Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-10-19
cAr DRIVING IN FLoRIpA.
How Fifty-Pound Fowlers OF the Swamp
Eurnieh Sport for Hunters.

How Fifty-Pound Fowlers Of the ewamps
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.. NJ. 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 win attack sheep, lambs,
young hogs and poultry, but the human fam
lily, except young and unprotected children.
need have no fear of him. I know Of no
sport SO exciting and demanding effort 60
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 he seeks tree he is not
shot, but the tree is cut down, or he is other
wise dislodged. 60
1.-THE hounds are held in leash until he gets
good start, when the leader blows his horn
and the pursuit is resumed. If the cat enters
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 emerges. And so we gol
Over the hills, through the farms, jumping
fences, leaping ditcles! No English fox hunt
can compare with the Florida 'cat drive,'
and few are the farmers who cnn resist leav-
ing team a-feld and running to the house for
saddle when the baying of hounds and the
blowing of horns tells that cat drive is on
The hounds Of every farmer hearing the din
leave their kennels, and are found loudest
mouthed in the pursuing pack. At last comes
the end, as all sports must end.
"After an all days chase the wildcat at 4
o'clock in the afternoon, or at O'Clock at
the latest. can go little further. The snap
ping jaws of the hounds come closer and
closer. He turns his glaring eyes moment
behind him and staggers on. The pack Of
dogs chat 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 jaded. The cat can run
no more. He prepares to battle for his life.
He turns on his back, raises his feet, and
strikes his long claws viciously 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 an eye. Many
time after cat chase havs sewed up the
ears of my dogs Tho cat drive is the Florida
mans favorite sport. 1t is not pursued with
the purpose of externinating the animals.
Indeed, by state lsw, hunter who will
shoot cat in front Of his dogs is fined SOS,
and by rule of the Hunters association he
is fined again for this same offense. You see
if a cat is killed by a bullet the hounds that
have followed it arc forever spoiled for the
chase. Their proper discipline and future
usefulness require thss they should kill the
cat. On this account shotguns and rifles are
usually left behind.-s3t Louis Globe-D Demo-