Deo. 8, 1893.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



497 



COURSING. 



THE INTERSTATE MEETING AT MERCED. 



[Special Report.] 



Meeced, CaL, Nov. 17— The fourth anntial interstate 

 coursing meeting was commenced ou the Moran ranch, some 

 seven or eight miles from Merced, Cal,, on Tuesday last, 

 Nov. 14. The day was beautifully fine for coursing piu- 

 poses and the dogs" were of the very best description, the soil 

 being of a sandy nature, making it perfectly safe for dogs to 

 travel over. The fact that but one dog was only injured to 

 the extent nf a toenail, shows the nature of tae ground over 

 which the coursing was held. The game, too, was plentiful, 

 and here it must be said that they were, without exception, 

 the greatest travelers that have ever been met with by any 

 coursing club on tbe celebrated plain. Their extraordinary 

 performances of Tuesday and Wednesday last will ever 

 stamp them as the greatest heart breakers that hounds ever 

 met with in any quarter of the globe. Tommy Hall's (the 

 Merced coursing enthusiast) opinion of them, when ques- 

 sioned as to the hares likely to be found on the hew grounds, 

 was well sustained— "Hares!" said Tommy, "no, they're not 

 hares, they're flying machines, and if you go down to the 

 grounds any afternoon you will find them hard at work 

 training. They know this meeting is coming off and Nancy 

 Hanks can't have a shoe with one of them. I took Joe Mc- 

 Auliile down there last week to freshen him up a bit, and 

 slipped him and another dog after a little leveret. I came 

 across; I followed them for four or five miles and lost them; 

 the other dog came back last night, and Joe MuAuliffe and 

 the little hare are up in Alaska now, hitting out for the 

 North Pole. I tell you they're all Democrats this year; you 

 can't stop 'em." 



Tommy's opinion of this was fully borne out during the 

 two days' coursing, for only five of them met death at the 

 bands of their determined and swift pursuers. 



There was a large crowd of .spectators, male and female, 

 in vehicles and on horseback. 



On the eve of the cour.sing all the hotels in the solid look- 

 ing little town were well filled, and of course "dog" was the 

 only question debatable. The all-important ideas of free 

 trade or protectioti were for the moment forgotten, and the 

 probability or possibility of Mr. Watson's splendid imported 

 greyhound and the other Eastern dog being able to get away 

 with the California dogs seemed for the time to be the most 

 important questions. 



The Eastern dogs had many backers, especially Royal 

 Crest; but the favorite with nearly all was the celebrated 

 California dog Skyrocket, and yet in the very first coiirse 

 he was called to run he fell a'comparatively easy prey to 

 a dog that has not heretofore been looked upon as a flyer, 

 and which in the very next course fell a much easier prey to 

 Mr. Watson's handsome little bitch Dry Time. 



On Tuesday morning the coursing field was reached after 

 a pleasant ride of an hour about 9 o'clock, and immediately 

 tbe field officers commenced to arrange for the day's sport 

 Hon. Judge Pennie, of San Francisco, officiated as president 

 of the meeting, and surely a more genial, whole-souled gen- 

 tleman could not well be chosen. Mr. William Faney, of 

 Fresno, and tbe well-known Mr. John Grace, of San Fran- 

 cisco, did the judging, the former gentleman doing the tausi 

 ness in the foreno^on and the latter in the afternoon. Mr. J. 

 R. Dickson had th-:" management of the field, assisted by 

 Messrs. Seal and Wormington, and most assuredly Mr. 

 Dickson's job was no sinecure, for the crowd was difficult to 

 manage; but after the first three or four courses he had the 

 excited spectators well in baud and kept them so during the 

 balance of the meeting. Mr. Wm. Halpin wielded the flag, 

 and a more efficient flag steward it would be difficult to find. 

 The slipping was intrusted to Mr. James Wren, of San 

 Francisco, and surely no finer or better work was evrr seen 

 on a coursing field. In California this gentleman is looked 

 upon as a slipper in the same light that Mr. Grace is looked 

 upon as a jadge— nulla secwndus. 



To describe accurately each course is simply impossible, 

 as almost in every instance the hares led the dogs such 

 merry dances that none but the judge and possibly the 

 riders who were allowed to go to pick up the dogs could see 

 the major portion of each course, hence the short descrip- 

 tion of each event. 



First Round. 



