438 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 18, 1898. 



N. E. BEAGLE CLUB FIELD TRIALS. 



The first annual field trials of the New England Beagle 

 Club were held at Oxford, Mass., Nov. 6 to 10, and the clnb 

 has reason to congratulate itself on the number of high class 

 beagles which started in the various events. All the classes 

 were strong, but the work iu the Derby and 15in. champion 

 class was particularly good. 



The grounds selected for the trials furnished an abundance 

 of rabbits, but the Oxford cottontail does not run as well as 

 his Nauuet brother, and is all too ready to seek refuge in the 

 stone walls which bound the fields. Then, too, the cover at 

 Oxford is in many places so thick that it is quite impossible 

 to follow the beagles closely, and consequently only a frac- 

 tion of the work can be seen by the judges. This in a close 

 trace is apt to cause dissatisfaction. 



The arrangements for the comfort of the club members 

 .and their gnests were admirably carried out under the direc- 

 ition of Vice-President H. S. Joslin. The Bacon Hotel gave 

 ius a good breakfast at an early hour, and a hearty dinner 

 ■after the work of the day was over. Hot lunches were served 

 iin the field, and barges conveyed all who wished to ride to 

 and from the hunting grounds. The beagles were comfort- 

 ■ably kenneled in a barn near headquarters. 



Among the gentlemen present during the week were 

 T. W. Chapman, H. S. Joslin, Mark Lewis, A. D. Fiske, 

 E. O. Cornforth, Thomas Shallcross, Henry Hanson, H. V. 

 Jamioson, R. D. Perry, W. R. Dean, F. G. Stewart, O. F. 

 Joslin, W. S. Clark, F. W. Cielfield, O. J. Smith, Bradford 

 S. Turpin. Cassius Hoyle, A. W. Barber and many others. 



The judges, Geo. F. Reed and A. C. Krneger, did not at- 

 tempt to follow the beagles as closely as has been customary 

 in former trials. Their decisions, however, were well re- 

 ceived, except in the 15in. open class which Is spoken of else- 

 where. 



Among the winers are some previously unknown to fame. 

 Louie Fitz Lee, winner of first in the Derby, third in the 

 open class, and specials for the most effective ranging, great- 

 est sustained speed and best starter, is a handsomely marked, 

 strongly built white, black and tan dog. The record he has 

 made here has never been equalled. Buckshot, second in 

 the Derby, is a blue ticked dog, already fit to run in any 

 company "and sure to make a great record in the future. 

 Lady Novice, winner of the 13in. class, is a strongly built, 

 ha,ndsome little beagle of great intelligence. _ The other win- 

 ners a^e all well known and need no description. 



On Monday evening the annual meeting of the club was 

 held in the smoking room of Bacon's Hotel. President F. 

 W. Chapman was in the chair and the roll call was answered 

 by H, S. Joslin, H. V. Jamieson. Henry Hanson, Geo. F. 

 Reed, E. O. Cornforth, A. D. Fiske, Thos. Shallcross and 

 Bradford S. Turpin; the latter, in the absence of Secretary 

 Clark, was appointed secretary pro tern. After routine 

 business had been disposed of the election of officers for 1894 

 took place, with the following result: President, F. W. 

 Chapman; Vice-President, H. S Joslin; Secretary-Treasurer, 

 W. S. Clark; Executive Committee, A. D. Fiske and Henry 

 Hanson. 



It was voted that the N. E. B. C. should apply for mem- 

 bership in the A. K. C. as a field trial club, and that the time 

 of application shotild be left to the discretion of the execu- 

 tive committee. 



Bradford S. Turpin's resignation as a member of the field 

 trial committee was accepted, and Geo. F. Reed was elected 

 to fill the vacancy. The meeting then adjourned. 



The field trial committee was at once called to order, those 

 present being F. W. Chapman, H. S. Joslin, Henry Hanson, 

 Geo. F. Reed and H. V. Jamieson. It was voted that the 

 judges should name a reserve dog in eacb class in addition 

 to the winners of money prizes, and that the Derby should 

 be started on Tuesday morning. 



The beagles nominated in the various classes were then 

 called upon to fill. In the Derby H. L. Kreuder's Lee HI. 

 and Queen of the Forest, Henry Hanson's Olaf, Forest 

 Beagle Kennels' Clio, Glenrose Beagle Kennels' Ruin, and 

 Geo. F. Reed's Flash failed to appear. In Class A, H. L. 

