June 23, 1894. j 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



■ 3 U 



After Wildcats on a Creole Pony. 



Btjrntside, La,.— Editor Forest and Stream: In the Forest 

 and Stream of March 24 1 notice that you say, in answer to 

 a correspondent, who asks vou if the wildcats in Massachu- 

 setts could be hunted with hounds like a fox, that wildcats 

 would tree. Down here in the swamps of Louisiana I don't 

 find this to be the case, for, out of a dozen wildcats that we 

 have killed this winter, only one took to a tree; and as this 

 was at night, I imagined that the dogs must have surprised 

 him at his supper, and that his only escape was up a tree. It 

 may be that the wildcats which inhabit our woods and 

 swamps are different from the wildcats of Massachusetts. 

 I am only familiar with our wildcat. 



The wildcats which we have down here are big, bobtail 

 fellows with a mottled gray and black fur, and they are very 

 long and slim-bodied. The last cat we killed measured 36in. 

 from the tip of nose to the end of tail, and weighed about 25- 

 lbs. I think that these cats are more than a match for one 

 dog. Their array of teeth is quite formidable, and their 

 claws are strong and sharp enough to make some pretty deep 

 furrows in the hide of the first dogs that run into them, when 

 brought to bay, while their ability to give a pack a fairly 

 good race, in our thick southern s'wamps, is unquestionable. 



If a man loves the music of the hounds, and a wild rough 

 and tumble ride through the canebrakes on a wiry Creole 

 pony, let him come down here and join us in one of our ex- 

 citing cat hunts next winter. At that season the big swamps 

 are dry and free from snakes. The early mornings are 

 frosty, and the canebrakes and brier patches along the edges 

 of the swamps are full of wildcats, great big fellows, which, 

 with the natural advantages which the wild cane and briers 

 afford, give us a fine chase and a rough ride. Of course the 

 riding would be slow to a man accustomed to an open coun- 

 try, and to a good hunter. But it is great sport, nevertheless, 

 to a man who enjoys the pleasure to be gotten from hearing 

 a pack of hounds in full cry. Then, too, there is the splen- 

 did exercise to be had from riding an excitable and fiery lit- 

 tle pony through the thick brush, scrambling over canals 

 and across bayous full of mud of unknown depth; jumping 

 logs, and rushing headlong into canebrakes which can only 

 be gotten through by the main strength of the pony and by 

 his general ability to kick and struggle through any 

 sort of thicket or canebrake that you ride him into. And 

 then, too, a friendly rivalry exists between the hunters as to 

 who will get a shot at the wildcat as it runs ahead of the 

 pack, which adds zest to the sport. 



It is certainly rough sport, but all the better, I think, for 

 its roughness. There is no artificiality about a cat hunt. It 

 is better than our Maryland drag hunts, although the pace 

 is not so fast, nor is the riding so exciting as in a chase after 

 a bag, but for me there is more real sport in one of our wild- 

 cat hunts— though I do not intend to decry drag hunts, which 

 afford so much pleasure to such numbers of men who have 

 no other way of getting any sport. 



This is my first season of wildcat hunting, although I 

 have hunted deer for several winters in the swamps down 

 here. We were driven to hunting cats by necessity, for the 

 great overflows in the last two years, coupled with the indis- 

 criminate chasing and shooting of deer, both in and out of 

 season, have almost exterminated the deer in this section of 

 Louisiana. We had to have some sort of sport, and we found 

 cat hunting a great deal of fun. And our deer hunting will 

 be improved in future if we leave off hunting them, for the 

 deer are coming back to our swamps again, and in a few 

 years we may have as many deer as we ever had, provided 

 the swamps are not overflowed this summer. 



At first our great trouble was to get hounds that would 

 trail a cat, for our hounds were trained only on deer, and 

 they would never notice a cat track. Finally we bought four 

 hounds that had been used for hunting wildcats, and after a 

 few chases under their leadership, we got our whole pack 

 into cat hunting form. 



