Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-02
"POOR WATT
Details Of the Antelope
Valley Rabbit Drive.
MANY INTERESTING scEHxgz
About 1000 Victims to Show for
the Two Days Work
Exciting Incidents.

"All be in attendance at Artesis =
10 O'clock" were the parting inatrnoI
tions given on Friday night to the rSl1-
bit-drivers in Antelope Valley, and
punctually at the hour named 1 NOT
ley crowd was assembled to continuo
the sport. Old and young. male ~
female. mounted and on foot. thar
they stood, armed with murderoua !.
looking bludgeons, laughing and chat<
ting and recounting their adventufo9
of the day previous. Soon the rasrv
shals. on timber looking ponies and
bearing white flags as tukens1 e oz {
their authority made their appearancn
and after q short consultation fIo|
work of disposing of the forces BEGAN.
Two rings were formed, each contain
ing 100 souls, and they were deployed
to work from opposite corners and
finally make junction in the centre.
when, as each man stood about tWen-
ty.five yards from his neighboP. a
unbroken line three miles in lenrtl1
would be formed. Precisely At 10 I'd
the line commenced to move and the
sport began. Some of the beaters
carried tin cans which they
ratified continuously SO as g
scare out any willy rabbit that might
hide behind the protecting sage brush
and it was not long ere quite q floch
of the retreating animals could s.
seen, flying with feet footsteps in the
direction of the corral where death
lay in waiting for them. Some Of fba
incidents on the line of march Wero
very amusing. sDagwortIAn became "a.
excited that fears were at one time
entertained for his mental safety, but
with the cooperation of an old friend
of his from Rosamund, Mr.. Freder-
ickson, he did some good work. City
Assessor Stevenson showed what
an unerring marksman he Wa
and is reported to have
slain no less than twenty animals dur
ing his evolutions through the saeo-
brush. Several other Los Angeles
sportsmen laid the foundatione forl
rabbit stories' with which they are
now doubtless regaling their admirerS
and all on the ground seemed to b.
enjoying themselves, judging by the
wild clamor that rent the air. Soma
of the fugitives proved to be too cum
ming for their pursuers and succeeded
in running the blockade of beaters and
breaking through the line. The euues-
trians and spectators following
in buggies had plenty Of fu1
and as the corral 49,
approached the excitement beenn ~
tell on those who we're acfu S7i1
engaged in the work. The scerI
certainly was an interesting one. Tbs
rabbits, most of whom found their
way into the corral, made desperate
but Intellectual efforts for liberty.
jumping against the wire netting and
running round its foundation seeking
for some loophole for escape. In Tie
background were the beaters Rradu.
ally closing in, and woe betide any Z
animal that ventured near them.
for he was Immediately assailed bv 4
score or so Of bludgeons and
soon left lifeless on the ground. III.
nally the drivers reached the entrauce
to the corral and the gate was pulled
across, cooping up some thousand
animals in the small circle within.
A pause was made while a photograph
of the affair was taken by Mr.. STAN
ton, of Los Angeles, and then, az =.
signal from Capt. Swall, the work Of
destruction began. Club in hand the
throng poured in upon their helpless
victims, and, seeing that escape was
hopeless, many of the animals
squatted close to the ground
and awaited the death blow
that was to end their lives.
In less than moment the work of
carnage was over, and pile Of about
l, 100 rabbits revealed the good work
that had been done. All of the par
Elephants in the affair then went ia
procession to the Del Sur school
house, where the barbecue was to be-
held, and here they found bounfa-
GUS repast awaiting them. An ox.
which had been roasted whole, the
night previous, was served UP ad l;b, &
and there was plentiful supply of
other food on hand, while.
steaming coffee was handed
around by the hard WORKING
lady members of the COMMITTEES On
arrangements. Mr.. M. f. Mather. to.
whose energy the success of the drive
is undoubtedly due, was indefatigablo
in his efforts to supply the wants of
all, and he was ably supported by IN
efficient corps of assistants. After the
report was concluded several speeches
were made anent the purpose Of the
assem- blage, and the question sof peot
determination was ably discuaeed.
The announcement that about 1000
rabbits were killed during the two
days drive was received with great
applause and it was decided to con-
tinue this method of waging war upom
the enemy. Arrangements were then
made for another drive to take place
the next day and the meeting in
formally separated for few hours oro
the evening dance began. &
After nightfall the chop" began on1
was well attended, the little scheo1
house being packed 10 it's utmost o.
pacity and the music Of the flddloe
was not allowed to grow silent until
long after the hour of midnight hnd
passed away. \
An Indiana Ghost.
Broad Ripple, village lying eiT&f
miles north Of this city, has been ~
tied on three occasions lately b. .
strange apparition, and the occgE
rences are vouched for by some of ~
most worthy peorle in the Wills
About 8 O'Clock on recent night
apparition appeared in the foTm
woman, gliding along the rniltG1
track to the edge Of the river, ~