Wichita eagle., 1888-09-11
CAT DRIVING IN FLORIDA.
How Fifty-Pound Fowlers of the Swamp
Furnish Sport for Hunters.

How Fifty-Pound Fowlers of tho Swampa
Furnish Sport for Hunters.
Chatting over their cigars, few gentle
men passed a pleasant hour at the st. James
hotel exchanging personal experiences Of the
chase, Mr.. N. n. Bryan, of Madison county,
Fla, told, with much interest to his listen
ers, stories of the hunting of the wildcat.
He said:
''The Florida wildcat, when fully grown,
weighs about fifty pounds, and is as large as
good sized fox hound, and when in full
chase OF pack Of fox hounds is an object to
startle and bewilder northern hunter. With
fur thrown back, claws extended, leaping
with great springs through forest or swamp,
the ordinary sportsman, at the first sight OF
the animal, turns pale and wants to leave
instanter. The cat will attack sheep, lambs,
young hogs and poultry, but the human fam
lily, except young and unprotected children,
need have no fear of him. l know of no
sport so exciting and demanding effort SO
hard and long continued as cat drive. The
hunting party having been agreed upon,
they meet an hour and a half before day
light, mounted on their best horses and at
tended by hounds, often to the number of
forty. The wildcat is generally found for
aging at this hour, and, being surprised, runs
quickly to,the cover of the nearest swamp or
climbs tree If be seeks tree he is not
shot, but the tree is cut down, or he is other
wise dislodged.
1.-The hounds sre held IN leash until De gets
a good start, wnen the leader blows his norm
and the pursuit is resumed IL the cat enters
a swamp the hounds follow him there, and
ultimately drive him out, and the hunting
party, guided by the noise Of the dogs, is
ready to take up the chase near the point
where the game energies And SO We go!
Over the hills, through the farms, jumping
fences, leaping bitches. No English fox hunt
can compare with the Florida cat drive
and few ara the farmers who can resist leav-
ing team a-field and running to the house for
a saddle when the bayinG OF hounds and the
blowing Of horns tells that a cat drive IS on.
The hounds of every farmer hearing the din
leave their kennels, and are found loudess
mouthed in the pursuing pack. At last comes
the end, as all sports must end
After an all days chase the wildcat at
o'clock in tie afternoon, or at 3 O'Clock Sc
the latest. can go little further. The snap
ping jaws of the hounds coma closer aud
closer. He turns his glazing eyes moment
behind him and staggers on The pack Of
dogs that had been in full cry IN the morning
is now broken Only the hardy ONES have
kept up with the long chase Horses and
riders are worn and jsded. The cat can run
no more He prepares TO battle for his life.
He turns on his back, raises his feet, and
strikes bis long claws viciousiy at any hound
that dare attack him. The battle is long and
bloody, and before it ENDS hounds are fright
fully SCARED, and often lose aneye. Many
time after cat chase havs l sesed up the
ears OF my dogs The cat drive Is the Florida
mans fsvorite sport 1t IS not pursued with
the purpose Of c-terninsting the animals
Indeed, by state law, hunter who VIII
shoot cat in front Of his dogs IL fined Is,
ard by a rule of the Hunter association be
is fined again for the same onense You see
if q cat is killed By bullet the hounds tha.
have followed it are forever spoiled for the
chase. Their proper discipline and future
usefulness require that they should klll the
cat. On this account shosSuns and rifles are
usually left behind-St. Louis Glooe-Desno