FOREST AND • STREAM. 
["Jan. So, 1886. 
WINTER MEET OF THE BRUNSWICK 
FUR CLUB. 
The seventh annual winter meet of the Brunswick Fur 
Club was held at Brunswick, Me., during the week of 
Jan. 13. The meet was a successful one. The club head- 
quarters were at the Tontine Hotel, where everything 
possible was done for the accommodation of the visitors. 
Too much praise cannot be given to the club members 
residing in Brunswick for the many courtesies heaped 
upon their club mates and visitors, and to their efforts is 
due the pleasure of the week. 
Foxes were easily found and the hunting conditions 
were unusually favorable for midwinter. A little more 
snow would have been an advantage, but the weather was 
excellent and there was no room for fault finding. 
The work of the hounds was good. Clay, the veteran 
of many a hard chase and field trial, was hunted every 
day, and. bore himself as gallantly as in the past. Bonnie 
ran as true as ever. Billy was in the thick of the fight 
each day. Jerry showed great endurance, and had the 
happy faculty of getting into most of the runs whenever 
he was hunted. Piper showed some wonderful bursts of 
speed, and almost every hound in the pack earned words 
of praise at one time or another. 
Among the sportsmen present during the week were: 
Dr. A. C. Heffenger, W. A. Bragdon, Portsmouth, N. H.; 
J. W. Jones, Needham, N. H.: H. A. Dwelle, Weston, 
Mass.; L. E. Conant, W. B. Stone, Waltham, 'Mass.; F. 
C. Mower, Auburn, Me.; E. H. Bragg, North Sidney, Me.; 
A, B. McGregor, Poland, Me.; Bradford S. Turpin, Rox- 
bury, Mass. ; G. S. Ellis, Portland, Me. ; Allen Chamber- 
lain, Boston, Mass. ; F. W. Noyes, C. A. Chandler, Nathan 
Stewart, H. C. Harmon, Ed Barker, Gorham, N. H, ; S. 
L. Adams, Minneapolis, Minn.; Geo. Johnson, Bailey's 
Island; E. M. Snow, F. E. Roberts, S. Knight. Jr., H. A. 
Stetson, H. J. Given, E. A. Graves, F. P. Shaw, Hon. C. 
J. Gilman, W. A. Stetson, E. S. Bodwell, Edgar Barron, 
Melville Thomas, A. G. Hall, Capt. E, B. Nickerson, 
Brunswick, Me.; A. McDonald, Rockland, Me.; Marshall 
Parks, Bradford, N. H. 
The hounds at the meet were: 
White Oak Hill Kennels' b., w. and t. dogs Clay and 
Duke (Gcodman), and b., w. and t. bitches Sunmaid (July) 
and Frisky (July — Goodman). 
F. C. Mower's blue mottled bitch Gypsy (Buckfield). 
M. Park's tan dog Billy (native). 
A. W. McDonald's b. and t. dog Texas Jack and b. 
and t. bitch Queen (natives). 
L. E. Conant's b. , w. and t. bitch Nancy (native) and b. 
and t. dog Bonnie (Conant). 
E. A. Graves's b. and t. dog Hunter (native). 
E. E. Barker's b., w. and t. dog Rex (imported from 
France). 
N. Stewart's b., w. and t. dog Bud (English — Cook). 
W. A. Bragdon's b., w. and t. dog Piper (Walker) and 
b. and w. dogs Minstrel (native — English) and Dock 
(Walker). 
H. J. Given's blue ticked dog Jerry (native). 
F. H. Wilson's blue ticked dogs Banker and Wonder 
(natives). 
W. H. Stetson's b., w. and t. dog Golden Rod (Cook). 
G. F. Smith's b., w. and t. dog Boney (native). 
President Heffenger called the annual meeting to order 
at 8 6'clock on Monday evening. Secretary's and Treas- 
urer's reports were accepted. The club is in a good finan- 
cial condition, Following is the list of the official fox- 
hound judges of the club: Messrs. John Davidson, Roger 
D. Williams, A. C. Heffenger, J. M, Taylor and Joseph 
Lewis. The election resulted as follows: President, Dr. 
A. C. Heffenger; Vice-Presidents, L. O. Dennison, S. 
Knight, Jr., O. F. Joslin; Master of Hounds, R. D. Perry; 
Secretary, Bradford S. Turpin; Treasurer, W. A. Bragdon; 
Executive Committee, A. B. F. Kinney, A. G. Hall, G. W. 
Pierce, A. McDonald. 
F. J. Hagan, Louisville, Ky., was elected an active 
member of the club, and H. L. Aldrich, Sheldonville, 
Mass., and W. H. Flagg, Waltham, Mass., were chosen 
honorary members. 