 Kreuder's Grayburn Daisy and Glenrose Beagle Kennels' 

 Marguerite were absent^ but in Class B all the nominees 

 were present. 



The drawing in the various classes then took place. This 

 completed the work of the evening, and at a late hour the 

 field trial committee adjourned. 



TUESDAY. 



Tuesday morning was clear and cold, a heavy white frost 

 covered the ground and there was no wind. The day was an 

 excellent one for hunting, and the running in the Derby was 

 completed. The quality of the beagles competing in this 

 stake has never been equalled at any previous field trial, and 

 there were at least two hounds in the class that could easily 

 have defeated any former winners of this event. So evenly 

 were these matched that the judges found it difficult to 

 make a decision. One of them, Louie Fitz Lee, was run 

 nearly six hours during the day, and his rival, Buckshot, 

 was down for about four hours. The endurance of these 

 pups, combined with their splendid work, made a note- 

 worthy performance. 



The Derby. 



For dogs and bitches 15in. and under, whelped on or after 

 Jan 1, 1893. First prize S40, second $25, third $15: 



HAP Smith's Louie Fitz Lee (Fitzhugh Lee— Maid) 

 with Glenrose Beagle Kennels' Molly Dean (Sam— Baby 



^H^S Joslin's Jean Val Jean (Chubb— Mystic II.) with 

 Thos. Shallcross's Buckshot (Daye--Dai&T); 



Glenrose Beagle Kennels' Little Lee (Fitzhugh Lee— Dill) 

 with Rockland Beagle Kennels' Blanche (Frank Forrest— 



Ina). 



First Series. 



Louie Fitz Lee— Mollt Dean.— This brace was put down 

 at 8-00 on a side hill in Plaisted's pasture. Louie was handled 

 by Bradford S. Turpin and Molly by P. W. Chapman. Louie 

 covered his ground rapidly and showed great dash and hunt- 

 ing sense in his work. Molly did not work as well as she 

 did at Nanuet the previous week. In thick brush Louie 

 started a rabbit and drove to a stone wall, where the game 

 took to earth; Molly did not get on till the run was nearly 

 over Soon after two rabbits were put up by the spectators, 

 but the scent did not lie well and neither beagle could fol- 

 low Finally Henry Hanson, who has a happy faculty of 

 ium'pirig a rabbit whenever one is particularly needed, sup- 

 plied the game. Molly took the track first, but Louie car- 

 ried the rabbit under a stone wall, led off through thick 

 brush and marked the burrow where bunny sought refuge. 

 They were taken up at 10:00. 



Jean Val Je.vi^— Buckshot.— This couple was laid on at 



10- 07 the former in charge of E. F. Barnes and the latter 

 handled by Thomas Shallcross. After a long hunt in which 

 both beagles tougued, but neither could start, a rabbit was 

 jumped by a spectator. Jean was put on the track. Buck- 

 shot harked to him, and in a thicket where the judges could 

 hardly struggle ahead the beagles drove to a final loss. Then 

 Buckshot hit the track of another rabbit which had been 

 started by the crowd, but he could not carry it, nor could 

 Jean aid him. Judge Krueger was the next to supply a rab- 

 bit but this was also lost, and then for variety the beagles 

 succeeded in driving one across the field to a wall very pret- 

 tily, Buckshot leading. Taken up at 11:20. 



Little Lee— Bla^iche. — This brace was ordered down at 



11- 25 Lee was handled bv P. W. Chapman and Blanche by 

 Mark Lewis. Blanche, who is a larger and^stronger beagle 

 than Lee worked with more life than her competitor. The 

 scent was still poor and two rabbits were lost. The second 

 one, however, was driven for some distance by Blanche, 



while Little Lee struggled along far in the rear. Ordered up 

 at 13:05, 



This finished the running in the first series, and after lunch 

 at the Huguenot Monument, erected in memory of the 

 founders of the town of Oxford in 1687, the judges ordered 

 down the first brace in the 



Second Series. 



