326 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Oct. 14, 1893. 



punting mid ^ani[smg. 



FIXTURES. 



Oct. 17,-^Keniiiore Club meeting at Goodland, Kan. Frank L. Web- 

 ster. Sec'y- Entries close Oct. 16. 



Oct. 24.— American Coursing Club. Ira D. Brougher, Sec'y. 



Nov. 7.— Tbe Cowley County Coursing Association, Winfleld, Kan. 

 J. R. Ballard, Secretary. 



INTERNATIONAL COURSING MEETING. 



Any o-ne who has an ounce of sporting blood in him must 

 concede that coursing in such a country as that around 

 Huron, S. D., is glorious sport. The plains stretch far 

 away to every point of the compass, and only dotted at 

 wide intervals with little clumps of trees, which shelter 

 some lonely farm home. There is scarcely any wire six miles 

 from town. It is an ideal coursing country, and the Huron 

 Coursing Club must be congratulated upon bringinE? such 

 an important meeting to a successful conclusion. When we 

 arrived on Monday (Oct. 2) afternoon a number of coursers 

 were already there, Messrs Watson, Williams, Lowe, Van 

 Hummel, Page, Bradbury and others having arrived several 

 days ahead. We had the slipper, John Brett, in our party, 

 so we felt quite indifferent over the slowness of the train or 

 whether it ran off into the prairie somewhere. 



Huron is an ambitious town of about 3,000 peofjle, and they 

 seem to be all fond of coursing. Several fine brick business 

 blocks adorn the town. The accommodations at the Depot 

 Hotel are very good and a great improvement on anything of 

 the sort we have ever had at field trials. The town has elec- 

 tric lights, postal delivery, and almost every modern conve- 

 nience. We speak of this because we wish to bring this place 

 to the favorable notice of coursing men; for if they are seek- 

 ing a locality to run a meeting off, no better could be found. 



The meeting commenced on time, Oct. 3, and was concluded 

 on Friday afternoon. The local interest in the meeting was 

 very keen, and at no similar sporting event have I seen such 

 a crowd and their bearing at all times was orderly. In fact, 

 it could not be otherwise; the hoodlum -element was absent, 

 the spectators being chiefly the solid citizens and citizenesses 

 of Huron. 



The haxes can be seen nearly all the time when ruxming, 

 there being very little grass a foot high. The only trouble 

 is the scarcity of water and the quality df it, and the alkali 

 dust, which at times is rather annoying,''creating a thirst 

 which cannot be assuaged. Among those we met who were 

 Interested in the coursing besides those mentioned were W. 

 J. Alley, Mr. Allen, A. P, Slocum, Tom Hall, all the way 

 from Merced with three dogs, Banboy, Joe McAuliffe and 

 another; F. B. Coyue, E. H. Mulcaster, C. H. Vinton, J. A. 

 Busfield, A. C. Bradbury, Mr. Charlton and Harry EUer. Of 

 the ladies present we noticed Mrs. Sterling, Mrs. Eller, Miss 

 E. Ingham, Miss K. Eayant, Miss B. Bick and Mrs. G. 

 McEathron. 



Throughout the meeting there was jaothlng to mar the 

 general good feeling among the coursing men, excepting per- 

 haps in the Ramona-Flake course, after which the owner of 

 the latter rather questioned the decision, but there was noth- 

 ing in it. The last day, after the Touchwood-Princess May 

 course, Judge Williams fined Mr. E. H. Mulcaster $5 for run- 

 ning into him during the course, as he stated it was the third 

 time he had done so. Mr. Mulcaster handled Messrs. Allen 

 & Rew's dogs. Mr. Mulcaster afterward apologized and the 

 affair ended with the remittal of the fine. Mr. Roger Will- 

 iams showed conclusively that as a coursing judge there are 

 few to equal him. The riding is hard and at times danger- 

 ous in the extreme, on account of the hidden badger holes. 