Royal Crest and Lookout were tke two first called to 

 slips, and on being placed in Mr. Wren's charge they were 

 soon ready for thtir work. The slipper had moved out but 

 a few yards, when a little black-eared jack sprang from his 

 couch and instantly the dogs were nut straight on his tracks 

 and slipped. Both dogs went off with a great burst of 

 speed. Royalty having a slight advantage. Both went some- 

 what wide in "their run toward the game, Royal Crest push- 

 ing to the front, and after driving his game from its line of 

 running by a strong wrench, another hare came in the way, 

 which Lookout followed. The black dog, however, stuck to 

 his game, and '.after a run of over two miles killed and of 

 course won. 



Shannon Bot and Duke of MilpitAS.— This was a run- 

 away affair, Shannon Boy never having a show, the Duke 

 running his game to earth at the end of a three-mile run. 



Ban Girl and John Mitchell.— This pair were slipped 

 to another traveler, but he was at first inclined to dodge a 

 little. After Mitchell drove him from his line of running 

 he then straightened out and made for some safe quarters 

 that were only a few miles away, and after leaaing his 

 pursuers a will-o'-the-wisp-like journey, made good his 

 escape. Mitchell won. 



Black Joe akd Dexter.— The former, in consequence of 

 distemper breaking out in his owner's kennels, did not ap- 

 pear, the latter ran a bye. 



Depend on Me and Peter Jackson.— On this pair being 

 slipped, the former dog shot out strong for his game and 

 led Peter to the hare by a length and eventually took a turn 

 out of the flying game just as they were all disappearing 

 from view. Here Peter iiut on a spurt, and as they again 

 appeared in the distance the piigilist's namesake was in the 

 lead. The judge eventually returned after a three-mile trip 

 and gave the course to Depend On Me. 



Bluestone and Al Farron.— The p.iir being slipped the 

 former dog shot out of slips and led his opponent a couple 

 of lengths, and in less than .500yd,s. reached his game, turned 

 it and got another wrench from it; the hare then straight- 

 ened out and evidently recollected that his presence was 

 needed up in Sha-ta county somewhere, and made tracks 

 accordingly. Al Farron, too, took it into his head that he 

 would bid good bj'e to his opponent, which he did, but he 

 never got near Mr. Jack, though he tried long enough, so 

 Bluestone got the verdict. 



White Joe and Job McAi'liefe. — McAulift'e never gave 

 this dog even a look at the game and won a straight course, 

 puss getting awav. 



Merced "Chief and Young Jessie,— The former dog, 

 though hitherto supposed to be of very little account, 

 showed on this occasion that there was more in him than he 

 ever got credit for from any of his former owners, and in a 

 pretty course heat what was known to be a smart bitch. 



Redwood Chief and dazzle.— Immediately after these 

 dogs were slipped the black dog Dazi;leshot out to the front 

 followed closely by his opponent. The black dog got the 

 turn and the next, and then the Chief, from the distance, 

 seemed to have command of things and worked his game 

 well, and eventually the hare fell between them. Dazzle 

 got the flag. At this decision; the owner of Chief kicked a 

 bit. 



Peknthoyal and William O'Beien.— The latter dog, it 

 may be said, did everything in this coarse. 



Presto and Fitz.— This was another one-sided course, 

 Tom winning everything in a I mg run. 



Dan C. and Gane —This was a fine course, both dogs 

 showing great speed, but the latter had always the best of it 

 and won handsomely. 



Native Son AND Dolly- Varden.— This was also a fine 

 c urse, the Son at first having the best of it, but Dolly had 

 more grit and the Son, too, got blinked a bit in the stubbles, 

 which marred his chances. Dolly won. 



BlAckstone and Natty.— This was a runaway course. 

 Natty doing all the work from start to finish, and of course 

 winnin e-. 



Molly S. and Wildflower.— Molly S. had a very soft 

 thing in this flower. She outran her and outworked her, 

 and killed her game. Possibly Wildflower .should not be 

 thought too little of, though, for she was the first that met 

 what turned out afterward to be the winner, and which ef- 

 fectually snuflfpd out the hopes of more aristocratic grey- 

 hounds than poor Wildflower. 



Skyrocket and Mountain Hare —When this pair was 

 c tiled up there was considerable excitement, as Skyrocket 

 has had almost an unbeaten record for the last two years, 

 having been defeated bitt'once during that time, though he 

 had met all kinds of dogs both in the inclo.sed parks and in 

 the open, and trea,ted them all alike, one after another fall- 

 ing before his speed and dashing cleverness. No one could 

 be tempted to back the other dog at any odds— "no one was 

 so poor as to do him reverence." Well, they were handed 

 to tbe slipper and in a short time a perfect flyer pop ped tip. 

