]^6ft£Sf AND StREAM. 
88 3 
sumed, this time, on foot, while the horses were left 
tied by the side of the path, where they could be con- 
veniently found when wanted. 
The hunt was now made upon higher ground, and by 
midnight five fine, fat possums were securely tied in a 
bag. At this juncture the mist that had fallen gently all 
the while changed to rain, with every prospect of a down- 
pour. A deserted house near bv offered refuge, but Jul'us 
for reasons that he was unwilling to divulge declined 
the friendly shelter, saying that, as his mule was gone, 
he would risk a further drenching and cut across the 
fields for home; so off he trudged, the bag of possums 
upon his back, and with two or three dogs at his heels. 
His return a short while after was as violent as unex- 
pected, for he came as a whirlwind, bursting in the 
rickety door, and measuring his length upon the floor, 
where the slight blaze the boys had kindled on the 
hearth revealed him lying with bulging eyes, minus 
hat and bag, and virtually speechless from fright, as he 
could only at intervals painfully articulate that word of 
baneful import, "Hants, hants!" By dint of some rub- 
bing and much whisky, Jul'us recovered sufficiently to 
tell a gruesome tale of passing through a joining hillside 
pasture and running into the arms of a whole "flock er 
hants" that had pursued him, with reaching arms, to 
the very door. A yell from Buck, who declared he 
could see them at the window, put a period to the 
story, and then a friendly lightning flash relieved the 
agony by -revealing three curious donkeys, with extended 
ears, gazing placidly in the direction whence the victim 
of their inquisitiveness had disappeared. The guying 
that Jul'us received for his foolish fear roused his 
"gizzard," and the whisky he had drunk infused his 
soul to boasting, so when the rain had slacked and the 
huntsmen ' sought their horses for the journey home- 
ward, none was so bold as he, despising the terrors of 
the forest's gloom. With axe upon shoulder he led 
the way along, the path, and sighed for ghosts to battle 
with and overcome. 
Even and anon he would swing the axe from hand to 
'hand, discanting on the pleasure it would give him to 
encounter ghoul or gnome that he might smite him 
hip and thigh. 
Now one of the boys was riding a mare, followed by 
a foal that had been made a net from birth. The colt 
was standing in the path, doubtless watching the re- 
turn of the huntsmen, and Jul'us, not seeing him in the 
dark, ran full against him just at the moment his soul 
most panted for combat with powers of evil. The 
docile creature, expecting a caress, extended his velvet 
muzzle, and Jul'us says caught him by the nose. Be 
this as it may, that valiant hero forgot that he was 
weaponed, threw the axe away and, striking through 
the bushes, treated the party to an imitation of the im- 
promptu performance enacted by the mule a few hours 
before. 
The next morning the boys returned and rescued 
the axe from the bushes, and the bag of • possums from 
the pasture. Wm. M. Hundley. 
M. V. G. and F. P. A 
The inaugural beagle trials of the Monongahela 
Valley Game and Fish Protective Association, to be 
held at Carmichael, Green County, Pa., Nov. 28, is most 
complete in its programme, as will be noted in the fol- 
lowing list of events: 
Derby Class A. — For dogs and bitches 13 to i5in., 
whelped on or after Jan. r, 1897. 
Derby Class B. — For dogs and bitches 13m. and un- 
der, whelped on or after Jan. r, 1897. 
Open Class C. — For dogs and bitches, all ages, 13 to 
15m., that have not been placed first in any all-age 
class in fipld trials. 
Open Class D. — For dogs and bitches, all ages, 13m. 
and under, that have not been placed first in any all- 
age class in field trials. 
Entries for Classes A, B, C and D close Oct. 24. 
Fee to start, $5, of which $3 forfeit must accompany 
entry; $2 to start. Moneys divided in three purses, 50, 
30 and 20 per cent. 
Brace Stakes. — For dogs or bitches 15m. and under. 
Entries close at the drawing. Fee to start, $5. Two 
purses, 60 and 40 per cent. 
Pack Stakes.— For four dogs or bitches under 15m. 
Entries close at the drawing. Fee tu start, $10. Two 
purses, 60 and 40 per cent. 
Champion Class. — For dogs or bitches 13m. or under, 
having won one first prize in any open field trial class 
(except Derby and Futurity). Entries close at the 
starting of class. 