The week of Oct. 19 was selected for the field trials. 
H. J. Given was appointed M. F. H. to serve during R, D. 
Perry's absence. President Mower, of the Monmouth Fur 
Club, made a brief speech, inviting all B. F. C. members 
to the annnal hunt of his club, to be held at Dixfield, Me., 
during the week of Jan. 27. 
L. E. Conant, H. J. Given and Geo. E. Carr were ap- 
pointed the Committee on Membership. R. D. Perry, 
Bradford S. Turpin, W. B. Stone, A, B. F. Kinney and A. 
McDonald were chosen as the Committee on Field Trial 
Grounds. O. F. Joslin, N. Q. Pope, W. A. Bragdon, H. 
A. Stetson and W. R. Dean were appointed to select field 
triel judges. 
Hon. C. J. Gilman, of Brunswick, made an address of 
welcome. 
t Tuesday. 
The club was favored with a perfect day for a winter 
hunt. There was no wind, the thermometer was about 
at the freezing point, and an inch or two of snow covered 
the ground. The hunt took place in Topsham, in the sec- 
tion of country known as the "Undivided." It is a beau- 
tiful hunting ground, partially wooded with spruce and 
pine, and giving many opportunities in the open pastures 
and clearings to view the chase. 
Four foxes were started during the day. The first one 
jumped was driven prettily by Bonnie, Nancy, Hunter, 
Billy and Texas Jack. They followed him for an hour 
before any one got a shot. Then Mr. Conant was the 
lucky man, but he did not succeed in stopping the fox, 
though he hit him hard. The hounds were close behind, 
and it was thought that they would run down the fox, but 
he escaped. 
While this chase was going on a second fox was started 
by Duke, Clay, Sunmaid, Frisky, Piper, Dock and Min- 
strel. He ran but a few minutes when Mr. Parks secured 
a shot, failed to kill and the fox quickly went to earth. 
Another fox was started later in the day by Frisky, but 
how the chase ended is unknown. 
A fourth fox was jumped by Gypsy and was doubtless 
shot by an unknown outside hunter. 
During the day Clay broke through the ice while cross- 
ing a small river and narrowly escaped drowning. 
Wednesday. 
The day was clear and cold, but the enjoyment of the 
chase was greatly diminished by the high wind, which 
made it impossible to hear the hounds unless they were 
directly to windward. Foxes were easily found, but the 
hunt as a whole was dull. Part of the hunters went to 
Rocky Hill and others to the grounds that were hunted on 
Tuesday. On the Freeport road, on the extreme eastern 
boundary of the Rocky Hill grounds, Gypsy was cast off 
alone. The little Buckfield hound soon trailed to a start 
and jumped a fox which refused to give the hunters any 
sport at all. He led off through the Thousand Acre 
Swamp and nothing more was heard of the chase during 
the day. 
At the west end of the grounds two foxes were started. 
Billy drove one prettily along the banks of the Andros- 
coggin far to the south. Finally Reynard turned to the 
west, but only to go to earth at the first opportunity. Tke 
other fox was followed by Hunter and Jerry. He crossed 
the Durham road safely, though a number of hunters 
were on the lookout for him, but a few minutes later 
George Johnson brought him to bag. The fox proved to 
be a remarkably handsome one — a woods gray with 
glossy black ears, legs and brush. 
Further north Bud and Rex started a fox from the first 
thicket they entered. He ran to the southward and the 
chorus was soon swelled by the voices of Hunter and 
Jerry, who barked to the running hounds. When he 
crossed the Durham road E, A. Graves fired at him, but 
failed to score. The chase led away toward the Andros- 
coggin, where the pack was thrown off and made a com- 
plete loss. 
Far to the south Wonder, Banker and Gyp started two 
foxes. Gyp drove one far out of hearing, and did not 
bring him back. Wonder and Banker followed the other 
for some time and supplied some excitement for the 
sportsmen in that vicinity. 
Meantime Sunmaid, Clay, Frisky, Dock and Minstrel 
had been cast off in Topsham and were having the best 
run of the day. For seven hours the chase continued, 
and then a farmer put an end to the fun by wounding 
the fox. He was probably run into by the hounds and 
killed. 
Mr. Johnson's fox was on exhibition in the evening and 
excited general admiration. It was a vixen and weighed 
9£lbs., and put its owner in the lead for the handsome 
sJcis offered as a prize for the largest fox. 
Thursday. 
The morning was clear and still, with the thermometer 
8° below zero. The bitter cold, however, did not last long, 
and by noon the mercury stood at 20° above. The day 
was a comfortable one, as there was no wind. 
