The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-01-17
Tirafutr,.s BlOodhOunds.

A correspondent OF the Houston (IeG-
asl Post. who has been visiting the prls-
on at Huntsville, in that state, writes
about the bloodhounds used there as
follows:
"And these are the bloodhounds /
hear 50 much about" / remarked to my
conductor.
eyes, they are the famous blood
hounds-that is, as much b!oodhounds
as you will find in Texas. They are SIM
ply foxhounds, trained to hunt men,"
"Do you keep them shut up all the
timer
eyes; they would make it very lively
for tire boys if they got o't."
"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 gttns?'
"No, indeed, you cannot hold convIets
with shotguns. It is tie fear of the
hounds which keeps them quiet. De-
sertion is useless when recapture is a
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 aud let you see how
| It is done"
A trusty was sent down the lane and
| over the fence, through a large field, on
| a run for dear life. When he had &C
| complished about half mile, or hall bis
| circuit. the puppies, three 6months- old
hounds. were out on his track and l
started. rosing 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 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
thew would off again. The trusty was q
/ long 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 yelping close upon him. He was
ordered to run to a tree or 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 i'll the gate
{ They looked up the gate post and smellee
. rround little, then without delay fol
lowed the trail direct to the wagon ant
0 discovered their prey, lying painting like
tug boat. looked at the perspirin:
convict, and my heart smose me for be
ing the cause of his race, but sool
found out that it was great privilege
: enjoyed by but few, and giving TIT
, puppies q race was considered by then
Q the very essence of pleasure. The ron
vict took an old blanket in his hand ant
!. alighted on the ground, where the dog
/. fought him iercely, making vicicu
i springs for him. He repulsed them b
: buffeting them with the blanket, jump
ing away, and tn warting them in an
S name without hurting them. Final
one of the dogs fastened his teeth in tn
# convict's coarse pants. at o point wher
the most cloth ives used In making, an
holding on with unyielding tenacit!
| was swung round and round with vigo
until tired. The dogs were then take
by guard and the convict went ava
9 highly pleased with his sport.