The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-03-07
Tte gfi'toraat.
FRID AY..~.. ..a..MARcH Z 1884


A correspondent OF tho Houston,
Texas Post, who has been visiting tho
prison at Huntsville, In that State,
writes about the bloodhounds used
there as follows:
"And these are the bloodhounds /
hear so much about I" remarked 10
my conductor.
eyes, they are the famous blood
hounds that Is, as much blood
hound as you will find Ia Texas.
They are simply foxhounds, trained
to hunt men,"
"Do you keep them shut up all
the time?'
eyes they would make II lively
for the boys II they got out"
"How often do you have occasion
10 use them during the year?'
"Not more than two or three times.
ConvIcts will not leave when they
know COED haunds are on hand 10
catch them.n
"Could you not dispense with the
hounds and depend upon your
guns2"
"No, indeed you cannot hold
convlcts with shotguns. II Is the
fear Of the hounds which keeps them
quiet. Desertlon Is useless when re-
capture Is moral certainty, as Is the
case whep good hounds are employ.
ed"
"Do you have difficulty In proper
ly training your hounds?'
"oh, no that Is aoou! the only
sport there Is. Here comes the pup
pies. We Will give them a run anC
let yeu see how Il Is done"
| A trusty was sent down the lane
aud over the fence, through large
Aeld, on q run for dear life. wheI
he had accomplished about half
mile, or hall his circuit, the puppies
three slx-month-old hounds, were pu
on his track, and one started, noslnI
the ground and yelping as they ran
on they kept, over fences aud though
stuhbles and bitches, never ceaslnl
their noise. Sometimes they woulC
run over the trail where the trusty
had made an abrupt turn, bat soor
) they would return 10 the spot where
they lost the scent and cautiously fee
their way until certain they had Tho
trail, when they would of again
, The trusty was long distance runner
but the soft ground made his I'M
promtu track heavy, and he lagget
as he approached the end Of his run
evidently fa,lgued.
The dogs gained on him rapidly
and were yelplng close upon him
He was ordered 10 run 10 q tree o
fence and get out OF their way, o
that they would have TO find him b!
the scent. lie first tried 10 climb
high gate post but the dogs, Will
their noses to the ground, were upoI
him almost, and forced him 10 tax,
shelter In q wagon standing In th,
yard, where ne hid himself Ia th,
bed just as the dogs came In the gate
They looked up the gate post ant
smelled around little, then wIthou
delay followed the trail direct TO tn,
wagon and discovered their prey
lying painting like a tug boat.
looked at the perspiriug.. convict, Iant
my heart smote me for being th'
cause Of his race, bat | soon fount
out that. II was a great privilege, en-
ljoyed by but few, and giving ta'
puppies race was considered by
them the very essence OF pleasure
The convict took an old blanket II
his hand and alighted on the grount
where the dogs fought him HerceIy
making vicious springs for him. II,
repalsed them with the blanket
Jumping away, and thwartlng then
In any manner without hurting them
Finally, Zone Of the dogs fastened hi
teeth 10 the conyicts coarse pants, a
a point where the most cloth wa
used In making, and holding on wifi
unyielding tenacIty, was swung
round and round with vigor, unti
tired. The dogs were taken by
guard, and the convict went away
highly pleased with his sport.