sing in the four-hour race. 



Several dogs were taken sick at the trials, notably Mr. 

 Hitchcock's Tory Lieutenant, which after running in the 

 Setter Derby at Lexington was taken down with pneumonia 

 and was a very sick clog for some time, but through the 

 careful nursing of John White, his handler, he showed signs 

 of a rapid recovery when we left. One could see that he did 

 not range with his usual snap at Lexington, nor could he 

 be expected to, when doubtless he was then a sick dog. Mr. 

 Dexter's Rip Rap had an attack of inflammation of the 

 bowels and had to be declared out of the four-hour race, for 

 which he stood a good chance. Maid of Kent had a touch 

 of distemper at the same time, but both are now convales- 

 cent under the good care of Capt. McMurdo. We hear that 

 Mr. F. R. Hitchcock purchased the English setter Roi d'Or, 

 which dog won one of the Loi-illard medals at High Point. 



Our illustration this week is Gath's Mark, owned by the 



newly-formed Blue Ridge Kennels, owned by Messrs. O'Bau- 

 non and H. Bulman, Jr. Gath's Mark is by Gath out of 

 Gem, and is a finely-formed animal, has great bone, and, in 

 fact, has a look of great strength all round, which is com- 

 pletely carried out by his vigorous action in the field, as 

 proved by his winning the Champion Stake this year at the 

 Eastern Field Trials, beating several crack dogs, such as 

 Rip Rap, Chance, Daisy Hope and others. This dog won 

 the All- Aged Stake in 1885 and the Members' Stake in 1890, 

 besides the championship at the Eastern Trials. He has 

 never been shown on the bench, but will most likely be seen 

 there now, when he will beat more than beat him. He is sire 

 of such noted dogs as Lilly Burgess, Reveler, Revei'dy, Jubi- 

 lee, El Rio Rey and others. This dog will not run again in 

 trials, but will now rest on his well-earned laurels. 



We hear the price paid for the two champion Gordons, 

 Beaumont and Belmont, was $1,050. 



There was considerable friction over tbe decision which 

 placed Fred Gates equal third with Antonio in the All- 

 Aged Setter Stake at the Central Trials. It was maintained, 

 and with justice, that a dog lost had no right to receive a 

 prize, and should have been thrown out. The ground taken 

 was that at the time the decision was made, Fred Gates was 

 lost and no one knew anything of his whereabouts; he was 

 to all intents and pur-poses a dead dog, and might have been 

 in reality, for anything the judges knew to the contrary. 

 Mr. Windholz felt that his bitch Princess Beatrice was 

 thus hardly treated with due consideration under these cir- 

 cumstances, as she came next to Antonio, with Fred 

 Gates out of the way. This was the only serious kick of the 

 trials, and it is very pleasing to all to know that with this 

 exception everything has passed off pleasantly. 



We hear that the noted St. Bernard Prince Regent has ar- 

 rived safely at Mr. Sydney Smith's kennel in England, hav- 

 ing been repurchased by that gentleman. It is a pity this 

 dog could not have stood nearer the center of St. Bernard- 

 dom in America, as he was considered one of the best stud 

 dogs in England, and had already made a record as the sire 

 of Princess Florence. 



At Rockford show in Illinois, Mr. Geo. Bell's Obediah 

 (late Kildarej won first in open class for cocker dogs. 

 Amazement won in open bitches, his Madame Obo taking 

 vhc. 



Mr. Mercer writes us that Mr. Holmes, the noted Clumber 

 man in England, has just had his streak of ill luck, losing 

 such noted bitches as Honesty, Hilda and Lady Gaunt, and 

 now "Clumber" is trying his best to deprive him of Holmes's 

 Hotspur, the very best young dog in England and a noted 

 winner. Canine World in "They Say" says that "Mercer 

 has gone mad over Clumbers." Tell us some news. 



We have received a fine photo of Mr. Geo. Bush's cocker 

 spaniel Idea, which we shall shortly illustrate. 



The National Greyhound Club intend holding a show of 

 greyhounds, deerhounds and Barzois at the American Horse 

 Exchange, Jan. IT, for one day. Prizes will be ten dollars 

 in each class. Particulars can be had from H. W. Hunting- 

 ton, 148 South Sth street, Brooklyn. 



We received, just as we are going to press, an excellent 

 photograph of friend Mercer with four of his champion 

 Clumbers— Johnny, Drake. Bromine and Boss III., with the 

 following greetings — "H. W. L , with Xmas greetings and 

 many waggles of the binder parts from 'five' Clumbers— 

 'United we lie, unsuhdered we die.' " Byron, Shakespeare, 

 Mercer (after dinner). 



We regret to hear that, owing to a fight with Master Rich, 

 Mr. Phister came very near losing his greyhotmd Norwegian. 

 Norwegian on his way East from the recent coursing meet- 

 ings out West, stayed, with bis Nettlefield, atthe Rookwood- 

 Landseer Kennels, in Kentucky, and was kenneled with 

 Master Rich, They seemed to be the best of friends until a 

 neighbor threw a bone over the kennel fence and both dogs 

 going for it, had an argument over its possession, which re- 

 sulted in Norwegian being terribly mangled about the 

 throat and flank. Tbe best veterinary in the State is attend- 

 ing him and says that if his intestines are not cut there is 

 hope for his recovery. His leg is badly crushed as well, but 

 it is not known yet whether it is broken or not. Should the 

 dog die it will be, if only the breeding of the dog is con- 

 sidered, a severe loss to Mr. Phister and greyhound men 

 generally. Latest advices seem favorable, though inflam- 

 mation may, if great care is not taken, make recovery 

 extremely difficult. 