Louie Fitz Lee— Buckshot.— These rivals for first prize 

 were put down at 12:45. Judge Reed started a rabbit, but on 

 the dry leaves neither beagle could follow, and bunny was 

 safe without the necessity of running far. Worked to a large 

 alder swamp, Louie, who is a splendid starter, jutaped a rab- 

 bit. A long and very hot race followed in the swamp, where 

 the trailing was good. This rabbit was the very king of run- 

 ners, and though prpssed hard refused to go to'earth. Back 

 and forth through the swamp, now in the open and again iP 

 thick cover, he led the eager hounds. The judges could not 

 follow the brace, find from points of vantage on stumps and 

 stone walls saw what they could of this great run. During 

 the first part of the race Buckshot had the advantage, but 

 after that Louie did the better work, catching more tutus 

 and running at greater .speed than his rival. They were 

 taken up at 2:37 while still driving. 



Jean A^al Jean— MolltDean.— At 2:42 these beagles were 

 cast off on the track of a rabbit which .some enthusiastic 

 hunters had taken from a wall where it had taken refuge. 

 The brace drove a short distance and then were at fault in a 

 road, where they made a final loss. Drawn away to an old 

 orchard, a rabbit was seen in its form, and a hot race in thick 

 cover followed. It was possible to see only a small fraction 

 of the work. Taken up at 3:25. 



Louie Fitz Lee— Blanche.— They were put down in thick 

 cover at 8:25. A swamp and several pastures were worked 

 without result. Then a rabbit was bolted by a spectator, 

 Louie hit the track before Blanche, and had the best of the 

 race through the woods to an open field, where they lost. Up 

 at 4:30. 



Louie Fitz Lee— Buckshot.- This brace, which, had 

 already run together for nearly two hours, was put down 

 again at 4:30. They beat out their ground well and Louie 

 jumped a rabbit, which was lost after a short run. At 5:13, 

 when it was so dark that one beagle could be distin- 



THB FOXHOUND LOSAN. 



Winner of Principal Prizes at Brunswick Eur Club Trials, 189.3. 

 Owned by Messrs. B. F. Kinney and John iL wblte, Worcester, Mass. 



guished from the other with difficulty, they were ordered up. 



In the evening the judges made the awards, giving first to 

 Louie Fitz Lee, second to Buckshot, third to Blanche and 

 reserve to Jean Val Jean. 



WEDNESDAY. 

 The club was again favored with excellent hunting 

 weather. The day was still and cool, and the sky overcast 

 with clouds, so that the scent lay well. Game was not 

 found in as great abundance as on Tuesday and the entire 

 day was spent in running six couples. The first series in 

 Class A was completed and one brace was run in the second 

 series. 



Class A. 



For dogs and bitches, all ages, ISui. and over '1 Sin, , that 

 have not been placed first in any class at any field trials. 

 First prize $55, second prize $35, third prize $35. 



Rockland Beagle Kennels' Fanny Racer (Racer W.-^Nel- 

 lie) with E. O. Corntorth's Kitty (Rowdy — Music). 



H. A. P. Smith's Louie Fitz Lee (Fitzhugh Lee— Maid) 

 wit h Glenrose Beagle Kennels' Gypsy A. (Kenneally's Lee — 

 Tone). 



Middleton Kennels' Model (Stormy — Jime M.) with Forest 

 Beagle Kennels' Vick R. (Fitzhugh Lee— Nell). 



Thomas Shallcross'.-^ Daisy with Glenrose Beagle Kennels' 

 Jennie of Orland (Spot of Orland— Fanny S.). 



Rockland Beagle Kennels' Jack Bannerrhan (Bannerman 

 —Kate) a bye. 



First Series. 



Fanny R acer— KiTTV.—Thiscouplewascastoff on Clark's 

 farm at 8:05. Fanny was handled by Mark Lewis and Kitty 

 by her owner. E. O. Cornforth. Both worked well, but Kitty 

 was inclined to range where she pleased and paid little re- 

 gard to her handler- We had a long and tedious hunt 

 through thickets and pastures; Fanny who is inclined to be 

 noisy tonguing now and then but failing to make a start. 

 Finally on a swampy side hill a woodcock was flushed and 

 at the same time Fanny trailed very prettily to a start. The 

 rabbit was an excellent runner. Three times he circled the 

 large pastuae and for a half hotu" furnished good sport and 

 then was lost by the beagles. Much of this race was in 

 cover where it was impossible for the judges to see more 

 than a fraction of the work. Occasionally Fanny was seen 

 in the lead, but more often Kitty was in front cutting out 

 the work and setting a very fast pace, Ordered up at 9:20 



Louie Fitz Lee— Gypsy A. — Louie, the Derby winner, 

 notwithstanding his hard luck of yesterday was as full of 

 life and energy as ever, and covered his ground in the 

 splendid style characteristic of him. He was handled by 

 Bradford S. Turpin, and Gypsy A. was looked after by F. W'. 