We have had some glorious chases this past winter. Of 

 course you will understand that in such thick cover the chase 

 would not be so very fast. But still it is quite fast enough, 

 and especially so when you happen to get your pony stuck 

 fast in a tangle of vines, then the chase seems very fast, for 

 the music of the pack seems to die away very quickly and it 

 is soon lost to hearing. Our hunt lasts two or three hours, 

 for the dogs often have to trail for a mile, before they jump 

 the cat. Then follows a hot chase, which ends in the cat 

 being shot, as he runs before the dogs, by some hard riding 

 hunter; or else the pack runs him down and brings him to 

 bay; then a lively scrimmage ensues, which ends in the 

 death of poor puss and a few bites and scratches for his con- 

 querors. When the cat is jumped, he generally makes a 

 straight run for some favorite brier patch or thick cane- 

 brake. After dodging about in his favorite thicket for a 

 while, and finding that the dogs continue the chase, he makes 

 for another piece of cover; and keeps up these tactics of 

 dodging from canebrake to canebrake and from brier patch 

 to brier patch, until the chase ends as I have described. In 

 the thickets he has some advantage over the hounds, for 

 with his slim body he can slip along quickly through wild 

 canes and briers, where the dogs can scarcely squeeze them- 

 selves through. But the scent is good, and once the cat is 

 up and going before the pack, the chase is rarely ever broken 

 by a check. 



We have 18 hounds in all, old and young; but next season 

 we hope to start our first cat with at least 25 fairly good 

 hounds. Our hounds are black and tan in color, with very 

 long drooping "ears that sweep away the morning dew." 

 These dogs have splendid pluck and endurance, and I have 

 never heard a more musical cry. To hear this pack of hounds 

 in full cry after a deer or a wildcat, will make a man forget 

 all his troubles. In the excitement of such & chase, we can 

 only rejoice that we have the health and strength to enjoy 

 the sport. 



One day last J anuary, after the tedious and weary season 

 of sugar making was over, and we were free once more to 

 shoot and hunt to our heart's content, we decided to open the 

 next morning with a wildcat hunt. About 5 o'clock, Ory, 

 my stableman, rapped on my door and told me that my pony 

 was saddled and that Blount had the hounds ready. It did 

 not take us very long to get into our hunting clothes and to 

 drink a small cup of Creole coffee made by an oldtime Creole 

 cook. This is the sort of coffee that Millie made for Mr. 

 Hough, when he was down in Opelousas last year. One tiny 

 cup of this delicious black coffee is worth a dozen big cups 

 of the slop that is called coffee in the North and West. 



We were soon on our ponies. The moon was just going 

 down, the stars were shining brightly, and a faint streak of 

 red in the East heralded the coming day. A glorious white 

 frost was glistening on the grass in the moonlight, and the 

 air was cold and still, an ideal morning to listen to the music 

 of the hounds. Our road to the swamps was across the plan- 

 tations, a straight stretch for three miles. My pony, a small 

 one, with a blaze face and a bobtail, was full of fire and ex- 

 citement, and 1 was soon thoroughly warmed up by the 

 -efforts to restrain her wild desire to lead the cavalcade 

 of ponies and the pack of dogs. When we reached the old 

 fields in the rear of the plantations, the dogs scattered about 

 .and began to hunt in the patches of blackberry briers, and 

 to snuff along the old dead logs covered with frost. It is in 

 these old fields and brier patches that puss spends the night 

 rambling about in searcn of rabbits and rats, which are its 

 principal food. 



We stopped and watched the hounds as they circled about 

 the field. Presently old Vic, a black, white and tan hound, 

 raised her old black muzzle, all scarred by numerous con- 

 flicts with wildcats, and a soft, mellow whimper floated on 

 the air. She is one of the hounds we bought, and it was 

 under her leadership mainly that we taught our pack to 

 hunt cats. Scarcely had the sound of her first whimpering ' 



cry . died away before all the rest of the dogs came to her, 

 and then all began to snuff about in the tall, frost-covered 

 weeds. In a moment or two Ruler, a big, gaunt black and 

 tan hound, opened on the trail, and his voice sounded deep 

 and bell-like on the frosty atmosphere as he trotted forward 

 on the trail with his tail carried well up in the air. There is 

 no trail so cold that this old dog cannot puzzle it out; and he 

 can carry a cold trail fast, too. But this time it needed no 

 cold-trailer to work out the trail, and with a rush the pack 

 was off. We trotted along behind them holding our excited 

 ponies well in hand. The trail led into a thick canebrake. 

