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Kentucky； has bred his own thoroughbred horses and thoroughbred hounds
for many years； and during a series of long hunting trips extending
over nearly a quarter of a century he has tried his pack on almost
every game animal to be found among the foot…hills of the Rockies and
on the great plains。 His dogs； both smooth…haired greyhounds and
rough…coated deer…hounds； have been bred by him for generations with a
special view to the chase of big gamenot merely of hares； they are
large animals； excelling not only in speed but in strength； endurance；
and ferocious courage。 The survivors of his old pack are literally
seamed all over with the scars of innumerable battles。 When several
dogs were together they would stop a bull…elk； and fearlessly assail a
bear or cougar。 This pack scored many a triumph over blacktail；
whitetail； and prong…buck。 For a few hundred yards the deer were very
fast； but in a run of any duration the antelope showed much greater
speed； and gave the dogs far more trouble； although always overtaken
in the end； if a good start had been obtained。 Col。 Williams is a firm
believer in the power of the thoroughbred horse to outturn any animal
that breathes； in a long chase； he has not infrequently run down deer；
when they were jumped some miles from cover； and on two or three
occasions he ran down uninjured antelope； but in each case only after
a desperate ride of miles； which in one instance resulted in the death
of his gallant horse。
This coursing on the prairie； especially after big game； is an
exceedingly manly and attractive sport； the furious galloping； often
over rough ground with an occasional deep washout or gully； the sight
of the gallant hounds running and tackling； and the exhilaration of
the pure air and wild surrounding； all combine to give it a peculiar
zest。 But there is really less need of bold and skilful horsemanship
than in the otherwise less attractive and more artificial sport of
fox…hunting； or riding to hounds； in a closed and long…settled
country。
Those of us who are in part of southern blood have a hereditary right
to be fond of cross…country riding； for our forefathers in Virginia；
Georgia； or the Carolinas； have for six generations followed the fox
with horse； horn； and hound。 In the long…settled Northern States the
sport has been less popular； though much more so now than formerly；
yet it has always existed； here and there； and in certain places has
been followed quite steadily。
In no place in the Northeast is hunting the wild red fox put on a more
genuine and healthy basis than in the Geneseo Valley； in central New
York。 There has always been fox…hunting in this valley； the farmers
having good horses and being fond of sport； but it was conducted in a
very irregular； primitive manner； until some twenty years ago Mr。
Austin Wadsworth turned his attention to it。 He has been master of
fox…hounds ever since； and no pack in the country has yielded better
sport than his； or has brought out harder riders among the men and
stronger jumpers among the horses。 Mr。 Wadsworth began his hunting by
picking up some of the various trencher…fed hounds of the
neighborhood； the hunting of that period being managed on the
principle of each farmer bringing to the meet the hound or hounds he
happened to possess； and appearing on foot or horseback as his fancy
dictated。 Having gotten together some of these native hounds and
started fox…hunting in localities where the ground was so open as to
necessitate following the chase on horseback； Mr。 Wadsworth imported a
number of dogs from the best English kennels。 He found these to be
much faster than the American dogs and more accustomed to work
together； but less enduring； and without such good noses。 The American
hounds were very obstinate and self…willed。 Each wished to work out
the trail for himself。 But once found； they would puzzle it out； no
matter how cold； and would follow it if necessary for a day and night。
By a judicious crossing of the two Mr。 Wadsworth finally got his
present fine pack； which for its own particular work on its own ground
would be hard to beat。 The country ridden over is well wooded； and
there are many foxes。 The abundance of cover； however； naturally
decreases the number of kills。 It is a very fertile land； and there
are few farming regions more beautiful； for it is prevented from being
too tame in aspect by the number of bold hills and deep ravines。 Most
of the fences are high posts…and…rails or 〃snake〃 fences； although
there is an occasional stone wall； haha； or water…jump。 The steepness
of the ravines and the density of the timber make it necessary for a
horse to be sure…footed and able to scramble anywhere； and the fences
are so high that none but very good jumpers can possibly follow the
pack。 Most of the horses used are bred by the farmers in the
neighborhood； or are from Canada； and they usually have thoroughbred
or trotting…stock blood in them。
One of the pleasantest days I ever passed in the saddle was after Mr。
Wadsworth's hounds。 I was staying with him at the time； in company
with my friend Senator Cabot Lodge； of Boston。 The meet was about
twelve miles distant from the house。 It was only a small field of some
twenty…five riders； but there was not one who did not mean going。 I
was mounted on a young horse； a powerful； big…boned black； a great
jumper； though perhaps a trifle hot…headed。 Lodge was on a fine bay；
which could both run and jump。 There were two or three other New
Yorkers and Bostonians present； several men who had come up from
Buffalo for the run； a couple of retired army officers； a number of
farmers from the neighborhood； and finally several members of a noted
local family of hard riders； who formed a class by themselves； all
having taken naturally to every variety of horsemanship from earliest
infancy。
It was a thoroughly democratic assemblage； every one was there for
sport； and nobody cared an ounce how he or anybody else was dressed。
Slouch hats； brown coats； corduroy breeches； and leggings； or boots；
were the order of the day。 We cast off in a thick wood。 The dogs
struck a trail almost immediately and were off with clamorous yelping；
while the hunt thundered after them like a herd of buffaloes。 We went
headlong down the hill…side into and across a brook。 Here the trail
led straight up a sheer bank。 Most of the riders struck off to the
left for an easier place； which was unfortunate for them； for the
eight of us who went straight up the side （one man's horse falling
back with him） were the only ones who kept on terms with the hounds。
Almost as soon as we got to the top of the bank we came out of the
woods over a low but awkward rail fence； where one of our number； who
was riding a very excitable sorrel colt； got a fall。 This left but
six； including the whip。 There were two or three large fields with low
fences； then we came to two high； stiff doubles； the first real
jumping of the day； the fences being over four feet six； and so close
together that the horses barely had a chance to gather themselves。 We
got over； however； crossed two or three stump…strewn fields； galloped
through an open wood； picked our way across a marshy spot； jumped a
small brook and two or three stiff fences； and then came a check。 Soon
the hounds recovered the line and swung off to the right； back across
four or five fields； so as to enable the rest of the hunt； by making
an angle； to come up。 Then we jumped over a very high board fence into
the main road； out of it again； and on over ploughed fields and grass
lands； separated by stiff snake fences。 The run had been fast and the
horses were beginning to tail。 By the time we suddenly rattled down
into a deep ravine and scrambled up the other side through thick
timber there were but four of us left； Lodge and myself being two of
the lucky ones。 Beyond this ravine we came to one of the worst jumps
of the day； a fence out of the wood； which was practicable only at one
spot； where a kind of cattle trail led up to a panel。 It was within an
inch or two of five feet high。 However； the horses； thoroughly trained
to timber jumping and to rough and hard scrambling in awkward places；
and by this time well quieted； took the bars without mistake； each one
in turn trotting or cantering up to within a few yards； then making a
couple of springs and bucking over with a great twist of the powerful
haunches。 I may explain that there was not a horse of the four that
had not a record of five feet six inches in the ring。 We now got into
a perfect tangle of ravines； and the fox went to earth； and though we
started one or two more in the course of the afternoon； we did not get
another really first…class run。
At Geneseo the conditions for the enjoyment of this sport are
exceptionally favorable。 In the Northeast generally； although there
are now a number of well…established hunts； at least nine out of ten
runs are after a drag。 Most of the hunts are in the neighborhood of
great cities； and are mainly kept up by young men who come from them。
A few of these are men of leisure； who can afford to devote their
whole time to pleasure； but much the larger number are men in
business； who wor