 Chapman. The brace was cast off in cover at 9:25, and 

 working through a swampy thicket, Louie made game, 

 (jypsy was quickly with him and together they jumped a 

 rabbit which led "straight away for a stone wall, Louie 

 driving at great speed and leaving Gyp far in the rear. 

 Drawn away to thick cover, Louie trailed to a start and ran 

 the rabbit to earth before Gypsy was fairly started. The 

 beagles were then worked further into the cover and Louie 

 again started a rabbit which almost ran over Gyp, who was 

 40,yds. or more distant from her running mate; this fluke 

 gave her a long start but Louie quickly pahsed her and 

 drove the rabbit into a stone wall. Not long alter another 

 rabbit was seen by a spectator and the beagles were put on 

 the track. Gypsy hit ic first but could not hold her advan- 

 tage and Louie ran on even terms with her, driving the rab- 

 bit to earth. Up at 10:30. 



Fanny Rackk— Kitty.— At 10:45 these beagles were put 

 down for the second time that the judges might have an op- 

 portunity to see more of their work than was possible in the 



first race. They were cast off in a pasture and Kitty soon 

 hit a cold track which she worked to the wall. While she 

 was making it out the rabbit was jumped by the spectators 

 and in the race which followed Kitty was never overtaken. 

 She showed herself to be a clever and rapid worker. 'This 

 brace was taken up after a half hour's run. 



MODEL— Vick R.— These well known beagles were tiast off 

 in a pasture at 11:15. Model was in charee of Mark Lewis 

 and Vick R. of H. V. Jamieson. For forty-five minuties they 

 worked through a fine rabbit country without making a 

 start, and then the judges, catching sight oE the bmch 

 Wagon, ordered them up. Aftei- enjoying a hearty New Eng- 

 land lunch of baked beans, brown bread, doughnuts and cof- 

 fee, the hounds were again put down and once more the 

 weary hunt was resumed. The beagles became widely sepa- 

 rated and Vick jumped .a rabbit, ran him some distance, and 

 lost in an almost impenetrable swamp before Model could bb 

 got on the track. Both the handlers had to flounder through 

 the mud and water of the swamp to get their beagles, who 

 could not be called off. At last we all got out of the -wilder- 

 ness, and in a field overgrown with bushes and briers Mark 

 Lewis kindly jumped a rabbit. Model at first ran alone; 

 then Vick struck in with him, worked a fling handsomely at 

 the stone wall, and led the way across the pasture to a heap 

 of stones, where the rabbit went to earth. Vick drove at a 

 good pace and Model was content to follow. They were 

 taken up at 2:15. 



Daisy— Jennie of Ori^antj.— This brace was ordered down 

 at 2:35 at the place where the last brace had forced their rab- 

 liit to take to his burrow. Both were handled by their own- 

 ers, Thomas Shallcross and F. W. Chapman. For a few 

 moments the hounds amused themselves by running the old 

 track. Then they were drawn away to another section of 

 the brush field, where Daisy trailed to a start. The race that 

 followed was a short one. Jennie was the faster of the pair, 

 but neither did well, and the rabbit was soon lost. They 

 were taken up at 3:12. 



Jack Bannerman (a bye). The bye, handled by Mark 

 Lewis, was put down at 3:20 to run with Kitty. They were 

 worked through the brush field, where nothing was found, 

 ,and then away to a side hill thickly covered with alders. 

 Here the beagles quickly jumped a i-abbit for whom the 

 hounds had no terrors, and who absolutely refused to take to 

 his burrow. A pretty race was run in the cover, but portions 

 of it only could be seen Kitty was the faster and seemed to 

 have the best of it, though Jack caught a number of turns 

 and was in the race all the time. At 4, while still running, 

 they were ordered up and the handlers had a lively scramble 

 in catching the gamy brace, who were driving like mad on 

 the hot trail. This race finished the running in the first 

 series. 



Second Series. 



Gypsy A.— Vick R.— This couple was put down in oak 

 woods at 4:12 and a rabbit was immediately started by H. V. 

 Jamieson. Vick drove alone for some time and lost, and 

 Gypsy refused to take the track, though started with Vick. 

