Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-04-26
TRAINING B%LO0DH0UNDS.
HOW THE ARE TAUGHT TO HUNT
Animal. Used for Tracking Criminals in the
SOufh.

SOutH.
eAnd these are the bloodhounds /
hear SO much about 2" 1 remarked to my
conductor.
Eyes, they are the famous blood
hounds that is, as much blooodhounds
rs yon will find in Texas. They are
simply foxhounds trained to hunt men,"
"Do you keep them shut up all the
time"
Yes; they wonld make it lively for
the boys if they got out
"How often do you have occasion to
use them during the year?"
"Not more than two or three times
Conyicts 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 guns?"
"No, indeed; you cannot hold con-
victs with shotguns. It is the fear of
the hounds which keeps them quiet.
Dcsertion is useless when recapture is a
moral certainty, as is the case when
good hounds are employed"
"Do You have difficulty in properly
training your hounds?"
"Oh, no; that is about the.only sport
there IS. Here come 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 fence, through a large field, on
n run for dear life. When he had &C
complished about half q mile, or hall
his circuit. the puppies, three six-months.
old hounds, were put on his track, and
they started, nosing the ground and
yelping 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 ali
abrupt turn, but soon they would return
to the spot where they lost the scent
and cautiously feel their way until GER
tain they had the trail. when they would
10 Oh uBNtAs AdO lAubLJ VIZ " DIX
distance runner, but the soft ground
made his impromptu track heavy, and
he Jagged as he approached the end OF
his run, evidently fatigued.
The dogs gained on him rapidly and
were yolping close upon him. He was
ordered to run to a tree or fence and get
out of their way, SO that they wou]l
have to find 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 a wagon which was stand
ing in the yard, where he hid himself
in the bed just as the dogs came to the
cato. They looked up the gate-post and
smelled around a little, then without de-
lay followed the trail direct to the wagon
and discovered their prey, lying painting
like a tug-boat. l looked at the perspir-
ing convict, and my heart smote me for
being the cause of his race, but I soon
found out that it was a great privilege,
enjoyed by but few, and giving the pup.
pies a race was considered by them the
very essence Of pleasure. The convict
took an cid blanket in his hand and
alighted on the ground, when the dogs
fought him -fiercely, making vicious
springs for him. BE repulsed them by
bufeting them with the blanket, jump.
ing away and thwarting them in any
without hurting them. Finally
one of the dogs fastened his teeth in the
convict's coarse pants, at a point where
the most cloth was used in making, and
holding on with u%nyielding tenacity, was
swung round and round, with vigor, un
til tired. The dogs were then taken by
q guard, and the convict went away
highly pleased with his sport. --IIors
ton. TeIrs. Post.