 Suddenly there was a perfect crash of hound music and puss 

 was up and going for dear life before the wild chorus of the 

 excited pack. 



Then every one had to look out for himself. It is the man 

 that knows the swamp the best who hears and sees the 

 most of the chase. The cat on this occasion took a straight 

 line for a big brier patch in an old clearing about half a mile 

 away from the place where we jumped him. He led the 

 dogs through some very thick canebrakes, which hindered 

 them a good deal, but which were almost impassable for 

 the ponies, so that by the time we had struggled through 

 some canebrakes and picked our way across a piece of boggy 

 swamp full of big logs the pack of hounds were almost out 

 of our hearing. But we could hear Blount's ringing cheers 

 as he rode through the brush somewhere near the dogs. 

 Blount knows the swamps by heart and he knows how to 

 get around all the big canes and so keep near the dogs. 

 Soon we heard the dogs coming in our direction, so we 

 headed our ponies into a canebrake, and by good luck and 

 much plunging and struggling on the part of the ponies, all 

 the while, however, encouraged to do or die by the ever 

 increasing music of the fast approaching pack, we got 

 through; and as we struggled through the brake and came 

 into the opening, the pack of yelping hounds crossed the 

 clearing just ahead of us. 



We dashed after them on our ponies, and with wild yells 



AFTER THE RUN. 



cheered them on. This unexpected noise was too much for the 

 cat, so he bolted into the big brake through which we had 

 just come, and attempted to leave it on the other side. But 

 Blount, coming up on that side, headed him back. Soon all 

 the hunters came up, and as they came in from every direc- 

 tion the brake was soon quite surrounded by men. Round 

 and round the brake went the cat, and close behind him 

 came the dogs, all scattered now; but each dog doing his 

 best to force nis way through the dense thicket of wire canes. 



On the outside of the brake the men were whooping, yell- 

 ing and laughing, as they madly raced their ponies around 

 the edge of the canes, each man trying to get a glimpse of 

 the cat, if by chance it should attempt to break out of the 

 thicket. Back and forth, round and round went the cat, 

 and all the while that glorious music was being poured into 

 our ears. This way and that way the men were going on 

 their ponies, both ponies and men now thoroughly spotted 

 with mud, while the dead canes popped and cracked like fire- 

 crackers under the hoofs of the ponies. Every man was 

 eager to get a shot and so to end the chase. Suddenly a 

 piercing yell was heard, followed by a confusing sound of 

 yelps, snarls and growls; and we knew then, that a glorious 

 and exciting chase had ended in a victory for the hounds. 

 Those of us who were nearest jumped from our ponies and 

 made our way through the wired canes and briers to where 

 we heard the snarling and growling pack. In a few 

 moments we were at the spot and there we found that the 

 dogs were holding poor dead puss up off from the ground, 

 and each dog tugging away fiercely. After all the dogs had 

 had their fill of worrying the dead cat, the cat was tied on 

 behind a saddle, the horn was blown and away we went 

 home to a good hot breakfast. 



I send you a very good photograph of a dead wildcat and 

 some half-grown hound puppies. This was their first scent 

 of the game. The photograph was taken by Mr. C. S. Mac 

 Farland. W. P. M., Jr. 



[The wildcat of Louisiana is a form of Lynx rufus, which 

 is abnndant all through the South.] 