Champion Class. — For dogs and bitches 13 to isin., 
having won one first prize in any open field trial (except 
Derby and Futurity). Entries close at the starting- of 
class. Entrance fee for the champion classes, $5. Two 
purses, 60 and 40 per cent. The title of field trial cham- 
pion will be awarded to winners in these classes. 
The club retains 20 per cent, of all entrance money. 
Address all entries to the Secretary, A. C. Paterson,^ 
Homestead, Pa. The judges are Dr. George Gladden and 
Mr. W. H. Beazell. Both are experienced gentlemen 
sportsmen. r ' 
jjfuchting. 
The annual meeting of the Y. R. U. of the Great 
Lakes will be held on Oct. 29, at Buffalo. 
The annual meeting of the Lake Y. R. A. will be held 
on Nov. 5, at Kingston, Ont, 
The Seawanhaka Cup. 
The question of the competitors for the Seawanhaka 
international challenge cup in 1899 has been settled by 
the decision of the Royal St. Lawrence Y. C. to accept 
the challenge of the Seawanhaka C. Y. C. The reasons 
for selecting the Seawanhaka C. Y. C. again instead of 
the Inland Lake Y. A., whose representative was in 
Montreal with a challenge on the day after the last race, 
are given in the foIloAving letters: 
J. W. Taylor, Esq., Commodore Inland Lake Yachting 
Association, St. Paul, Minn.: 
Dear Sir — I beg to confirm our telegram of 24th ult. 
announcing that we had accepted the challenge of the 
Seawanhaka Corinthian Y. C. for the season of 1899. 
As you are no doubt aware, the deed of gift provides 
that priority of date in receipt of challenge need not 
govern during the thirty days following the termination 
of the last match, and it was under this provision, and 
after mature consideration, that our committee, who 
bad previously decided to give up the cup, concluded 
to accept the challenge of the Seawanhaka Corinthian 
Y. C. 
The recent match was followed by so much newspaper 
and other comment, and the reputation of the cup 
seemed so much endangered, that when a challenge for 
next year was received from the Seawanhaka Corinthian 
Y. C. it seemed to be in the best interests of international 
yachting that the challenge should be accepted, and we 
acted accordingly. 
We know the keen interest our members take in our 
class of boats, and we feel assured that the acceptance 
of your challenge would have been followed by a good 
contest, which could not have failed to benefit the 
sport. 
I am directed therefore by the committee to express 
their sincere regret that we shall not have the oppor- 
tunity of meeting your club in a friendly contest next 
year, but trust we shall have the pleasure of seeing a 
large representation of your Association at our races. 
Your friendly letter of the 29th ult. has just come to 
hand, and we thoroughly appreciate it. Yours very 
truly, J. C. C. Almon, 
Sec'y Sailing Com, R. St. L. Y. C, 
W. S. Morton, Esq., Sec'y White Bear Y. C, St. Paul, 
Minn.: 
Dear Sir — Replying to your favor of the 14th inst., I 
would inform you that the Seawanhaka international 
challenge cup is at present in the custody of the Royal 
St. Lawrence Y. C, of Montreal, which club won the 
match for it in August last. 
You are probably familiar, through the press reports, 
with the facts that there was considerable controversy 
over the selection of the double-hulled yacht Dominion 
as defender of the cup, and that a formal protest was in 
consequence lodged by our club's reoresentative with the 
sailing committee of the Royal St. Lawrence Y. C. 
This protest was not allowed, the Royal St. Lawrence 
committee adhering to their determination to sail Do- 
minion, and as it seemed to our representative the most 
sportsmanlike course, the American yacht Challenger 
sailed the match, which, as you are doubtless aware, 
resulted in Dominion's victory. 
This action by the committee of the Royal St. Law- 
rence Y. C. caused some little strain of the cordiality 
existing between the two clubs, and some of our mem- 
bers were at first inclined to engage in no further con- 
tests with the St. Lawrence Club. 
The Royal St. Lawrence Club on their part held a 
meeting, and decided, in view of the disagreement and 
hostile criticism of their course, to return the cup. 
We would not, of course, in honor acceot the cup 
without having won it in fair contest, nor indeed, under 
the terms of the declaration of trust, had the Canadians 
any right to return it before the time for receiving chal- 
lenges for the next season should have expired. But 
after conference with a representative of the Canadians 
it was decided that the most satisfactory wav out of the 
difficulty was for the Seawanhaka Club to challenge for 
a match in 1899. 