 One of the judge's horses broke a bone in the pastern, and 

 his two other horses were knocked out by the first day's 

 work. 



Mr. Williams is a hard and vigorous rider for a heavy man, 

 and there is no hesitation whatever in giving his decision 

 directly the dogs stop. Another important officer must also 

 be praised. We in New York poked fun at our friend at 

 Closter when it was announced that he would slip.. Those 

 who didn't know him thought he couldn't walk it out. All 

 a mistake; he went a bit duckey in his hindlegs the second 

 day, but Friday he was going stronger than ever and was 

 told repeatedly to go slower. Except for the accidents men- 

 tioned below, which he could not help, the slipping was well 

 done and gave general satisfaction. The oflScers of the club 

 did their duty well. There was no undue assumption of 

 authority, they treated every one firmly but kindly while 

 out in the field and thus kept excellent discipline and their 

 lines in almost martialprecision. The flag steward was 

 Mr. Clarence Pratt, of Hufon, a good rider, and only once 

 did the judge get away from him, in the Fanny and Drytime 

 heat. 



Mr. Page, as slip steward, was always there when wanted, 

 and in the language of the dog show, "the rings were well 

 served." The field stewards were Messrs. C. R. Huntly, the 

 president of the Huron Coursing Club, formed in April last; 

 John Longstaif, the secretary and treasurer; E. H. Aplin, 

 John A. Sauer, R. O. Richards and F. B. Coyne, and these 

 also constituted the active members of the club. Mr. J. 

 Herbert Watson was chairman of the committee and the 

 committee itself, for his fellow members did not ]put in an 

 appearance. Mr. Horatio Nelson, one of the committee, was 

 SICK, and his enforced absence must have been a great disap- 

 pointment to him, as he had a number of dogs entered. Mr. 

 Watson was here, there and everywhere, and attended to the 

 whole business generally. The coursing men owe him a vote 

 of thanks for the trouble he took in the whole affair, and all 

 who know him were pleased to see his plucky efforts at last 

 rewarded by substantial wins. Mr. A. C. Bradbury had his 

 dogs in hand for a month before the meeting out here, and 

 the running of his dogs show that he was not lazy, and he 

 was particularly handicapped by having the two dogs iu a 

 .course several times, running three out of the four last dogs 

 left in the purse, a capital record. He had Mr. Watson's 

 dogs as well as the May brook Kennels', The fact that H. C. 

 liowe and Dr. Van Hummel divided the principal honors 

 must be particularly gratifying to them, especially Mr. 

 Lowe, as he bred the winner and runner up, besides Sir 

 Hugo, Ramona and Voltaire; they have kept at the game in 

 spite of every setback, and the result was a popular one. 



In the large number of courses run off many of them must 

 of necessity become more or less indistinct to the memory, 

 but there are several that stand out prominently on the 

 mind's tablets. Notably the Van's Peter — Willy Nilly course, 

 where Peter gave such an exhibition of dogged pertinacity 

 and pluck when thoroughly pumped, and killing his hare 

 after all. Then the course between Willis H. and Voltaire 

 was one to remember in years to come. Voltaire always 

 seemed to have the luck to get a hare that gave a long, 

 grueling course. 



There is little more to be said when we relate that the occa- 

 sion of the draw was made quite interesting and spectacular. 

 In the pretty opera house, main floor, covers were laid for 200, 

 but before the performance with the chop sticks a musical 

 entertainment was given, and then the draw took place on 

 the stage, the president opening the slips from the hat. Then 

 followed the supper and the speeches. Mr. Longstaff was the 

 toast master, Mr, B. H. Aplin welcomed the guests on behalf 

 of the city, and Mr. J. Herbert Watson, of New York, re- 

 sponded. The following gentlemen made speeches appropri- 

 ate to the occasion: Rev. A. S. McGogney, Huron; Dr. Q. 