Toronto Dog Show. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



From present prospects the sixth annual bench show of 

 the Toronto Industrial Exhibition Association, to be held at 

 Toronto in September, promises to be one of the best ever 

 held in the city. A large number of exhibitors from Canada 

 and the United States have signified their intention of 

 exhibiting. I am now busy compiling my premium lists 

 and would request that all those intending to donate specials 

 will communicate with me immediately, so that I can insert 

 same into the lists. Have just about completed railway and 

 express arrangements, which I expect to publish next week. 



C. A. Stone, Sec'y-Supt. of Bench Show. 



Toronto, Can., June 13. 



Mr. Noel Money has purchased from Mr. J. C. Johnson's 

 kennel at Ludlow, England, the foxhound bitch Active. 

 She came over in charge of Spratts Co. , and is said to be 

 heavy in whelp. She comes from a good country. 



DOG CHAT. 



The Seminoje Kennels' new place seems to be admirably 

 adapted for the increased accommodations' this well-known 

 kennel now requires. In breeding and raising Irish setters 

 and collies plenty of room and shade are indispensable. The 

 kennels, which are situated at the Fairview Farm, Chestnut 

 Hill, Pa., are now almost finished; they are set in an inclos- 

 ure 250ft. square and surrounded by a high fence. This is 

 divided into two sections, one for the Irish setters and the 

 other for collies. Five houses on the southeast side are 

 divided into stalls to accommodate four to six Irish setters 

 and similar buildings are prepared for the collies on the 

 southwest side of the inclosure. Excellent spring water is 

 supplied by a windmill on the grounds. The cook house has 

 been erected in the center of the grounds and this is fitted 

 up with all the improvements necessary in a large and well 

 regulated kennel. In this building is also a bath tub. Ad- 

 joining the main inclosure are two other buildings, which 

 are reserved for pugs and the more celebrated collies of the 

 kennel. Near the kennels and facing Mt. Airy avenue an 

 office has been erected. With "Will" Conners at the wheel, 

 assisted by Edward Woodley, Seminole Kennels expect to 

 take a still higher and more important position inkenneldom 

 than they already have attained. 



Mr. James L. Little, of Brookline, Mass , whose kennel of 

 Scottish terriers promises to be a healthy competitor of the 

 now facile prineeps Wankie Kennels, has made a good move 

 in securing a well known young dog, Bellingham Bailiff, 

 from Mr. C. H. Wood, of Newport, Monmouthshire, Eng. 

 This dog is but two years old, but his firsts at such shows as 

 Darlington, Berwick and Bath among several others, pro- 

 claim his worth. He is said to have a capital head and coat 

 and great bone and terrier character. He is by Whiustone 

 out of Glentilt, which shows that with such blood in his 

 veins he should be very valuable for stud purposes. 



Mr. Chas. E. Bunn, the well known mastiff breeder of 

 Peoria, 111., has just completed a new kennel building 

 which, from the plans he ha 1 * sent us, seems to be a very 

 practical one. The building is set on top of a hill in the 

 midst of thirty acres of grass. Under the main roof, which 

 is amply supplied with light and ventilation, is a passage- 

 way 10ft. wide, at each side of which are fifteen stalls, each 

 6 x 8ft. and covered by an inside roof, thus assuring cool, 

 comfortable kennels for the dogs. There, is also a cook room 

 20 x 20ft. and an office 16 x 20ft. In front of the stalls, facing 

 the inside driveway or passage, are wire partitions, the par- 

 titions between stalls being solid. There is a window in each 

 stall and the doors open on the outside of the building into 

 separate yards. Mr. Bunn has reduced his kennel and now 

 has merely the stock he requires for breeding. He has now 

 six bitches in whelp. He has also taken up another fancy- 

 fox-terriers, or, as he puts it in his letter, "Am fooling a lit- 

 tle with fox-terriers; have two pups I may surprise the boys 

 with next spring." 



The latest recruit to the ranks of the collie fancy is Mr. W. 