From little causes come great effects sometimes. Mr. 

 Wade writes us that tbe letter in Stock- Keeper about mas 

 tiffs, tbeir early failings and the effect of arsenic, which we 

 alluded to recently was part of a letter written to Mr. Wade 

 by Henry Clay, of Liverpool, Eng., and which be forwarded 

 to the above-named paper. It does not take much to start a 

 ball nowadays, as witnessed by tbe cocker controversy now 

 going on in our columns. Such discussions, when they are 

 kept within courteous bounds, will surely tend to enlighten 

 the novice and stir up the faculties of the older breeders. 



We are not so much in love with the "long and low," and 

 would therefore like to see the subject so thoroughly dis- 

 cussed that good may arise from it and a more serviceable 

 cocker rise Phcenix-like from the ashes of the discussion. 



Owing to our protracted absence at tbe trials, kennel mat- 

 ter has accumulated to such an extent that it is impossible 

 to publish everything this week or even next. We therefore 

 claim the indulgence of our numerous correspondents and 

 promise that they will receive due attention as soon as pos- 

 sible. Visits, breeding notices, English notes, etc., are 

 crowded out by the trial reports this week. 



Another Birmingham show is past and gone. This show, 

 although there may be lots of grumbling at the manage- 

 ment, their autocratic methods and poor accommodations, 

 still seems to the bulk of English exhibitors what our 

 New York show is to the American fancier, a place of ren- 

 dezvous, and where dog men are sure to congregate. We 

 are told that the show of setters has never been equalled and 

 that the same may be said of pointers. Spaniel men showed 

 their feelings in regard to a poor classification by keeping 

 their best at home. Bull-terriers were not up to former 

 years in point of quality or numbers. Black and tan ter- 

 riers were poorly represented. Other hreeds are about as 

 usual. Two crack young St. Bernards came out; one is a 

 son of Sir Bedivere and another is one of Lord Bute's off- 

 spring out of Baroness Cardiff. The Sir Bedivere pup Lord 

 Dunlo won the special for best in show, although only fourth 

 in bis regular class, Mr. Halsey judging him on the what- 

 he-promises-to-be principle. 



A new kennel of greyhounds has been started out at 

 Hutchinson, Kan., to be known as the Thistlewood Kennels. 

 Mr, Geo. McClaim is the manager and trainer. 



The National Beagle Club have placed Messrs. W. S. Dif- 

 fenderffer, Joe Lewis, R. F. Mayhew and H. W. Lacy on 

 their list of judges, aud have notified leading show commit- 

 tees of the same. They intend offering substantial special 

 prizes at shows when their judges are selected. It is the in- 

 tention of the club to raise the subscription to $5 to enable 

 them to carry out their plans to advance this handsome little 

 hound, and such a move should receive no opposition, for it 

 cannot be expected that two or three men are to go into their 

 pockets every time, so we hope the beagle men will stand 

 true to the colors even if they do fly a little high. 



Mr. F. E. Lamb, who recently lost his St. Bernard bitch 

 Lady Valentine, intends replacing hpr ?,t once, and has pur- 

 chased in England a prize winning Piinliinmon bitch that 

 he expects to hold her own in any company. She will be 

 bred to a native dog on the other side before importing her. 

 After being bred we should advise him to get her over as soon 

 as possible, if he wishes to have luck with the expected litter, 



Kash. the champion pug, has made a record as a stock 

 getter, for Mr. Pitts writes us that, from December, 1889, to 

 the present month, he has served 37 bitches, with a result of 

 90 dogs and 65 bitches, or in round numbers 161 puppies. 

 That little tale about tbe goose and the golden egg occurs to 

 one when reading this Kash account. 



We hear that Baroness Cardiff, the noted St. Bernard, will 

 soon find a home this side of the Atlantic. 



Mr. E. B. Sears writes us in sending a list of tbe new ad- 

 ditions to bis already strong kennel that he has purchased a 

 farm in Melrose, Mass., on which he intends erecting in the 

 spring one of the finest kennels in America. When we vis- 

 ited this gentleman's kennels recently we thought that he 

 would soon have to make an extension somewhere. The 

 importation of such a bitch as champion Plevna is another 

 important event in the lively series of St. Bernard bitch im- 

 portations we have been startled with lately. Our assertion 

 in a transatlantic journal that America would be sending 

 stock to the Crystal Palace show of 1895, and winners too, 

 would seem to be hardly so illusionary as a critic would have 

 us all believe, if our breeders are only favored with as 

 much "breeders luck" as they have pluck and enterprise. 



A. K. C. SUGGESTIONS. — Editor Forest and Stream: 

 Mr. Watson devotes considerable space in your last week's 

 issue anent some remarks of mine which appeared in tbe 

 Fanciers' Journal concerning the A. K. C adopting the 

 system of registering prize winners "free" in the stud book. 

 He (Mr. Watson) takes exception to my claiming to be one 

 of the "motive powers" which brought about this action. 

 He may be right, but in conversation with Mr. Vredenburgh 

 prior to the publication of my paragraphs, the latter gentle- 

 man referred to what had appeared of mine in the Fanciers'- 

 Journal, and said he had adopted some of mv suggestions, 

 "the free registration business" being mentioned among 

 other subjects. Therefore I considered I was net ovei step- 

 ping "my imagination" when I claimed to have had somt- 

 thing to do with this new departure. I would also refer 

 Mr. Watson to some notes of mine in the Turf, Field and 

 Farm of over a year ago, in which I advocate what he 

 claims the "stud book committee" adopted "three months 

 ago." In this at least I have a priority over the "trio," of 

 which Mr. Watson is one— R. F. MAYHEW. 