 The dogs were slipped and as usual Skyrocket dashed to the 

 front as if shot from a catapult, and made desperate eflforfs 

 to reach his game; they had gone fully a mile before he suc- 

 ceeded in bringing puss around, and here his opponent came 

 in and began to dispute possession. Again the hare broke 

 awpy and again Skyrocket dashed in pursuit, but Mountain 

 Hare closed up with him and before they had traveled an- 

 other quarter of a mile gave him a clear go-by by several 

 yards, and during the balance of that fearful long course 

 Skyrocket never got in again, Mountain Hare eventually 

 killing his game and winning the course. 



Swede and Dry Time.— This was the first short course of 

 the meeting. No sooner were the dogs slipped than the fawn 

 bitch dashed to the front and in less than 400yds. she 

 brought her game around, and so quick were her movements 

 that she did not give puss time to recover herself before she 

 bad her fangs deep in its back and the course won. 



David D. and White Cloud.— This was a one- sided affair, 

 the Cloud being too swift for David, who was never in it 

 from start to finish. 



Short Stop and Sir John.— These dogs were con,siderpd 

 two of the best in the flf Id, and each of them was warmly 

 supported by their respective friends. On being slipped the 

 for'tirr Ifd >n the hare by a c'ear leneth, but a mile was 

 travelfd before Short .Stop drove puss from its course and 



.JOHN GRACE, 

 Oouisiug .Iiidge. 



.1. R. WRENN, 

 Slipper. 



got another turn before Sir John got in for a point. The 

 hare then broke away, and after a considerable distance was 

 gone ever Sir John was seen to be in front in vain pursuit of 

 the flying game, which he failed to reach. When the judge 

 returned he sent the flag up for Short Stop. 



Cork Rebel and Gile.— On this pair being sent off both 

 dogs shot out well, Gile having the best of it. For a few 

 seconds it looked as if the Rebel would have a show, but the 

 hare broke away and Gile had all the rest of a great run to 

 himself. He won. 



Johnny Rex and Judge Morrow.— The former dog is 

 known as the greatest flyer of our coursing fields, and was 

 looked upon by the Merced people as their forlorn hope 

 when all others fail, but unfortunately he was attacked by 

 distemper last week and of course could not appear. His 

 opponent ran a bye, Great sympathy was expressed by all 

 for Mr. Mclnerny, the genial Merced sportsman, over this 

 occurrence. 



It was now 3 o'clock and as the first round of the card was 

 finished it was decided not to commence the second round 

 so that all the dogs could start equal on the following 

 morning. 



During the evening betting on the dogs left in after the 

 fir.st round was pretty brisk. Royal Crest was in good de- 

 mand as was also Gile and the otner Sacramento dog, Gare. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Sharp at 9 o'clock this morning a,ll were again ready on 

 the trysting grounds. 



Second Round. 



Royal Crest and Duke of Milpitas.— The crowd 

 had scarcely moved when a regular buck-jumper went 

 bounding away like a rubber ball. When the slipper 

 got his dogs fairly in line he let them go, the Duke 

 shot out, and by a sudden turn of the hare got well placed 

 fully three lengths ahead of Crest. This advantage he held 

 till he turned the hare, and in the next 100yds. he again 

 scored the hare and then the dogs were lost to the spectators. 

 The cour.se was a very long one and most trying on both 

 dogs. When judge (Pahey) returned he sent the white flag 

 up for the Duke of Milpitas, but said that at the finish of 

 course Royal Crest had full command of the haie, but lost 

 the course by killing his game before his opponents score 

 was wiped out. 



•lOHN Mitchell AND Dexter.— Mitchell ran away from 

 Dextpr and won a one-sided course. 



Depend On Me and Blue Stone. — This was a pretty 

 course full in view of the crowd. Depend On Me winning 

 with plenty to spare. 



Joe McAuliffe and Roy.— This was one of the courses 

 that was but little seen by the crowd, with the exception 

 of the first portion of it, in which the young imported dog 

 gave splendid promi.se of future greatness. Joe won the 

 course. 



Merced Chief and Dazzle —This was another regular 

 grueler over miles of ground. The Chief won. 



