“Of the first flight in my day no one could come up to C. E. Munro Edwards. I do not think he ever held office, though he afterwards became, with F. Selater, the founder of, and whips to, the Christ Church Beagles, with which I, an outsider (of Magdalen), had the special privilege of running. His wind was simply inexhaustible!
“Speaking of this reminds me of an incident which has nothing to do with E.C.H. beyond the fact that the actors in it were the two whips. My brother and Billy Harford by some means got out of 11 o’clock school in time to meet the Queen’s staghounds on their opening meet at Salt Hill. The stag ‘took soil’ in that pool close to the line, near the present Burnham Beeches station. The two lads manned a boat which they found near the cottage and succeeded in ousting the stag. The Press next day, alluding to the incident, remarked that ‘the two young Etonians appeared quite in their element.’ Rather amusing, as they were both inveterate dry-bobs and probably never entered another boat during their time at Eton!
“The largest number of hares killed in one season was by F. Johnstone in 1869. The pack was still rather a scratch one, and did not belong to the hunt, but to individuals. Undoubtedly they had some wonderful runs, but there were still terrible disadvantages, especially as regards time. Moreover, the conditions under which the pack was kept were very unsatisfactory, and Ward made much too much money out of them. There was a subscription of one pound for every one, but there were no facilities such as a hound van.”
Perhaps it would be interesting to some to give the accounts of a few of the best runs from the Beagle Books.
“Saturday, Jan. 23rd, 1868. Upton Church. A hare was viewed away at the further corner of Mr. Nixey’s Plough, which as usual made straight for Ditton, but failing to find an open smeuse went away to Riding Court, where she turned homewards. The hounds hunting well followed her with a burning scent, though many doubled some way past Datchet plantation; here a fresh hare being started in her line enabled her to escape dead beat, while the second hare carried the hounds across the L. & S.W.R. to Black Pots and was next seen swimming under Victoria Bridge, whereupon Mr. Calvert amidst great applause swam in and picked her up, and she was given up to the pack. Time, 40 minutes, second hare 20 minutes.”
“Wednesday, March 25th, 1868. Saw a run which was, alas! the last to many members of the E.C.H., but which was in every way worthy of that renowned hunt. The meet was at the Three Tuns, and a hare was found almost immediately on the left side of the Farnham Road. She gave us a merry spin without a check up to Farnham, where the hounds were brought to their noses, and it was with the greatest difficulty that they regained the line owing to the very dry state of the ground. At last, however, they worked it slowly down to Baylis House across the Farnham Road, where the scent began to improve. The hare then crossed the G.W.R. and ran a ring in front of Mr. Aldridge’s farm, and, just as the pack were going to return home, she jumped up a few yards before them; the hounds dashed off full cry past Baylis House across some grass fields up to Stoke palings. Here they turned sharp to the right and at rather a slower pace crossed the Farnham Road and made as if for Britwell. Again they turned for Farnham, near which they were whipped off, as not only time but daylight had failed. Time, 2 hours 26 minutes.”
A very good hunting run, as every one who knows the country will agree.
In Johnstone’s season the best run was that already described by Mr. Rawnsley; and the incident of presenting the hare to the Head Master is duly recorded in the Beagling Book. The account of the run ends with the remark: “May the E.C.H. enjoy many such days and many such a finish.”
Mr. G. H. Longman writes:
“My mastership of the Eton Beagles extended over the two seasons 1870 and 1871, for in those days there was no hunting done at Eton before Christmas. The kennels were at the end of the Playing Fields, close to Black Pots. The rule was either to subscribe a sovereign or bring back a couple of beagles, and the pack consisted entirely of hounds so procured. Naturally the result was a rather unlevel lot, but they did their work quite well, and I recollect that some hounds brought by one of the Anstruther-Thompsons were about the best we had.