The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-01-17
Training BlOodhOunls.

A correspondent of the Houston Tex
as) Post, who has been visiting the pris-
on at Huntsville, in that state. writes
about the bloodhounds used there as
follows:
"And these are the bloodhounds I
hear 70 much about?" remarked to my
conductor.
eyes. they are the famous blood
hounds-that is, as much b'oodhounds
a YOU will fluid in Texas. They are sim.
DIV foxhounds, trained to hunt men,"
"Do you keep them shut up all the
timer"
eyes; they would make it very lively
for the boys If they git olt."
"How often do You have occasion to
use them during the year,"
"Not more than two or three times.
Convicts will not leave when they know
GOOD hounds are on hand to catch them"
could you not dispense with tho
bounds and depend upon yeur guns?"
mo, indeed. you cannot hold convicts
with shotguns. 1t is the fear of the
hounds which keeps them quiet. De-
sertion is useless when recapture ia q
moral certainty, as is the case when
good hounds are employed"
-"Oh, no; that is about the only sport
there is. Here come the puppies. We
will give them run and let you see how
It is done"
A trusty was sent down the lane and
over the fen'e, through large field, on
ID oho,,k ho1f ,,,ilo ~ ho I, HE
circuit. the puppies, three 6-months-ol old
hounds, were out on his track and
started, rosing the ground and yelpiDg
as they ran. On they kept, over fences
and through stubbles and bitches. never
ceasing 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 scent, and cautiously feel their way
until certain they had the trail, when
they would off again. The trusty was q
long distance runner, but the soft ground
made his impromptu track heavy, and
he logged as he approached the end of
his run, evidently fatigued.
TIE dogs gained on him rapidly, and
were yelping close upon him. He was
ordered to run to tree or q fence and
get out Of their way, SO that they should
have to find him by the scent. He first
tried to climb high gate post, but the
dogs with their noses to the ground
were upon him almost, and forced him
to take shelter in a wagon standing in
the yard, where he hid himself in the
bed just as the dogs came in the gate.
They looked up the gate post and smeIled
rround little, then without delay fol-
lowed the trail direct to the wagon and
discovered their prey, lying painting like
a tug boat. l looked at the perspiring
convict, and my heart smo.e me for be-
ing the cause of his race. but soon
found out that it was great privilege,
enjoyed by but few, and giving the
puppies race was considered by them
the very essence Of pleasure. The con-
vict took an old blanket in his hand and
alighted on the ground, where the dogs
fought him Gercely, making vicious
springs for him. de repulsed them by
bufeting them with the blanket, jump
ing away, and thwarting them in any
name without hurting them. Finally
one of the dogs fastened his teeth in the
convicts coarse pants, At point where
the most cloth ives used IN making, and
holding on with unyielding tenacity,
was swung round and round with vigor,
until tired. The dogs were then taken
by guard and the convict went away
highly pleased with his sport.