The two-day 2nd annual fox hunt was preceded by a serious fire. The Club decided to go on with the hunt in spite of the inauspicious opening of the day. Twenty-five participants were rewarded with four brushes.
Driving was not extremely good; the wind affected the dogs so they could not keep the trail. The hunters assembled at 8 A.M. and went to North Street, letting the dogs loose at C.R. Ripley's. Thirteen dogs cast off toward North Blandford. During the first hour, Clarence W. Bates coralled the 1st fox the only one captured in the morning. In the afternoon, E. H. Williams of Southwick fell upon another fox about 2 P.M., near Lewis Nye's. George Jones of Blandford, with seven dogs, got another and Charles Clark of Chester was the last successful hunter.
The hunters returned in the late afternoon, weary and hungry, and were enthusiastic for the banquet of the evening, which was prepared under great difficulties by Landlord Oatley. It was served in the Agricultural Hall.
President W. H. H. Blair, introduced as the toastmaster of the occasion by H. K. Herrick with a few remarks, presented Arthur S. Kneil of Westfield as the first speaker of the evening. He made a happy reference to Enos Boise as the Diogenes of Blandford, the only Democrat in the town. He saw before him four candidates for representatives and hoped they would be busy bees and make honey while the opportunity offered. "Politics are of no account tonight. All we care about is strong men to chase one little fox. The only expansion that we care about is the expansion subsequent to my friend Oatley's sumptuous banquet."
George W. Roraback of Westfield was introduced as the man who could instruct the audience in fox hunting - the father of the Western Mass. Fox Club.
A. L. Parks said that these social hunts are beneficial and he hoped to see the Club prosper. He deplored the loss of the hotel, but hoped that Blandford would survive even as they had at Russell, where a new and model hotel arose out of a similar situation. He was willing as one of 10, 15, or 20 to put in $500 for a hotel in Blandford.
(Others spoke briefly after this.)
The speech of George Parker Westfield was the gem of the evening. When called upon he said he was a little short of stories. "The fire has furnished me food for reflection. I saw the reflection last night, but never expected to see the food. I thought that had been consumed twenty-four hours ahead of time. When I heard this afternoon that the Fox Club had decided to put this thing through, I admired their pluck, and I trust when another year shall bring another hunt, we shall greet them as good fox hunters and true politicians."
Dr. Partree of Blandford spoke a few words in closing and moved that a vote of thanks be extended to the speakers of the evening.
Driving was not extremely good; the wind affected the dogs so they could not keep the trail. The hunters assembled at 8 A.M. and went to North Street, letting the dogs loose at C.R. Ripley's. Thirteen dogs cast off toward North Blandford. During the first hour, Clarence W. Bates coralled the 1st fox the only one captured in the morning. In the afternoon, E. H. Williams of Southwick fell upon another fox about 2 P.M., near Lewis Nye's. George Jones of Blandford, with seven dogs, got another and Charles Clark of Chester was the last successful hunter.
The hunters returned in the late afternoon, weary and hungry, and were enthusiastic for the banquet of the evening, which was prepared under great difficulties by Landlord Oatley. It was served in the Agricultural Hall.
President W. H. H. Blair, introduced as the toastmaster of the occasion by H. K. Herrick with a few remarks, presented Arthur S. Kneil of Westfield as the first speaker of the evening. He made a happy reference to Enos Boise as the Diogenes of Blandford, the only Democrat in the town. He saw before him four candidates for representatives and hoped they would be busy bees and make honey while the opportunity offered. "Politics are of no account tonight. All we care about is strong men to chase one little fox. The only expansion that we care about is the expansion subsequent to my friend Oatley's sumptuous banquet."
George W. Roraback of Westfield was introduced as the man who could instruct the audience in fox hunting - the father of the Western Mass. Fox Club.
A. L. Parks said that these social hunts are beneficial and he hoped to see the Club prosper. He deplored the loss of the hotel, but hoped that Blandford would survive even as they had at Russell, where a new and model hotel arose out of a similar situation. He was willing as one of 10, 15, or 20 to put in $500 for a hotel in Blandford.
(Others spoke briefly after this.)
The speech of George Parker Westfield was the gem of the evening. When called upon he said he was a little short of stories. "The fire has furnished me food for reflection. I saw the reflection last night, but never expected to see the food. I thought that had been consumed twenty-four hours ahead of time. When I heard this afternoon that the Fox Club had decided to put this thing through, I admired their pluck, and I trust when another year shall bring another hunt, we shall greet them as good fox hunters and true politicians."
Dr. Partree of Blandford spoke a few words in closing and moved that a vote of thanks be extended to the speakers of the evening.