Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-03-13
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY. MARCH 10. 1884
BLOOD HOUNDS I'D CATCH CON
VICTS.
How They are Trained at a Texas
Prison.

How They are Trained at Texas
Prison.
Houston Post.
"Yes, they are the famous blood hounds
that is, as much blood hounds as you
will find in Texas. They are simply fox
hounds trained to hunt men,"
"Do you keep them shut all the timer
"Yes, they would make it lively for
the boys if they got out"
How often do you have occasion to use
them during the year?"
mot more than two or three times.
COnvicts 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 gans?'
no. indeed, you cannot hold convicts
with shot guns. 1t is the fear of the
hounds which keeps them quiet. Deser-
tiOn is useless when recapture is moral
certainty, as is the case when good
hounds are employed
"Do you have difficulty in properly
training your hOunds?"
"Oh, 10; that is about the only sport
there is. Here come the puppies. We
will give them run and let you see how
1t is DONE"
A trusty is sent down the lane and
over the fence through large field on q
run for dear life. When he had accom-
plished about half mile, or half his cir
cult, the puppies, three SIX months old
hounds, were put ON the track, and
they started, nOsing the ground and
yelping as they ran. On they kept, over
fences and through the 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 their scent and eau
tiOusly feel their way until certain they
had the trail, when they would be off
again. The trusty was long distance
runner, but the soft ground made his
imprOmptu track heavy, and ne Jagged
rs 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 the way, 80 that they would have
to find him by scent. He first tried to
climb a high gate-pOst, but the dogs,
with their noses to the ground, were up
on him almost, and forced him to take
shelter in a wagon which was standing
in the yard, where he hid himself in the
bed just as the dogs came to the gate.
They looked up at the gate-DOst and smell
led'arOund little, then without delay fol-
lowed the trail to the wagon end discOv-
cred their prey. lying, painting like a
tugboat. locked at the perspiring con-
Wet, and my heart smOte me for being
the cause of his race, bat / soon found
cut that it was great privilege enjoyed
by but few, and giving the puppies!
race was considered by them the very
essence of pleasure. The convict took
an old blanket in his hand and alighted
on the ground, where the dogs fought
him fiercsly, 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 con-
yict's coarse pants and holding on with
unyielding tenacity was swung round
with vigOr until tired. The dogs were
taken away by guard, and the convict
went away highly pleased with his