 The rabbit made one circle and then went to ground in a 

 culvert. An unsuccessful effort was made to get him out, 

 and then the beagles were started again in another part of 

 the woods. Gypsy soon jumped a rabbit and led through 

 the valley and across the nmd into thick cover. Here anoth'er 

 rabbit was started by the tonguing of the excited beagles. 

 Each hound took one and both were driven to earth. Taken 

 up at 4:40. The driving in this race was very fast, the scent 

 lay well and the tonguing of the beagles was as regular as 

 clockwork — a most enjoyable run. 



THURSDAY. 



The clouds which threatened rain on Wednesday evening 

 disappeared during the night and Thursday proved to be an 

 excellent hunting day. The scent lay well, rabbits were 

 found in plenty and the running in both the open classes 

 was completed. 



Louie Frrz Lee— Kitty. — This brace was put down on 

 Huguenot Hill at 8:08 and was handled as in the first series 

 Louie, comparatively unacquainted with his handler, covered 

 his ground at a pace which made it difficult to keep track of 

 him in the thicket, and was under little control. Kitty 

 worked carefully and with less speed than she displayed on 

 M^ednesday. A rabbit was jumped by Judge Krueger and 

 the beagles were ordered to this place. There was a long 

 wait to find Louie, and when he was brought to the starting 

 point the scent was cold. The hounds trailed slowly through 

 thick cover to an open field, where the track was lost, the 

 work being very even and without advantage to either. 

 Soon a second rabbit was jumped by a spectator. The hounds 

 were called up and put on the hot track. Louie worked the 

 turns and led the chase to a ledge where the rabbit went to 

 earth. Taken up at 9:05. 



This race finished the running in the 15in. class and in 

 the evening the judges announced the winners. First went 

 to Gypsy A., second to Vick R., third to Louie Fitz Lee and 

 reserve to Kitty. These awards we:e a decided surprise and 

 occasioned much adverse criticism and dissatisfaction. It 

 was difficult to see in what respect Gypsy A. was superior to 

 Louie Fitz Lee and Vick R., and no one could understand 

 why the latter should have been placed over Louie without 

 meeting him in either series. It was surely an injustice to 

 the Nova Scotia beagle, and was not in accordance with the 

 field trial rules, which provide that the first and .second and 

 second and third prize winners shall run together. 



Class B. 



For dogs and bitches, all ages, 13in. and under that have 

 not been placed first in any class at any field trials. First 

 prize ^^30, second KO, third $15. 



Rockland Beagle Kennels' Lou (Keno— Fly) with Glenrose 

 Beagle Kennels' Molly Dean (Sam— Baby Dean). 



_ . ^-Beagle 



Kennels' Gypsy Forest (Frank Forest — Sue Forest). 



First Series. 



Molly Dean— Lou. — At 9:17 this brace was cast off in a 

 pasture. F. W. Chapman handled Molly, and Lou was in 

 charge of Mark Lewis. Lou started off in the careful, 

 methodical style characteristic of her, but Molly showed 

 little spirit and interest in her work. Mark Lewis started a 

 rabbit, and when the beagles were put on together Lou 

 caught the .scent first, but neither could carry it any distance 

 on the dry leaves. A second rabbit was jumped by Mark 

 Lewis and again the hounds were unable to drive. Once 

 more they were put on the hot track and this time they suc- 

 ceeded in running a short race, Lou doing most of the lead- 

 ing and working the turns prettily. Taken up at 9:55. 



Little Lee— Lady Novice. — This brace was laid on at 

 10:00 where the last couple had been taken up. Lee was 

 handled by F. W. Chapman and the interests of Lady were 

 looked after by Mr. Morse. Lady was a merry, rapid worker 

 under excellent control; Lee showed some interest in liis 

 work, but is too small for a field trial performer. After 

 working thiough several fields Lady Novice trailed to a start 

 and until the run was over did all the work, Little Lee being 

 unable to come up with her in the briers. The rabbit was 

 driven into a stone \vall. The br.ace was ordered up at 10:33. 



Adam— Gypsy Forest.— At 10;40 this lively couple was 

 put down in a field covered with tall weeds. Both worked 

 well, the former in charge of Mark Lewis and the latter of 

 H. V. Jamieson. Gypsy soon trailed to a start and away 

 went the game— either a fox or a rabbit— straight thi-oiigii 

 the field, across the road and down into a .strip of woodland, 

 where two foxhounds joined the chase and the beagles were 

 caught off. In this race the little howftds ya^i a,t a, ^4Uipg 



