The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-29
"P00R UNCLE TON"
OBJECT TO THE DOGS

vlRolNIANs OBJECT TO THE DOGS
gmploJsd In the Play of"unels Toms Csbln''-Th
Drama Conaidsrsdas Al Inault to the People Of
the Soath-E1Slsveholder Declare that
saslsre Was Ertr Chased by Bogs. D"
LrSCIInuRd, Va, December 2S.-No III
tie talk and excitement was caused in thit
as well rs other cities in Virginia by the
appearance Of Abbey's Uncle Toms Cabin
company. The principal cause Of the ex.
element and indignation appears to have
been the presence Of five big bloodhounds
who, besides figuring in the drama, were
paraded through the streets every day as
an advertisement. When the company
arrived here It's fame-or, rather, the iame
OF the bloodhounds used In chasing the ne.
groes-had preceded 1t, and in consequence
the white part Of the population had
worked itself up iuto state OF indignation,
and the management deemed It wise upon
hearing Of this not to have the perform.
ance In LvnchburH. II was whispered
around that a number Of young men had
determined to break ii up.
Z AS "Uncle Toms Cabin" has frequently
been played in Virginia theatres before
without causing this outbunt Of indigna.
ton, a correspondent asked one OF the lead
ing citizens what was
TIE REASON
for it at this late duy.
"Why, sir" was the reply from the gen.
tleman, who il an old and leading citizen
Of the place, and had been large slave
holder until the close Of the war, "what We
object to is this use OF bloodhounds. It is
M Outrage and gross Misrepresentation Of
the South, and should not be counter.
anced. 1t is bud enough for this to be done
at the North, but to come here in our midst
ami parade these bloodhounds through our
streets, and at night have them in our thea.
tres following upon the track Of fugitive
negroes is simply insulting us in our own
homes"
DO you mean to say that bloodhounds
South?" O
Certainly I do," replied the ex-saye.
owner; but will not 10 as far as this. |
have never been further South than North
Carolina. What was done in the larger cot.
ton and sugar producing States | am not
prepared to say with authority; although
incline to the belief that bloodhounds
were never used anywhere in the South for
tracking negroes. doassert positively, OF
my own knowledge, that neither in Vir.
glnla nor North Carolina were blood.
hounds ever used for this purpose. |
knew nearly all the principal siave-owners
in those two States, and know that thew
DID not resort to such practices. l am
now an old man, and
HAVE NEVER SEEN A nLooDHouSp IN
until saw the four purading the streets
with Abbey's company. The South has
been cruelty misrepresented in this matter"
The speaker seems TO have reflected the
sentiments OF the citizens Of the other
cities in Virginia. At Richmond
the Abbey company, while not apprehend.
ing any violence, met with very cool
reception. The company was booked for
four nights and played to empty benches.
On the last night they had twelve per.
sons. The papers opened fire on the blood
hound business, and kept it up from first
to last.
In Norfork the anti-bIoodhouud talk
was 80 great as to break up the perform.
ance there. Following upon the trail OF
bloodhound question the correspondent
interviewed two former residents in The
Tar South, one who had been planter in
the vicinity Of Mobile, and the other Il
prominent lawyer OF Mississippi. "Yes,"
said the latter.
''i1oUSDs WE'RE USED"
in my State sometimes to trace up runaway
negroes. Nobody in Mississippi will deny
that. They were not bloodhountls though.
aud in order to have the opportunity of
correcting an impression which, DESPITE
the immense amount OF matter that has
been written about the South, has until
now passed unnoticed, I am glad you have
nsked me the question. The hounds used
for the purpose OF tracing runaway slaves
were not blooihounds, but negro hounds,'
You will be surprised and perhaps shocked
at the expression, but you will understand
why the name given was especially appro-
pirate: The negro hound was the common
hound trimmed for the purpose Of following
anything, even q wagon--in fact anythip,
that went over the ground. These hounds
were not used for hunting, but were kent
only for the purpose Of tracing up fugitive
slaves. They were harmless so far as Biting
was concerned, and am sure that no in
stance can be cited Of u man having been
bitten by one OF them. When they caught
up with the slave they were trailing thew
stopped, as he generally did also. : II he
moved on they followed, and they did not
leave the trail until their master came up.
He might have been ten miles behind, bit
they kept on the track Of the fugitive, who,
always realizing that escape was inpos,i.
Die, generally '.r. =r =. s.Hs
ElrIiEI! TOOK TO A TREE or STOOD STILL.
until his pursuers came up, and then sur.
rendered. There was one way in which
the slave sometimes managed to escape de.
spite the hounds. 1t was by supplying
himself with u basket OF meat cut in small
slices and tainted with powerful poison.
These scraps OF meat he dropped at inter.
walls, and they were eaten by the hounds,
with fatal results, OF course. This mode OF
escape was only successfully followed
where the pack Of hounds was small. Had
planters been cruel enough to use blood.
hounds IN trucking slaves, motives OF self.
interest alone would have prevented them
from using these ferocious dogs for such d
purpose. B!oodhounds would have torn
the slaves, to pieces before the driver ar.
rived. Now, l want you to understand
that while am speaking OF these negro
h0unds' do mt Ineau ~ couvny u, a ;.Ioo