 T. Ford, of Cohoes, N. Y. After Chicago show in March 

 last, it will be remembered we mentioned the fact of his pur- 

 chase from Messrs. McEwen & Gibson of the young black 

 and white dog Scotsman, reserve at that show. This dog 

 also won first and special at Detroit in 1893. Another stud 

 dog is Laird by Metchley W onder II out of Dawn. Owing 

 to a misunderstanding with a mowing machine, in which he 

 lost three hind toes, this dog has not faced a judge, though 

 he is said to be a good one. Mr. Ford has selected several 

 good brood bitches, and with evident forethought in regard 

 to their breeding. He has Madge by Highlander ex Floss. 

 She won as a puppy at Boston. Another is Christine by- 

 champion Christopher ex Jess. She was second in puppy 

 class at Toronto in 1892, She now has a nice litter by Yard- 

 ley Fox that was second to Sef ton Hero at Detroit this year. 

 Helen Douglas is another well-bred matron. She is by 

 Great Alne Douglas out of Wellesbourne Lady, and was also 

 a winner in the puppy class at Boston. Mr. Ford has now 

 about 17 collies in his new kennels, and has registered them 

 as " Wilford" Kennels. He is a member of the Collie Club, an 

 Associate of the A. K. C, and with these credentials we wel- 

 come him to the whirl of dogdom. He will begin the cam- 

 paign at the Cranston, R. I., show. 



The new advertisements that we call attention to this 

 week are Seminole Kennels fine array of stud dogs, both 

 collies, Irish setters and pugs, and Charles E. Bunn also has 

 four mastiffs in the stud. Wilton Kennels offer for sale a 

 well-bred fox-terrier bitch in whelp; Charles E. Bunn, two 

 litters of fox-terriers; Edward Booth, two prize winning St. 

 Bernards; J. H. Whistler, collie pups; Wheatley, Skye ter- 

 rier pups; Box 43, St. Bernard dog. We also draw attention 

 to the loss of John H. Steele's English setter. 



The outlook for a busy field trial season this fall is not 

 very promising judging by the Derby entry lists so far 

 received. It is to be regretted that the Philadelphia Kennel 

 Club is compelled to cancel its trials this year, the entry 

 received for their Derby, while not large, is equal to that of 

 the Eastern Field Trial Club. Fieid trials are more or less 

 of a luxury to many owners of dogs, and luxuries are only 

 enjoyed this year by the Senatorial drones. Next year the 

 dogmen may get a chance. 



The New England Kennel Club is considering a change in 

 its constitution and by-laws, and to this end appointed a 

 committee at the last monthly meeting. 



The following notification of the latest move in the Mercer 

 vs. Mills case for libel was sent to Dr. Mills by his counsel, 

 Messrs. O'Gara, MacTavish & Gemmell: "Our counsel ad- 

 vised us of the judgment in this case, merely stating that the 

 Common Pleas held that the question determined by the 

 Chief Justice in your favor was one that, under the practice 

 of our courts, should have been submitted to a jury, and that 

 the Chief .Justice erred in withdrawing it from the consider- 

 ation of the jury." This does not settle the case by any 

 means, and is not a judgment in favor of the plaintiff further 

 than that the case must go to a jury. This, we understand, 

 will be in September next. 



Our smooth fox-terrier breeders have not been doing much 

 importing lately, but we learn, suJj rosa, that one of the 

 principal kennels not a hundred miles from New York has 

 given carte blanche for the purchase of two bitches and are 

 nibbling at a crack young dog that came out this year onthe 

 other side. If successful these importations will serve to 

 liven things up a bit at the fall shows. 



John Armstrong, brother to "Bob," so well known in con- 

 nection with Mr. Pierpont Morgan's kennels, now has charge 

 of Mr. T. G. Davey's field dogs and will prepare them for the 

 fall trials. Mr. Armstrong came to this country last winter 

 with a good record as a trainer, and we trust he will meet 

 with the success his knowledge and correct bearing entitle 

 him to. 



Mr. W. W. Titus expects to start for Dakota, July 1, with 

 the dogs he has in training. 



We are indebted to Dr. Lougest for a full report of the 

 proceedings in the Fallon — Lougest (Beaufort's Prince) 

 case. We have, however, already published the main 