All the hunters went to Rocky Hill, and the hounds 
were put in on both sides of the Durham road. Two foxes 
were jumped on the west side. Nancy and Jerry took 
one, and made a pretty drive along the river bank. The 
fox was shot by an outsider. Meantime Billy and Bonnie 
drove the other across the Androscoggin River and to the 
grounds in Topsham, where the first day's hunt occurred. 
The race was one of the best of the week, and continued 
till sunset. Then his brush was captured by a local .hunter. 
Clay, Frisky, Sunmaid, Piper, Dock and Golden Rod 
were cast off on the east side of the Durham road. Piper 
and Dock drove a fox for an hour or more, and finally 
ran him to a loss. The others, joined by Nancy and 
Jerry, had an exciting chase in the Thousand Acre 
Swamp, and at last brought the fox within range of E. 
A. Graves. He improved the opportunity and captured a 
vixen weighing 9£lbs. He also won the 25-cent pool 
which had been made up for the hunter who secured the 
first brush. Mr. Johnson killed the first fox, but was not 
in the pool. 
In the evening the club was entertained with banjo, 
guitar and mandolin music, and the fun lasted till a late 
hour. 
Fridav. 
Another perfect hunting day much warmer than 
Thursday. The Th ousand Acre Swamp was the scene of 
the hunt. There was no trouble in finding game and the 
music began almost as soon as the hounds were cast off. 
Banker, Wonder and Boney started two foxes which ran 
for some distance together, but no one was fortunate 
enough to see them and the chance to make a double was 
lost. Meantime Clay, Billy, Nancy and Hunter were 
driving a fox toward Quaker village. They pressed him 
hard and finally drove him to earth after a two hours' 
race. They then started another fox, but quickly lost him. 
This was a handsome fellow that looked almost black 
when running. 
The meet was now at an end. George Johnson was 
the winner of the handsome skis offered for the largest 
fox killed during the week. 
Some of the visiting sportsmen returned home on 
Friday evening and the others on Saturday morning. 
J. A. F. 
Fox Hunting In Virginia. 
Boydton, Va. — Editor Forest and Stream: All lovers 
of sport will read with pleasure and pride a fox chase 
which occurred in Halifax county, Virginia, in Decem- 
ber last. It is the most remarkable race within the 
knowledge of the writer, and he doubts whether tbe 
most experienced fox hunters among your readers can 
recall its equal. 
The frozen ground and cold weather had not terrors 
sufficient to induce those veteran huntsmen, the Hon. 
R. G. SneedandMr. E. A. Lewis, of Townsville, N. C, to 
forego a camp hunt which had been planned for the 
middle of December. For some time they had heard of a 
certain old red which had had his way for so long that he 
seemed to defy hunters and their packs. It was believed 
by some that he had been run half a hundred times, and 
those best acquainted with him were of the opinion that 
he would not be caught. When they learned of the de- 
termination to catch him on this occasion, they prepared 
to guy the hunters at the end of the chase, believing it 
would result in broken-down horses and dogs, sore riders 
and a free fox with new laurels. 
' On Dec. 14 the above-named gentlemen, who rode 
sixty miles through the country to get to the hunting 
ground, in company with Col. W. B. Wilkins, Thos. 
Adams and, Samuel Oliver, of Halifax county, Va ; 
C. A. Raine, of Danville, Va. ; Nat Palmer, of Milton, N. C. ; 
Walter Jones, of Person county, N. O; John B. Boyd, of 
Boydton, Va., and several others began their camp hunt 
of a week. 
After hunting several days without success, and while 
considerably disheartened, as the prospects seemed poor 
for a test of speed and endurance between dogs which 
had never failed to catch whatever got up before them 
red foxes not excepted, and the old red whose reputation 
was co-extensive with that section of country, they were 
delighted, about 11 o'clock on Thursday, to receive assur- 
ance from the energetic and indefatigable pack that they 
would at least have the chase. 
From the locality and the trail, Borne of the hunters 
felt satisfied that it was the famed old red, and that he 
was preparing for one of his long journeys. In this they 
were not mistaken. In a few minutes he was seen about 
a mile in front of the pack and was recognized by those 
who had previously chased him. At the sight of him 
their enthusiasm knew no bounds. With full confidence 
in the superiority of the fox, they rose in their stirrups 
and yelled, " There he is, now catch him! " 
The fox had the advantage of being familiar with the 
country, while very few of the dogs had ever hunted 
there before. His long experience made it unnecessary 
for him to consume much time in determining what 
to do. 
Starting near Pace's Ferry on the Dan River, he virtu- 
ally followed the river, passing News Ferry and Barks- 
dale's Ferry and going thence to Milton, N. C. , which on 
a straight line is fully thirty miles from the starting 
point. He then turned and went by South Boston, Vir- 
ginia, and finally came back to his starting point. 
