Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-05
Ell MAHDI REPORTED RETREArIN6
Training BIoodhounds.

And these are the blOOdhOunds hear
so much abOut?' remarked a Huntsville.
Texas, correspondent Ofthe Houston Post.
Yes, they are the famous bloodhounds
that is, as much bloodhounds as YOU
will find in Texas. They are simply
foxhounds trained to hunt men,"
"Do you keep them shut up all the
timer'
'Yes; they would make it lively for the
boys if they got out.''
chow often do you have occasion to uss
them during the yearY'
"NOt more than two or three timas
COnVlcts Will not leave when they know
good hounds are on hand to catch them.''
Gould you not dispense with the
hounds and depend upon your euns?'
mo, indeed; you cannot hold cOnvicts
with shOtguns. 1t is the fear of the
hounds which keeps them quiet. Deser-
tion is useless when recapture is a moral
certainty, as is the case when good
hounds are employed.v
'DO you have difficulty in properlv
training your hounds p
"Oh, no; that is about the only sport
there IS. Here comes the puppies. We
Will give them a run and let you see how
it is dOne."
A trusty was sent down the lane and
over the ience, through large field, on a
run Tor dear life. When he had accom-.
pHshed about half mile, or half his cir
cult, the puppies, three 6-months-old
hounds, were put on his track, and thew
started, noslng the ground and yelping as
they ran. On they kept, over fences and
through stubbles and bitches, never ceas-
ing their noise. Sometimes they would
run over the trail where the trusty had
made an abrupt turn, but soon they
would return to the spot where they lost
the scent and cautiously feel their way
until certain they had the trail, when
they would off again. The trustv was a
lOng-distance runner, but the soft ground
made his lmpromptu track heavy, and he
Jagged as he approached the end of his
run, evidently fatigued.
The dogs gained on him rapidly and
were yelping close upon him. He was
ordered to run to tree or fence and get
out OF their way, so that they would have
to lind him by the scent. He first tried to
climb a high gate post, but the dogs with
their noses to the ground were upon him
almost, and forced him to take shelter in
wagon which was standing in the ward.
where he hid himself in the bed lust as
the dogs came to the gate. They looked
up the gate post and smelled around Il
little, then without delay followed the
trail direct to the wagon and discovered
Inelr prey, lying painting like tugboat-
L looked at the perspiring convict, and
my heart smOte me for being the cause
OF his race, but / soon found out that it
was a great privilege, enjoyed by but few,
and giving the puppies race was con-
sidered by them the very essence of pleas
ure. The convict took an old blanket in
his hand and alighted on the ground, where
the dogs fought him fiercely, making
vicious springs for him. He repulsed
them by buffeting them with the blanket,
jumping away and thwarting them in any
manner without hurting them. Finally
one OF the dogs fastened his teeth in the
cOnYlcts coarse pants, at a point where
the most cloth was used in making and.
holding on with unyielding tenacity, was
swung round and round with yigor until
tired. The dogs were then taken by "a
guard, and the convict went away highly
pleased with his sport.