Around 9:30 that morning Gene had a visitor at the quarry that was missing his beagle. The gentleman was visiting with friends and left his beagle outside without tying him up. Hunter, true to his name decided it was an opportunity to go hunting. Some time on the previous day Hunter set out to see what he could stir up. He asked Gene if you could look around the quarry property to see if his beagle might be around. Gene let him take a look and at that time he did not find his missing hound.

Later, around 12:00, the beagle’s owner returned to take another look. This time, however, he heard Hunter hollering for help! Hunter’s dad went toward the howling coming from down in the quarry and found Hunter about 50 feet up the 80 feet highwall on the southern side of the quarry. The beagle and his companion, a red fox, were perched on opposite ends of a narrow ledge.      As Hunter’s dad neared, the fox decided he would rather face the fall and bail off the wall than tempt fate with the approaching human. Hunter, however, thought better than taking the fox’s brazen descent and stayed put waiting for dad’s assistance.

The appropriate safety precautions were taken and the fire department’s team set up on the top to rappel down to Hunter. The rescuer reached Hunter without incident and placed him in a duffel bag to make the descent. I don’t think there has ever been a happier beagle.      It should be noted that not only was the Lowden Fire Department more than willing to help with this situation but there efforts were safe and were handled in a very professional manner.