 Van Hummel, Indianapolis; Wm. Sterling, a lawyer of prom- 

 inence in the city; C. G. Page, Aurora, 111., and Basil Hay- 



man, Chicago. The coursing cards were well gotten up, 

 accurate and moderate in price. 



TUESDAY. 



This the first morning of the meeting davrned clear and 

 frosty, but the sun coming out before we started just damp- 

 ened the surface of the ground sufficiently to promise good 

 going. A crowd of wagons and horsemen had assembled 

 round the headquarters when a late start was made for a 

 part of the prairie three miles from town. The whole sport- 

 ing element of the town seemed to have turned out, and 

 there must have been over a hundred teams on the ground. 

 Several ladies followed the sport throughout the day and 

 lent an additional charm to the scene. During the day we 

 had a taste of pretty nearly every kind of weather but rain 

 and snow. Toward afternoon a stiff wind came up which 

 must have been chilling to those compelled to sit in 

 wagons, and it made the tears come to the eyes of those 

 who had to follow the dogs. The crowd was orderly and 

 very different from those at Great Bend judging from re- 

 ports. Good discipline was kept, the line dressing well 

 nearly all the time. There were several weary tramps 

 during the day, as jacks were not very plentiful, but when 

 found were fairly strong. The judging was well done and 

 so was the slipping, with the exception of one or two of the 

 early onea, wnich circumstances excused. The courses 

 throughout were never very close, and there was no ques- 

 tioning the correctness of the decisions. 



Columbus Cup. 



First Bound. 



LoED Neveestill AND DovEB.— This opening brace was 

 put into slips at 10:12 A. M. A hare was soon up, and the 

 slipper holding the dogs a trifle too long, Lord Neverstill 

 became unruly, finally breaking away and indulging in a 

 short course, losing the hare on the hill. Brought back, 

 they were slipped again to a rather weak hara Neverstill 

 led in the run up, scored, placing Dover, who never let the 

 other in again, the hare getting clear away with Dover, after 

 Lord Neverstill quitted. Dover won. 



Dick Alley and Delsakte.— This brace in slips 11:05. It 

 took a walk of 30 minutes to find puss, and when slipped 

 Delsarte was unsighted, but following Dick Alley he soon 

 sighted, and passing Dick led to the hare and running right 

 in for a good kill in full view of the crowd, beat the other 

 dog pointless. Another hare got up before Dick was collared 

 and he killed. 



SiE Hugo and Royal Crest.— These were sent off to a 

 good slip, and after a sharp burst Sir Hugo led, and turning 

 with the hare shot in and killed cleverly within SOOyds. of 

 the crowd. Sir Hugo won. An unfortunate course for the 

 black dog. 



Viola and Dbytime.— A clever looking brace. Slipped at 

 13:06 with Drytime leading to the hare a couple of lengths. 

 Drytime held possession for half a mile and then placed 

 Viola. Rapid exchanges followed, till Viola, giving the 

 other the go-by as they turned to the hill, worked puss alone 

 until it sought safety in a friendly earth after a rattling long 

 course. Drytime was outpaced, though she kept to it gamely. 

 Viola won. 



Fanny and Raven.— In slips at 1 P. M. Hare soon found 

 and from a good slip Raven led up and did the greater 

 part of the work, working close to the scent and finally 

 clinched her advantage with a good kill. Raven won. Lunch 

 was then in order at 1:40 P. M, 



Joe McAuliffe and Nancy were put in slips, but a half 

 an hour's walk ensued before a hare was started. Nancy 

 led to the turn, and placing Joe, a ding-dong exchange fol- 

 lowed, in which Nancy showed the cleverer, and working 

 the hare toward the spectators finally ran puss to earth. 

 This was a capital course. Nancy won. 



Flying Fancy and Touchwood III. — The bitch led to 

 the turn from a good slip, but falling, Touchwood gained 

 possession, rattled up several points to the fence, where 

 Fancy joined issue and reduced the score one-half, but puss 

 holed or was lost in the corn, leaving Touchwood a good 

 winner of a fast course. 