This determination was acted upon and the challenge 
has been forwarded, and we learn that it has been 
received by the Royal St, Lawrence Y. C. 
We have not, however, up to date received any offi- 
cial notice of its acceptance. 
In the event of its being accepted, we should wel- 
come with great pleasure a representative yacht from 
your club as a competitor in our trial races, and sin- 
cerely hope that you may have at least one vessel ready 
in time. 
Apologizing for this late reply to your letter, which 
has been occasioned partly by the writer's absence 
from town, I am very truly yours, 
Charles A. Sherman 
Sec'y Race Com. S. C. Y. C. 
Oct. as, 1898.] \ 
Fixtures. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
Nov. 3. — Connecticut Field Trials, East Hampton, Conn. En- 
tries close Oct. 29. John E. Bassett, Sec'y, F.-Q- Box 603, New 
Haven. 
Nov. 7.— Indiana Field Trials Club's trials, Bicknell, Ind. S. 
H. Socwell, Sec'y. 
Nov. 11.— Eastern Fxeld Trials Club's trials, Newton, N. C. 
S. C. Bradley, Sec'y. 
Nov. 15.— International Field Trial Club's trials, Chatham, Ont. 
W. B. Wells, Sec'y. 
Nov. 15-17. — Central Beagle Club's annual trials. L. O. Seidel, 
Sec'y- 
Nov. 22. — Fourth annual field trials of the Monongahela Valley 
Game and Fish Protective Association, Greene county, Pa. A. 
C. Peterson, Sec'y, Homesdale, Pa. 
Dec. 5. — Continental Field Trial Club's trials, Lexington, N. 
C. W. B. Meares, Sec'y. 
"Hants." 
The coon discussion in Forest and Stream is rather 
amusing for a summer's diversion; and. from the sim- 
plicity of coon lore in general, it seems morally cer- 
tain that this was its origin. The numberless devices 
that capture coons are well known to most woodsmen, 
especially here in the South, where, next to the possum, 
of all varmints the coon is most prized by the colored 
contingent. Snares for his destruction are laid wher- 
ever he is likely to walk "in the glimpses of the 
moon," the most common, simplest and most taking of 
all being an auger hole in a log that crosses a branch 
or slough. Four horseshoe nails are driven through 
the edges of the hole, pointing downward; a little honey 
or sorghum is then poured into the hole, the coon noses 
out the sweets, inserts his paw to secure the feast, and 
— passes the remaining hours of darkness in wonder- 
ing OA'er the remarkable detaining power of the bees 
that grasped the offending member just at the instant he 
attempted to withdraw. 
For the man who would revel on roast coon there is 
no surer way of catching his coon; but the darky, an 
axe and the "yaller dorg" in conjunction serve the same 
end, and are far more productive of sport. Once, when 
the nights had grown long, and the frosts of November 
had denuded the trees and congealed the miasma ex- 
haled from the swamps through the long, deadly au- 
tumn, two friends, with a half-dozen curs and a couple 
of darkies, invaded the haunts of varmints noctivagant, 
My friends were quite young, yet in their teens, while 
the dogs and Jul'us, one of the darkies, were veteran 
hunters. The moon should have shone, but lowering 
clouds obscured its sheen, and a fine rain was falling — 
an ideal night for a hunt. 
Near the edge of the swamp the dogs struck the trail 
of a lusty old fellow, learned in all of the wisdom of 
coons, and out for a frolic. He, doubtless, before had 
often been chased, and in less than an hour had "tapped" 
twenty trees and led the cry for a couple of miles 
through bogs and across branches in such bewildering 
maze that the huntsmen attempted to blow off the 
dogs in disgust. In the language of Jul'us, however, 
"Dere 'us Ruler what 'us deei'to er horn when arter 
er coon, an' he driv' 'im so hard an' he driv' 'im so 
fas' dat he jist 'beleged ter clam' fur 'is hide; an' when 
wes got dar, dar he wus!" 
Yes, "dar he wus" for sure, as a brush fire revealed, 
well out on the limb of a tree entirely too large to cut 
without spoiling the hunt. Buck, the younger negro of 
the two, was famous for -climbing, so, divesting himself 
of shoes and coat, he grasped a friendly grapevine and 
was soon on the limb and between the tree and the 
coon. To quote Jul'us again, "Dar sot Buck an' dar sot 
de coon, an' wes could see de coon jes' lack wes could 
see Buck, but Buck 'low dat dere wa'n't no coon up dar. 