William O'Brien and Tom Fitz.— Quick as lightning 

 O'Brien shot out from slips and led by two lengths, he 

 eventually turned the game and got on to plowed ground, 

 where the judge said he was defeated by Fitz. 



Gare and "Dolly Vahden.— Dolly was completely out- 

 classed and lost. 



Natty and Molly S.— This was comparatively a short 

 course and really looked as if Natty had the best of it, but 

 the judge said no. 



Mountain Hare and Dry Time.— In this course great 

 things were expected from the blue dog from the manner 

 in whicli he polished off Skyrocket in the first rotoid; but it 



is the unexpected that occurs in coursing, as well as other 

 things, and so it was in this case, for tbe New York bitch 

 again made a short job of it, and fairly smothered both her 

 opponent and the hare in a very few seconds, and won a 

 .sharp course. 



Short Stop and White Cloud.— This course, a long one, 

 was altoQ-etber in favor of Short Stop. 



GiLR AND Judge Morrow.— Gile showed great speed in 

 this course, as indeed he did in his first one, and it was soon 

 evident that Morrow was in a bad place and could not hold 

 his own, Gile eventually killing and winning, taut just then 

 another hare came along and Gile's eagerness for another 

 mess of hare made him drop the one he was mauling and go 

 m pursuit of a demon that must surely have come there out 

 of dire revenge for the death of his kin. This hare seemed 

 to play with Gile for he would allow the dog to come so near 

 him that he would open his mouth to make a grab at him, 

 while puss would give a switch to the right or left and in 

 place of a mouthful of fur Gile would find only a mouthful of 

 California air. The dog was eventually picked up nearly 

 half dead, while puss bounded away as if well pleased with 

 her revenge. 



This last course finished the fir-t ties and luncheon was 

 then announced, a capital one, by the way, sent out from the 

 El Capitan and Cosmopolitan hotels. 



As soon as luncheon was over Mr. Dickson called up and 

 Mr. Grace went into the saddle to finish the balance of the 

 meeting. 



Third, Round. 



Duke of Milpitas and Mitchell.— No sooner were the 

 dogs slipped than Mitchell shot out and led the Duke a 

 long run to the hare, getting first turn; the Duke then got 

 in, but the rest of the course was Mitchell's, a long one too, 

 the hare, as usual, escaping. 



Depend on Me and Joe McAuliffe.— This was a sharp, 

 short course, in which quick work was done by both dogs 

 and a clpver kill secured McAulifi'e the verdict. 



Merced Chief and Tom Fitz.— These dogs chased a 

 demon of a little hare for about three miles. Fitz won. 



GARE AND Molly S —In this course Gare led the bitch 

 for a considerable distance until the hare got into some 

 plowed ground, where Molly laid him out cold, the hare 

 escaping. 



Dry Time and Short Stop.— In this course— a very long 

 one— Short Stop had the best of it at first, taking the hare 

 away from the bitch, but in the long lead to some cover the 

 bitch passed him and did some clever work, and when the 

 judge came back he sent the flag up for the bitch. 



Fourth Round. 



JohnMitghell and Joe McAuliffe.— This was a splendid 

 course, and possibly had more work done in it than in any 

 course of the meeting. Mitchell certainly had the best of it 

 in the first portion of the run, but in the latter portion the 

 superior condition of Joe told in the long run and the sub- 

 sequent work, and together with a splendid kill no doubt 

 secured him the verdict from Mr. Grace. 



Tom Fitz and Molly S.— Molly had the best of this course 

 from the start and won. 



Dry Time and Gile —This course was not a long one, but 

 Dry Time made a dash to reach the front, when the hare 

 swerved to the other dog. She tried hard to shoulder him 

 off", but he was too heavy for her and he swept her from hi.^ 

 path, and the gallant little bitch that came 3,000 miles to 

 contest for this stake went down before the prowess of the 

 Sacramento dog. 



Fifth Round. 



Joe McAuliffe and Gile.— After a short rest Gile was 

 again called up to meet Hall's flyer, and on being slipped 

 this grand dog went immediately to the front. Though 

 closely pressed by McAuliffe, he shouldered him off and'in 

 an awful long run completely beat him to a standstill, the 

 hare escaping. Joe had thus to pufc up with third positioa 

 in the stake. 



Molly S. ran a bye. 



Final. 



