The following story was related to me by the Carrollton Hounds MFH:
Last Wednesday, the Carrollton Hounds were hunting in one of our favorite territories north of Westminster. The land rises up from a long bottom and provides the staff and field with an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. The area is well populated with fox and we generally have good runs in even the poorest conditions.
Everyone was excited to be back at this fixture. We had not hunted it in some time due to the fact our landowners planted corn everywhere. Usually they plant rows of beans, hay and corn, allowing us good access. But with the corn prices up, it was planted right up to the edge of the road. The day started our good. Hounds found and Reynard provided a good chase.
Along the main road through this fixture, a crew was laying fresh asphalt. Only one lane was passable for about two miles and flagmen (or persons if you will) communicated by radio. Sensing opportunity, Reynard ran across the road and only a few feet behind the flagman. Only seconds away were the hounds giving voice like wild banshees.
Our flagman noticed only a fleeting blur of the fox, but saw what he thought were a hundred wild eyed 'dawgs' heading straight for him. Having been bitten twice by Pit Bulls, the poor man dropped his flag and radio, headed for a pine tree and climbed up as far as he could.
About this time, Whip Sally Shirley rode up and surveyed the situation. The hounds had lost on the fresh asphalt and were now milling about. She told the man that it would be all right, but he refused to come down. She dismounted, grabbed the radio and told the flag man on the other end to hold up traffic. Hounds were quickly called off by our huntsman and the man finally climbed down.
He was a good sport about the whole affair, finally working up a laugh. At the end of the day, our huntsman drove her rig along the road and pulled over where this flag man was working. She encouraged him to look and the hounds which were now safely in the stock trailer, which he did. He had kind words to say about Sally and the whole affair.
Joe Bills
Carrollton Hounds, (MD)