WooDFOED Boy and Willis H.— In slips at 3:33. After 

 two hares had escaped the dogs were slipped to a good one 

 and Willis leading, scored several points, and though the 

 brindle was well placed for a couple of turns Willis always 

 had him well in hand, and bustling his game to the woods 

 puss sought refuge and escaped. Willis H. won and showed 

 himself a smart hound. 



LAPLANDER AND Greenshine.— In slips at 3:02. This was 

 a one-sided course, Laplander piling a handsome sequence, 

 scarcely allowing the black dog a look in, and after a bruis- 

 ing course of about three miles puss vanished in a hole just 

 in time to save its cotton. 



Cyclone and Bigkee.— In slips at 3:25. A jack was soon 

 up and a burst of half a mile took the dogs from view with 

 little advantage to either; when seen the hare was favoring 

 Bicker; he turned her sharply and placed Cyclone for several 

 exchanges, Bicker being far the smarter of the two in re- 

 covery; running over the mound the blue dog was seen to be 

 doing all the work and using his teeth cleverly, never left 

 the result in doubt. Bicker won. 



WiLL-o'-THE-WiSP AND PRINCESS MAY.— In slips at 3:45, 

 In ten minutes a moderate hare was started, and after a 

 short run-up in favor of Will-o' the -Wisp, Princess May took 

 possession on a strong outside, scored several points, and 

 bearing the hare round ran rather slovenly into her game, 

 killing after a short course. Princess May won. 



St. LAWRENCE AND BAN BOY.— Put in slips at 4:08 Ban 

 Boy acted very meanly, breaking from slips. Caught and 

 tried to repeat when returned. Finally they were sent off in 

 single slips and Ban Boy sighting a hare first shot to the 

 front, while St. Lawrence, being unsighted, held back so 

 that Brett was strung out like a cross roads sign post. To 

 a bad break Ban Boy led several lengths a faltering hare. 

 St. Lawrence having made good his ground tried to kill and 

 coming again he accomplished his ob^'ect with the help of 

 the other. No course. Slipped again m a much better man- 

 ner the hare led them a merry dance, neither being able to 

 get on terms at first, till puss favored Ban Boy, he improv- 

 ing the opportunity for several points, and St. Lawrence 

 falling he further increased his score, finally losing puss in 

 a corn patch a half mile from crowd. 



Ramona and Daziel.— At 4:40 slipped to a long run up, 

 Ramona first to score after running even for some time. 

 Placing Daziel hot exchanges followed, but Ramona always 

 having the foot of the other held well to the scent till she 

 lost puss in a corn patch. 



Willy Nilly and Flake.— In slips at 5:03 P. M. A hare 

 was found quickly and from a good slip they were soon on 

 terms of intimacy with puss, and a give and take course 

 ensued, both doing good work, till Willy was unsighted in 

 corn and came back. Flake kept to it and ran some time 

 after her flag went up. A rather unsatisfactory course. 



Prince Charley and Van's Peteb.— This was one of the 

 best courses during the day. Charlie led to the hare and 

 placing Peter neither had any advantage in the exchange 

 work that ensued, puss being pressed hotly all the time. 

 The pace began to tell on Peter and Prince Charlie forging 

 ahead soon ran into puss for an easy kill. Prince Charlie 

 won. 



Miss Dollar III. and Voltaire.— This was another good 

 course that must have covered thre« miles at least. They 

 were sent off at 5:55 to a good hare. In the run up Miss 

 Dollar had the advantage, and bearing the hare back to 

 crowd some smart work on both sides took place. Getting 

 among the wagons it looked all over Miss Dollar's course, 

 but the hare drew right away afterward, led them a buster 

 over the rising ground till, having gone nearly a mile, Miss 



Dollar gave it up, leaving Voltaire to carry the hare a couple 

 of miles further, working most of the time. 



