Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-06-03
TRAILED BY BLOODHOUNDS.
BY CAPTAIN JAMES MoNTFoRD.

"The person who passed through the
war without meeting with adventures that
thrilled his blood, or mysteries which
chilled it, must have been very queer in
dividual."
ave all met with adventures, Colenel,"
replied, "Lut they fitted past so quickly
that they became obliterated by the stirring
events which came after"
"Umphi 1 must have better memory
than other people" the old gentleman said,
smiling, "for scarcely day passes but some
circumstance is recalled TO my mind"
"Then it is your duty to supply the de-
6ciencies of your friends"
"Well, / think the most horrid action
was concerned in took place few days be-
fore the battle of Perryville. There was a
negro teamster attached to our company,
who was one of the principals He was a
tall, raw-boned fellow, with a countenance
of mingled brutality and cunning.
"He was stubborn and unmanageable to a
degree, and we had good deal of trouble
with him at different times
ut was always necessary to place boss
over him, and even then willful mistakes
we're always occurring.
"One day he was shoeing horse, a val
liable black, belonging to one of the aids,
ments.
"The fellow was sullen, and had COM
mitted several faults. At last he pared the
hoof so close that the blood followed the
knife.
II happened along at that juncture, and
saw the sergeant raise the stick he held in
his hanu, anu uriuB q. down v'or Uue ufucK
shoulders.
"The negro turned his head, and cast a
a I'll Il.
that the latter changed color.
"I shall not soon forget the glance; it ex-
pressed all the depravity of his vile nature.
"He did not speak; not even cry of pain
escaped his lips. Resuming his task with
the manner of one who desired to complete
it as soon as possible, he had soon finished,
and, after examining the horse, walked
on.
"The next morning the sergeant was
found, wrapped in his cloak, dead.
"The vein in his throat had been severed
in horrible manner, and from the position
in which he lay it was evident the deed had
been done while he was sleeping, and that
he had not been allowed an opportunity to
defend himself.
"There was not the slightest cew to the
perpetrator Of this outrage; but it at once
occurred to me that the negro teamster was
the murderer.
II did not express my opinion until had
made inquiries and found that the fellow
had left the camp.
"None of his acquaintances had the least
knowledge of his whereabouts.
II then made my suspicious known, and
a strict search was instituted; but nothing
was found to bring home the charge.
AT last one Medill offered suggestion
which, though it was, perhaps, no more
than strict justice would permit, has al
ways seemed awful to me.
at was to trail the murderer with blood
hounds, practice too often followed in
that country.
"'There's a gentleman near here, said
Medill, who owns fine pair. They will
find him, I'll warrant it, if he's above
ground
After some consideration, it was decided
that the soldiers suggestion should be fol-
lowed.
at was necessary that an example should
be made; for murder, like everything else,
if it goes unpunished will spread.
"Medill and another man were dispatched
for the dogs. and they returned about the
middle of the forenoon, accompanied by an
old negro VIII had charge of the brutes.
"They were an ugly looking pair, evi-
IDENTIFY old, and their bodies slashed with
many wounds.
al could not resist comparing them with
the black whom l thought the murderer.
They seemed we'll chosen for their duty.
"They found q scent Immediately, but
not the right one. They pursued one of
the soldiers Who stood upon the outside of
the group, and it required all the efforts of
their black master TO restrain them.
"But after considerable difficulty q scent
was found, and the negro expressed an
opinion that it was the correct one.
"A dozen men, among whom was one,
mounted the swiftest horses in the COM
mand. and as the dogs started away with
| long leaps we followed.
at was a plain trail for the first half q
dozen miles, and we covered the distance
| in q very short time.
~There was something wonderfully exhil-
J arating in the chase, notwithstanding the
nature of the game we had in view.
"There is more or less of the savage in
man. and 1t only requires proper oppor-
tunity for it TO display its traits in full
l strength.
~I experienced the greatest eagerness i'm
aginable in pursuing that poor wretch, and
| knew from the flushed faces and sparkling
eyes of my companions that they felt the
same emotions.
although We urged the horses forward
as fast as they could bear, the dogs were
| far ahead.
| ~They came 10 a halt however, after we
| had traversed six miles.
"A narrow creek lay IN their path. When
we came mp they were running up and
down the bank, with their noses to the
ground.
"we forded the creek, and the dogs failed
on the scent.
ait am black man, declared the keep
er. his voice trembling with excitement; 'he