Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1875 — Fox-Hunting in North Carolina. [ARTICLE]

Fox-Hunting in North Carolina.

Fox-hunting as practiced in North Carolina differs materially from similar sports ip the “ old country." We have no cleared fields with fences of uniform (low) size; nor have we imported foxes upon which to rely for chases. We gallop over rude, rocky, uneven hills and sides of mountains, down into and across rjivines (seemingly impassable to any" hut excited mounted huntsmen), and through close undergrowth of pine aud sow-wood; and bogs and quagmires cause but little fear or hesitation to the rider, who goes headlong into almost any sort of place, so eager is he to keep near the hounds as they go baying through the country pursuing a fox-trail. The foxes which inhabit this section of country are not'mean prey—they possess, it is said, even greater powers of endurance than the foxes hunted in England, and they have all the sly, cunniugqualities claimed for those abroad. Our hounds, too, compare favorably with the best of the English fox Jiounds, many of the animals used here being from stock imported from England and trained to a wonderful degree "of perfection. Foxhunting in North Carolina is “no child’s play” nor simple amusement. The successful huuter is a good and generally a reckless rider who does not confine himself to roads or paths and wait for the fox to run that way and come in sight in the course of the Chase. He'dashes into woods or through thickets or plowed fields, over fences, across creeks and ditches, and up and down hills at headlong speed, keeping as nearly up with the dogs as possible, urging them to increase their exertions, or “barking” straggling dogs on to the fresher trail. Besides this, there is lively competition among the hunters to be “in at the, death” and to be first at the placb where the “catch” is made, so as to get the '' brush.”— Cor. N. Y. Graphic. TnE Paris correspondent of the London Daiiy Tdigraph writes to that journal: “ There is rejoicing in the police over the capture of a droll scoundrel who has long given them worhj to do." This fellow hung around the Lyons Railway station about evening time.' On catching sight of a traveler who looked simple he made acquaintance in a lonely spot, and mysteriously offered to sell patent watch-chains' 5 ' of amazing -beauty and incredible strength. ‘ Try it,” said he;, * you’re a fine man, but even you can't break my chain.’ So the chain was twisted round the’"fine man’s wrists and snapped to. While he strug- ' gled with it.the vender would calmly lay him flat, take all his valuables, and make ofl'. For years this ruffian has been playing his ingenious game, going sometimes into the country. One night lately, at the Lyons Railway, he found a victim, chained him uj# plundered him. and ran away But the countryman chanced to lie particularly strong and swift. He broke the handcuffs, aud he caught the thief.”