This finished the card and as it was past 6 P. M. a start was 

 made for town. The wind had died down and a 10 mile drive 

 gave us plenty of time to ruminate on the vastness of this 

 country and the glorious sunset. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Second Bound. 

 When we pulled up our blinds this morning the weather 

 seemed anything but promising. Heavy clouds hung over 

 head and the air was raw, with a drop or two of rain falling 

 now and then. A start was made for a different part of the 

 prairie where hares were said to be more plentiful, and this 

 was found to be the case. There was a large crowd out 

 to-day. At noon I counted 147 carriages, besides a number 

 of horseback riders, including several ladies. A good deal 

 of the work done was sharp and decisive, hares being plenti- 

 ful. 



No time was lost in getting to business at 10:35, Dover being 

 drawn, owing to a lame shoulder. 



Voltaire ran a bye with Little Climber, and was indulged 

 with another long, grueling course. : ~- 



Delsarte and Prince Charlie.— Put in slips at 10:43. 

 These two were sent after a strong, fast hare at once. Del- 

 sarte was the_ quickest a.way, but Prince overhauled him and 

 getting up with his game scored and placed Delsarte for some 

 rapid exchanges, Prince having the advantage. The latter 

 turned the hare toward the crowd, and when 100yds. away 

 puss was so hard pressed she ran to earth, and the white flag 

 was raised denoting Prince Charlie's victory. 



Sir Hugo and Viola.— In slips at 11. Starting a hare to 

 one side of spectators from a fair slip, Sir Hugo led to the 

 hare. Viola, being unsighted, made a wide circle and lost 

 twenty lengths; but making this up, both dogs worked the 

 hare very prettily. Presently Viola carried puss on alone 

 several lengths ahead of Sir Hugo, who seemed in trouble; 

 but, coming again, he nipped in for possession and killed, 

 bringing a two-mile course to a fitting close. Sir Hugo won. 



Raven and Nancy.— In slips 11:25. A hare was soon up, 

 but got a lon^ start before Brett let them out. In the run 

 Nancy had a alight advantage, and turning placed Raven for 

 a wrench; both scored well in subsequent exchanges till, 

 Raven bearing the hare to the left, Nancy shot in and killed 

 handsomely. Nancy won. 



Touchwood HI. and Willis H.— In slips 11:40. Slipped 

 shortly after, and Willis proved superior in the run up; the 

 hare ran back through the crowd, Britt handling the dogs 

 very cleverly, for they were quite wild. Willis H. scored and 

 then placed Touchwood, who could not hold his advantage, 

 but bearing the hare to right let Willis in, and he never gave 

 the other dog another chance, but keeping close to the scent 

 the hare dodged back , and Willis working close to the ground 

 nabbed her as she passed and it was all over, and a clever 

 kill was the verdict. Willis H. won. 



Laplander and Bicker.— In slips 11:51, and a hare get- 

 ting up under the dogs they were sent away on even terms, 

 but the hare turning sharply to right by a" fence both dogs 

 were unsighted. Laplander was quickest in sighting and 

 gained twenty-five leneths on his opponent, scoring a capital 

 turn before letting Bicker in. Lap then pressed the other for 

 possession again, handling the game cleverly, scored re- 

 peatedly and bringing the hare in front of the crowd killed 

 nicely. Laplander won. This was a very pretty course, most 

 of it in \iew of the spectator."?. 



Princess May and Ban Boy.— Brett took them in hand at 

 11:55 and a hare was soon up. Princess led and getting pos- 

 session held it for several points; placing Ban Boy he reduced 

 the score but falling at the fence he lost sight,"besides cut- 

 ting himself in both forelegs, but nothing daunted he came 

 again and gave the other a go-bay, scored and placed Prin- 

 cess, who carried puss to rough grass in a fast course. Then 

 ensued a procession, the hare leading Ban Boy three lengths 

 and Princess some distance behind; this kept up for a mile, 

 when, getting to farmhouse, Princess stopped and the flag 

 went up for Ban Boy. This was a long, bruising cour-se. 