Wes tole 'im ter clam out an' shuck 'im off,, but when 
de lim' 'gin ter ben' Buck got skit'ish an' triflin' an' I 
make 'im cum down, an', ole es I is, up I clim' an' out 
on de lim' I went, but when I git dar, I did'n' see no 
coon, nuther; but de gem'men an' Buck dey 'sisted dat 
dey seed 'im, so I crawl out on de lim' fur es I could, an' 
I shuck an' I shuck, but dat coon des would'n' turn go, 
an' den I couldn' see 'im no how. By V by Buck got 
manish an' he say so much I got mad, an' down I cum, 
an' up he went ergin. Sho 5 nuff soon's I hit de groun' 
an' look up dar sat dat coon out on de lim', an' he look 
es big es er dorg. 
"Wal, sah! Buck crawl out on de lim', he did, an' de 
fust thing he say: Wher' dat coon gone?' Den I 
got skeerd right straight, fur dar sot de coon right befo' 
his eyes. I look at de gem'men an' de gem'men look 
at me; an' dey tell Buck ter cum down an' les go. Buck 
'low he boun' ter hab dat coon ef he up dar, an' he ke'p 
on er crawlin' out on de lim'. Fust thing yer kno' de 
lim' 'gin ter crack, an' den we all seed dat coon jump 
an' run right squar' through Buck, jes es sho es yer 
lib, an' go er skin'in' up de tree. Wes tole Buck what 
we see, an' den he gib one yell an' down he cum, half 
er slidin' an' half fallin', an' de wool on hees head dun 
ris up lack 'nit'in' needles. Soon's he could talk fur 
his teeth er chat'rin', he said he neber seed no coon, an' 
he neber felt nothin' but sumpin' cole lack sweepin' 
th'ough 'im. an' den he kno'd er hant had 'im sho." 
In the scramble to get away from the specter, Jul'us 
did not fail to remember that the dark is all dangerous 
when spirits stalk abroad, so he grabbed a pine knot to 
light the forest way. Now Jul'us, upon this occasion, 
bestrode a mule that was giddy even beyond the wont of 
his treacherous kind, and it was only a little while before 
some flaming rosin from the torch came dripping upon 
his aristocratic loins, and then there was a circus that 
roused the mirthful owls for a mile around. For a 
minute there was an exhibition of buck jumping that 
would have filled a bronco with envy, and then a 
tearing away through the forest to an accompaniment of 
squeals and veils, thumping saplings and flounderings 
though beg holes that composed a nocturne the grand- 
est that swamp bad ever known. The performance 
was brief, but served as a diversion that relegated the 
ghostly coon to forgctfulnejs, and after poor Jul'us 
had been rescued from the slough where he had finally 
landed over the ears of his steed, the hunt was re- 
The A. C. A. Annual Meeting. 
The annual meeting of the executive committee of tb" 
American Car.oe Association was held on Oct. 17. at 
Buffalo. Com. Thorn presiding. The usual routine busi- 
ness of the Association was carried cut, the detaMs of 
Which will appear next week. After a prolonged discus- 
sion ]■ was decided to hold the 1S99 meet among the 
•usand Islands, the exact locality being as yet net 
fLitled. The date will be from Aug. 4 10 Aug. 18. 
The Foiil-ST and StueAm is rut to prcis each week oil Tuesdiy. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us- ait the 
latest by Munday, and as much earlier as practicable. 
The following letter has been received in New York, 
r>fc1 in accordance with ifs suggestion arrangements are 
being made for a meetirg of representatives to discuss 
(he terms fcr the next race. 
Royal St. Lawrence Y. C, Montreal, Oct. 7. 
Charles A. Sherman. Esq., Sec'y Race Com. Seawanhaka 
Corinthian Y. C, New York: 
Dear Sir — I beg to confirm my letter of the 24th ult. 
and acknowledge receipt of your letters of 20th and 28th 
nit. We understand (hat it is yenr desire to frame rules 
1 hat will produce a type cf boat more generally useful 
than those that recently competed, and in this we shall 
be glad to meet you. 