After the usual half-hour's grace Molly S. and Gile were 

 placed la slips for the final tussle. It did not take long to 

 find a hare. The course was an uninteresting one. Molly 

 did all that was done, and Master Jack escaped without 

 much trouble. Molly S. won the course and stake, Gile sec- 

 ond, Joe McAuliffe third; Dry Time, John Mitchell and Tom 

 Fitz divide fourth money. 



The crowd gathered around the president's carriage and 

 cheered him to tbe echo, as well as all the other officers. The 

 Sacramento people were heartily congratulated on their 

 good luck in being the possessor of such splendid grey- 

 hounds, as well as for their gentlemanly and sportsmanlike 

 conduct throughout the meeting. 



No finer coursing was ever seen in California, and certainly 

 no better dogs ever went from slip in any county than many 

 of the hounds that took part in this meeting. As for the 

 hares— well, they were just a little too good for anything, 

 and if Tommy Hall could manage to put a stop to their 

 training next'year it would be all the better for:coursing. 



The following is the summary of the running; 



FM, Round. 



3. H. Watson's bik and w d, / \ W. Creamer's blk and w d. 



Royal Crest, f "'^"■'^ 1 Lookout. 



Jas. Shannon's blk and w d, I J Bri. Kelber's blk d, Shannon 



Duke nf Milpitas, (' "^"-^ I Boy. 



D. D. Roach's f and w d, I y T. Mclnerny's blk and w b, 

 John Mitchell, ( ( Ban Girl. 



T.J. Cronin's blk and, w d, (. I Geo. Dougherty's blk d, Peter 



Depend Ot. Me. ) 1 Jackson. 



Dr. Proctoi's blk and w d, ( ^.^^^ j J. J. Raflemaker's br d, Al 



BlneBtone, \ "^"^^ 1 Furrow. 



Thoa. Hall's blk and wd, Joel T,-,,*^ J T. Mclnerny's w d, White 



McAuliffe, \ I Joe. 



E. H. Mulcaster'a t d, Roy, \ beat \ '^'^fi^^:^^^^ ^""^ ^ 

 Robt. Boyd's blk and w d, I j.„„f. J J. J. Racemaker's br and w 



Mercpd Chief. f oeac -j d. Young- Jes'iie. 



T. Mclnerny's blk and. w d. / J^„„^. ! Wnrmlagton & Seal's Red- 



Dazzak ( "^^^ ) wood Cbipf. 



P. G. Fitz Patrick's w d, Wm. ( j Thos. Ford's blk and w d, 



O'Brien, I "^'^ 1 Pennyroyal. 



T. Mclnerny's blk and w d, ( | Worminerton & Seal's w and 



Tom Fitz, i 1 _ blk d^ Presto. 



J. McMahon's blk d, Gare, 



D D. Riach's blk and w b, j 

 Dnlly Yard en, i . 



P. O'Connell's blk and w d, (_ i T, J. Hanrahan's blk and 

 Nattv. , "^"'^ ■) d. Blaekstone. 



P.W.Sheehan'swandblkb, I ^^^^ i P. O. Egan's blk b, Wild- 

 Molly S., r 'i Bower. 



"M°ou?,"aifHar'^^ ^ \ "I ^- ^-tis's bik d. Skyrocket. 

 J.H. Watson's fb. Dry Time, j- beat \ ^swede!'''^^^'^ ^'"^ ^ ^' 

 Wormington & Seal's w b, ( >,„_^ i David I). Doust's blk d. 



White Clond, I "^^ i David D. 



M. C. Curtis's br and w d, I t,„„^ ) Tbos. Ford's br and w d. Sir 



Shortstop, t" "( John. 



J. McMahan's blk d. GUe. \ beat \ ^^°cfrk^Rlb6f.'^ '''"^ 

 W. Creamer's f and w d, ) ^„„, i . 

 Judge Morrow, \ i ^ 



Second Round. 



Duke of Milpitas beat Royal Tom Fitz beat Wni. O'Brien. 



Crest. Gare beat, Dolly Varden. 



John Mitchell beat Dexter. Molly 8. beat Nirty. 



Depend On Me beat Bluestone. Dry Time beat Mountain Hare. 



Joe McAuliflfe beat Roy. Short Stop heat White Cloud. 



Merced Chief beat Dazzle. Gile beat Judge Morrow. 



T,,„^ I D. D. Roach's blk and w d, 

 ) Dan C. 



i J. Shannon's w d. Native 

 1 Sod. 



