The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-03-20
TRAINING BLOODHOUNOS.
PrnctIcing the Puppies with
"Trusty- Convict More
Efficient Than ShOtguns.

A correspondent of The Houston
Texas Post, who has been visiting
the prison at Huntsville, in that state,
writes about the bloodhounds used
there as follows:
"And these are the bloodAounds
hear so much about" / remarked to
my conductor.
Yes, they are the famous blood
hounds that is, as much bloodhounds
as you will find in Texas They are
simply foxhounds, trained to hunt
men
DO you keep them shut up all the
time?"
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,"
Not 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 guns?"
No. indeed; you can not hold con
victs with shot-guns. tits the fear of the
hounds til..l keeps them quiet. Deser-
ton o. useless when recapture is
moral cert1inty, as is the case when
goods homds are employed"
DO you have difficulty in properly
training yotr hounds ?"
"Oh, no: that is about the only sport
there is. tlere come the puppies. We
will give them run and let you see
how 1t is done
A trusty vas sent down the lane and
over the i5nce, through Srge field,
on run for dear life. When
he had 'ccomplished about half
mile, or half his circuit,
the pul les, three six-months-old
hounds, ere put on his track, and ono
started, n"-ing the ground and yelping
as they ran. On they kept, over
fences and through stubbles and bitches,
never celsing their noise. Sometimes
they would run over the trail where
the t-usty had an abrupt turn, but soon
they would return to the spot where
they lost the scent and cautiously feel
their way until certain they had the
trail, when they would off again. The
trusty was long distance runner, bat
the soft ground made his impromptu
trsck heavy, and he Jagged as he APP
preached the end of his run, evidently
fatigued.
The dogs gained on him rapidly and
were yelping close upon him. lie was
ordered to run to tree or fence and
get out of their way, so they would 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
upop him al poct apl foroaJ hin, 70 tata
shelter in q wagon standing in the yard,
where he hid himself in the bed Just as
the dogs came in the gate. They looked
up the gstepost and smelled around a
little, then without delay followed the
trail direct to the wagon and discovered
their prey, lying painting like ting
boat. | looked at the perspiring CON
Wet, and my heart smote me for being
the cause of his race, but | soon found
out that 1t was a great privilege, en-
joyed by but few, and giving the pup
pies race was considered by them the
very essence of pleasure The convict
took an old blanket in his hand and
alighteI on the ground, where the dogs
fought him iercely, making vicious
springs for him. He repulsed them by
buffeting them with the blanket, Jump
ing away and thwarting them in any
manner without hurting them. Finally.
one of the dogs fastened his teeth in the
convicts coarse pants, at point where
the most cloth was used in making,
and, holding on with unyielding ten
acrv, was swung round and round with
viGor, unt.l tired. The dogs were then
taken by guard, and the convict went
away highly pleased with bis sport. !,