The East Sussex Hunt for the winter season of 1862 was inaugurated on the 4th of November at Windmill Hill, and was attended by a number of persons from St. Leonards. Two foxes were unearthed, and caught without affording much sport.
The Second Meet was on the 7th of November, at St. Leonards Green, and was one of the gayest and best attended of any that had been witnessed. There were nearly 50 vehicles, more than a hundred male and female equestrians, and, probably two hundred pedestrians; thus making a gay phalanx of about 500 persons. After a search of an hour’s duration a fox turned up, but gave its pursuers into Hollington. Here it was scented by the hounds with varying success for a considerable time, after which a shout was raised that Reynard had again got away and gone over the hill towards Crowhurst Park. An exciting scene then presented itself, the hunters and huntresses, dogs, men and boys concentrating on a particular, and thence hieing with all speed in the direction indicated by those who had seen the cunning animal ascend the slopes. Ultimately, he again got to earth, and the only thing to be done was to find another fox. At about 5 o’clock one was started from Monkham wood, in pursuit of which a splendid run across the flat and away over Pebsham to Sidley, where Master Reynard gave his pursuers the double, and got away into the wood again after an exciting chase of half an hour.
Fires at St. Leonards.
On the 27th of July a fire broke out in a brick-making shed, belonging to Mr. J. Howell, in the London road, St. Leonards. It was discovered by Mr. Descon the station-master and a night watchman of some drainage works, both of whom, with some other persons proceeded to the spot and put out the fire with water.
Bickle and Stoneman’s drapery establishment, 21 Marina, was accidentally set on fire on the 1st of October, and in such a blazing mass were the goods in the window as to threaten the destruction of the shop and entire building. Three sections of the Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene; but, fortunately, there was abundance of assistance at hand, and the fire was got under before the arrival of the engines. A loss, however, of about £180 was the result.
The Volunteer Fire Brigade were exercised at St. Leonards on the evening of Feb. 18th. The churches of St. Mary Magdalen and St. Leonards, and the Sussex hotel kept by Mr. Ballard, were made special objects of the firemen’s attention, and it hardly need be said that those fabrics appeared next morning well-cleansed exteriors. The brigade were liberally refreshed by Alfred Burton Esq. and Mr. Ballard.
