From a Staff Correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, March 17, 1907
HUNTERS’ FINAL MEET OF SEASON – Gave Breakfast to Farmers at King of Prussia Before Chasing Reynard Over Spring Ground
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, March 16 – Superb weather and fresh, springy ground contrived to make the final fox hunt of the season at King of Prussia today the finest and most exhilarating ever given under the auspices of the Chester Valley Hunt Club.
The sheer joy of living seemed to enter into the movements of every man and woman among the several hundred guests.
Even the farmers, to whom the breakfast preceding the hunt is given annually, seemed unusually animated. What the old Roman revels were to Nero, this annual breakfast is to the farmers. They become glad even that their fences were broken by the hunters in the course of the hunting season, for it is as a balm for these broken fences that the Chester Valley Hunt Club gives the breakfast.
Enjoyable as was the breakfast, it was far better to see the wiry, little red fox skimming across the filed, getting a good start upon the hounds, already to be heard baying in the shed back of King of Prussia Inn. Still more interesting was the sight of the dogs released, scenting the ground, catching the trail and dashing after the fox. Reynard had been captured two days before and on being released headed for the old farm of the late A. J. Cassatt, from which he had been taken.
But best of all was the picture of the huntsmen, huntswomen, too, mounting their horses, jogging into line, and then starting off in a pounding, furious race after the dogs. Right after the dogs came R. Penn Smith, M. F. H., John R. K. Scott, John M. Patterson, Joseph F. Rogers in a phalanx; Mrs. Walter Walker
and Mrs. Clayton Erb closely following, and the score or more of others straggling on behind.
FOX CAUGHT ABOUT DARK
A vigorous ride up hills, down dells and over fences carried the riders five or more miles through the valley. It was growing dark when the fox was finally rounded up. Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Erb were in at the death. During the ride Jack Pechin was thrown and his horse out about the knees.
Seldom before has there been a larger or more congenial gathering at the King of Prussia Inn. A special train took the Philadelphia guests from Reading Terminal at 10.35 o’clock. Among those who came up on the train were Mrs. Joseph P. Rogers, Mrs. William H. Wilson, Mrs. Louise Irwin, Mrs. John M. Patterson, Mrs. Lawrence McCormick, Mrs. J. Joseph Murphy. Judge Lamorelle and City Solicitor Kinsey came together. John R. K. Scott drove over in a tandem cart from his home
at Cynwyd, introducing the old English hunting custom of driving the horse he intended to ride to hounds in from of the regular horse. Upon arriving the leader was saddled, the other horse remaining in the shaft.
The members of the club waited upon the farmers and showed them every courtesy. There was plenty of joviality, plenty of enthusiasm, and Howard Evans, the efficient township officer, said it was the finest crowd that had gathered at King of Prussia since George Washington and his men were quartered there.
Among those present were: William Wilson, Mrs. R. Penn Smith, Mrs. Jack Pechin, Walter Walker, Miss Marion Crawford, Miss Helen Johnson, Miss Kitty Scott, Miss Kitty Smith, J. P. Hale Jenkins, C. O. Brown, I. P. Wanger, Eliza Brook, William Rolis, W. N. Hamilton, Colket Walker, Lewis Scott, Alexander Johnson, Jack Williams, Miss M. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Kinsey, Mrs. John Patterson, Edward F. Beale, E. H. Le Boutillier, William Reeves, Jack Mather, Martin Mulhall, Joseph Burke, Eliza Fenton, Dr. H. De Haven, Dr. Edward Miller, Dr. David Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker, William Russel, Harry Yarrow, Frank Hews, Frank Walker and over a hundred of the Chester Valley farmers, prominent among whom were “Uncle” Joe Cole, “Uncle” Mat Walker and General Fisher, all three of them 80 and over, and who never miss a meet.