Whether it ^was his intention to take this long jaunt 
again can only be surmised. After getting back to the 
starting point, he turned again toward News Ferry and 
ran seven miles. As dog after dog gave up the race, it 
seemed that his admirers had not claimed too much for 
him; that he was destined to win another victory. None 
of the hunters any longer doubted his ability to break 
down the majority of foxhounds, and they were begin- 
ning to doubt whether any of the thirty-five dogs which 
started in the race would be equal to the occasion. They 
were not allowed, however, to remain in doubt, for at 
3:35 o'clock this proud old hero of many similar contests 
had to succumb, and thus prove the superiority of the 
few dogs which had followed him through the entire 
race. 
It is estimated that he ran not less than seventy-five and 
perhaps one hundred miles. The chase lasted four and 
a half hours. In the beginning of it the pack numbered 
thirty-five, but only thirteen had the endurance to run 
it through. Ten of the thirteen were bred by Messrs. 
Sneed and Lewis and Dr. Wm. Townes, of Memphis, 
Tenn. ; two were bred by Consul-General W. T. Townes, 
and one, an imported Irish bitch, was from the 
Homer Kennel of Memphis, which is owned by J. W. 
Alley. Those which ran the entire race are Maud S., 
Nancy Hanks, Sophie, Davy, Leate, Domino, Rio, Venus, 
Sal, Limber, Rock, Rye and Old Lottie. 
The last named is 9 years old, while all of the othera are 
not less than 5 years. 
The old red weighed lljlbs. after the brush had been 
removed, and minus some of his entrails. 
No account of this hunt would be complete which did 
not specially mention the fact that the party was enter- 
tained by Col. W. B. Wilkins, and to those who know 
the full meaning of it nothing more need be said than 
that he entertained in the true old Virginia style. 
John B. Boyd. 
City of the Straits Kennel Club. 
The board of directors of the City of the Straits Kennel 
Club are now making active preparations for their fourth 
annual bench show, to be held in the Auditorium March 
3 to 6, The following Bench Show Committee have been 
appointed: President George M. Hendrie; Secretary 
R. Humffreys-Roberts, and A. T. Knowlson, Ed. Wiles, 
R. McDonald, Major James C. Cuillott, W. Howie Muir, 
Chas. A Parkinson. 
Committee on Specials; Chairman, Miss Anna N. Griffin; 
W.Howie Muir, George M, Hendrie, Richard Bangham. 
Advertising Committee: Chairman, James R. H. Wag- 
ner; A. T. Knowlson, Guy D. Welton; R. Humffreys- 
Roberts, Secretary. 
The bench committee have begun their work, and the 
following judges have been employed: Special judge for 
collies, R. McEwen, London, Ont.; for spaniels, E. M. 
Oldham, New York; Messrs. James Mortimer, New 
York, and John Davidson, Monroe, Mich., will divide 
the other classes between them. 
The premium list is being prepared and shows an in- 
crease of about $400 over last year, being very near $2,000 
now, and the Committee on Specials hope to increase this 
to $2,500. The Secretary is in active communication with 
several of the large breeders and handlers already. The 
show comes after the New York Show and before the 
Chicago. The Committee feel hopeful that they can 
gather in the large Eastern kennels, which will exhibit 
later in Chicago. 
A great deal of enthusiasm was aroused by the local 
show held in December, and there is no doubt that De- 
troit dogs will compare favorably with the best speci- 
mens which prominent outsiders will bring here. 
The Committee on Specials report that they are meeting 
with a liberal support from the merchants and admirers 
of the dog in general and hope to swell this year's special 
beyond that of any former year. 
Sportsmanship and Field Trials. 
Winnipeg. — I read with some interest "A Review of 
the Year," but I cannot quite agree with the conclusions 
re field trials. I am "on the fence" now, and I think I 
can look at them as they were, as they are and as they 
should be. 
When you eliminate sportsmanship from field trials or 
any other branch of athletics, and replace it for pecuniary 
considerations, then I am willing to agree with you as to 
their management and success. But I say right now, 
and I am speaking from no slight experience, that if field 
trials are run for sportsmen it does not require one 
dollar of capital to run a field trial club. 
The Northwestern Field Trial Club held three success- 
ful trials. They donated 90 per cent, of the total of 
moneys received for entry and starters' fees, besides valu- 
able trophies, and for three years no member was called 
upon to contribute a single cent; in fact, not even their 
annual club dues were collected. 
If you organize a club with expensive machinery, then 
you must have a very liberal support or you die a natural 
death ; but I contend there are enough of the genuine 
article of true sportsmen to be found who are capable and 
willing to be the machinery. However, for their services 
they demand a guarantee that they will be supported by 