Ramona and Flake.— In slips 13:35. Ramona led from a 

 good slip and turning puss toward the crowd she hustled her 

 so smartly that she took refuge underground, the course end- 

 ing with most of the work in favor of Ramona. Tliis con- 

 cluded the second round of the cup ties. 



It was now time for lunch and we were all quite ready for 

 it; the air on these prairies must be conducive to good appe- 

 tites and digestion judging by results. The first round of the 



Columbus Purse, 



For dogs beaten in the first round of the cup, was now 

 started at 1:40 P. M. 



Lord Neverstill and Dick Alley.— After the slip both 

 dogs were unsighted. Lord Neverstill soon sighted and 

 getting on terms with the game, scored rapidly at first, 

 Dick had now come in to take a hand and was well placed 

 when puss suddenly ran to earth which unluckily for Dick 

 left the verdict in favor of Lord Neverstill. 



Royal Crest and Miss Dollar III.— In slips 1:50. When 

 game was started it got well ahead of the dogs before Brett 

 let them go and they were unsighted for a short time; Royal 

 Crest got the line first and had it all to himself for several 

 turns and wrenches before Miss Dollar made up her leeway, 

 and reduced the score on a couple of tunis. Royal Crest 

 coming again took posse.S8ion and never giving Miss Dollar 

 a chance, took the hare over the hill and down towai-d the 

 ravine, Miss Dollar stopping. The dog was seen to be work- 

 ing his hare for a mile or more and ran a strong resolute 

 dog. 



Drytqie aud Fanny.— It had now become very warm 

 and trying to all those engaged iu active work and especially 

 so for the dogs. At 3 P. M. they slipped but lost view of the 

 hare at once in the long grass, but catching on shortly, Dry- 

 time closed up and turned puss twice before it went through 

 the crowd, seeming to hold the other well in hand. Doing 

 all the work she tried twice to use her teeth; leading Fanny 

 five lengths she hustled bunny over the hill, but the pace 

 told and her bolt was shot. Fanny took possession but 

 finally lost in a cornfield after some good work, but not 

 sufficiently so to wipe out Drytlme's score. The latter won. 



Joe McAuliffe and Flying Fancy.— In slips at 3:40. 

 After a capital slip .Joe showed in front and put a couple of 

 turns to his credit before placing Fancy, who turning hare, 

 Joe got possession ^again and shot in for a good kill. Joe 

 McAuliffe won. 



Woodford Boy and Greenshine.— From a capital slip at 

 3:20 on a marked hare, Woodford led to the quarry, turned 

 and placing Greenshine several exchanges were indulged in, 

 Greenshine having the best of it till tbe hare made straight 

 away over rising ground, and was finally lost in corn, Green- 

 shine stopping at the edge. Greenshine won. 



Cyclone and Will-o'-the Wisp.— Found hare at 3:36, and 

 in a short run up Cyclone had the best of it, and one of the 

 prettiest courses of the day followed. Roimd and round 

 went puss, the dogs alternating at the scut. Will-o'-the- 

 Wisp soon proved smarter in this clever work. Cyclone being 

 too big, and giving him a go-by he never gave Cyclone but 

 one more chance to kill and then he finished the course with 

 a clever death. Will-o'-the-Wisp won. 



St. Lawrence and Daziel.— Slipped at 4:81, Daziel dwell- 

 ing in slips allowed St. Lawrence to get well ahead, when he 

 rolled up a big score, and although Daziel got in for once or 

 twice the issue was never in doubt, even had the white and 

 black dog not made a nice kill. St. Lawrence won. 



Willy Nilly and Van's Peter.— This was expected to be 

 a good course, and they did not disappoint us. In slips at 

 4:10. In the send-ofl: Van's Peter led and knocked together 

 several points before Willy could get placed. Giving V an'a 



t 



