THANKSGIVING DOWN IN NEW KENT 

FOX HUNTING PARTIES HAVE A SIX-HOUR CHASE, BUT FAIL TO LAND QUARRY

                     (By J. A. Wright.) 

ROXBURY, VA., Dec. 1—(Special to The Evening Journal).—Thanksgiving Day was generally observed in New Kent. Fox hunting parties were out as usual. The sport was fine, but the same old fox I spoke of before, after six hours of hard running, got away again and is yet roaming at will.

Among those in the chase, with fine dogs, were L. J. Boze. Willie and George Ellyson. R. F. Nantx(sic), Parker Shearwood and others. 

The fair sex all had fine Thanksgiving dinners with their friends and loved ones. 

Circuit Court for New Kent ended Friday after being in session four days. Several criminal cases were disposed of this term. 

Mr. R.W. Nantx. who holds a responsible position at the Hopewell powder plant, has returned to his place of business. He speaks of great things being done there, but reports of the disorderly element are greatly overrated. 

Miss Sammis Provo, of Liberty Hall, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Richardson in Richmond. 

Miss Ida Bailey, of Locust Grove, has accepted a position in Richmond. 

Messrs. Charles Palmatrio and James Wright were in Richmond last Wednesday on business 

R. T. Clarke, one of New Kent's oldest and most respected citizens, is ill at his home, near Quinton.

- The Evening Journal (Richmond),  1 December 1915

Christmas 1904- "The blowing of the fox-hunter's horn."

Christmas in New Kent.

(Special to The Times-Dispatch.)

ROXBURY, VA., December 26- The Christmas of 1904 was one of the most quiet ever observed in New Kent, not a gun fired or firecrack was heard to remind of the happy event. 

The blowing of the fox-hunter's horn or the cry of the dogs can be heard on every hand, however. 

The pound party and ball to be given at Liberty Hall Friday night, is looked forward to with much pleasure. City music has been engaged for the occasion.

-Times-Dispatch, December 27, 1904

Running with Little Ruby

A Hot Chase With a Big Pack in New Kent.

(Special to The Times-Dispatch.)

ROXBURY, VA., December 27.- One of the most exciting fox chases in New Kent for some time took place Christmas day, when Mr. Lee Jenk Boze and his brother, Joe Boze, of Highland Springs, with thirty-six hounds; Willie and George Ellyson, of Quinton; W.H. Graves, of Seven Pines, with fifty-four dogs, as fine as can be found in Virginia. The day was an ideal one-cool, clear and calm. After leaving Dispatch Station Mr. Joe Boze's Little Ruby, struck a hot trail, and was soon followed by her companions, Storm and Fleet. They soon had old Reynard on his feet, and without a hitch for forty minutes the sweetest music in all the world rolled over the hills from the red mouths of forty hounds, which, mingled with the shouts of many happy riders, could be heard for many miles out on the soft morning breeze.

The old fox, being hotly pursued, used every trick known to his kind to elude its pursuers, but alas, poor Reynard, with brush down, tongue protruding and all heart gone, headed for a hog lot and sought protection among the hogs. Here he found no friends, for soon the hogs had the fox cornered and was making short work of him, and when the boys came up it took seven huntsmen to get dogs, fox and hogs separated. In a moment old Reynard was cold in death, swinging from the saddle of Mr. Graves.

-The Times-Dispatch(Richmond), December 28, 1905

Sour Grapes

Some times a title just writes itself . . . The Times of Richmond, April 13, 1902

NEST OF BEAUTIES

An Old Fox-Hunter Makes a Rare Find in New Kent

(Special Dispatch to The Times)

Roxbury, VA., April 12- Col. S.L. Savage, the veteran fox-hunter while out a few days ago with his pack of fine fox hounds ran an old red fox into a hollow. After much trouble he got the dogs away: the he went back to get the fox. He found it was an old mother fox with six little ones, apparently not more than two days old. 

Mr. Savage is very tender-hearted gentleman. He would not disturb the happy family, but says if the Deep Run Hunt Club, or any one else, will get the whole family for them. They will be fine size by the fall for good sport. Red foxes are generally scarce. He will tell no one where they are for fear some one would exterminate the whole family of rare beauties.

. . . The Times of Richmond, May 18, 1902 . . .

 Mr. Surthy(sic) Savage the veteran fox-hunter who lives near Talleysville is greatly worried. He has been completely outwitted by two old foxes upon which he has sworn vengeance. Mr. Savage is now three score and ten and will tip the scales at 240 pounds. Though his hair is silvered by the storms of many winters he is as bright and active as many at twenty-five. 

Some time ago while he was enjoying a fox-hunt, his dogs ran old fox into a hollow log. When he got close enough he was surprised to find a whole family of young foxes. They were such rare beauties that he has made great calculations what he was going to do with the little pets. mention was made at the time through the press. The result was that over a hundred applications were made for them. 

A few days ago he went after the family. To his surprise no foxes could be found. The old foxes had moved to some other home. Now he is very sorely grieved. He is still hunting for them. He say he will kill the last one.

That S.L. "Surthy" Savage is in fact Southey L. Savage(1833-1915). As for the Colonelcy, he was a sergeant in Co. F "New Kent Cavalry," the 3rd Virginia Cavalry, until 1862 when he held a Lieutenancy in the Confederate Signal Corp. 

 More on Southey Savage later. . .