The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-29
\ FLORIDA cAr-DRIvE.
No English Fox-Hunt Can Compare
with 1t.
s.. Lonls obe.pemoeral.

-. LOUIS Nsnoe~ tfkflONfai
The Florida Wild eat, when fully
grown. weighs about 70 pounds, Is a
large Is i good-sized Sex-hoand, and
hen in f.li chase of pack OF hounds
j. an object to staitls and bewilder 4
Northern hunter. With fur thrown
back, claws extended, leaping with
great springs through forest or swamp,
TIE ordinary sportsman, at the first
sight of the animal, turns pale and
wants to leave instanter. The eat viii
attack sheep. lambs. young hogs, and
poultry, but the human family, except
Young and unprotected children, need
have no fear OF him. | know OF no
sport 30 exciting and demanding
effort 30 hard and long continued a a
cat-drive. The hunti- z party having
been agreed upon, they meet an hour
and a half before daylight, mounted
on their best horses and attended
hy hounds, often TO The num-
Der OF forty. The Wild cat l.
generally found foraging at this hour.
and. beng surprised. runs quickly to
the cover OF the nearest swamp or
climbs tree. Ii he seeks a tree he is
not shot, but the tree i cut down, or
he i otherwise di-lodged- The hounds
are held in leash until be gets 4 good
start. when the leader blows his horn
and the pursuit is resumed. VI the
cat enters 4 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
mp the chase near the point where the
game emerges. And 20 We goi over
the hills. thFouph the farms, jumping
fences. ieapine oitehesi No English
fox hunt can compare with the FloTi-
da cat drive. and few are the farmers
who can resist leaving team atiela and
running 70 the house for s saddie when
the having of hounds ard the blowing
Of norn~ tells that eat drive is on.
The hounds OF every farmer hearing
the din leave their kennels. and are
found ioude~f meuthed in the pnrsu-
ing pacs. At last comes the end, aS
ali sports must end.
Alter an ali DAYS chase the Wild cat
at O'Clock in the afternoon, or at
O'Clock st the latest, can 90 little fur
ther. The swapping jaws ot the hounds
come closer and closer. He turns his
eiaring ewes a mement behind BIN
and ~iaggers on The pack OF dog-
that haa been in full CRY in the morn
ing is now broken. Only the hardy
ones have kept up with the long chase.
Horses and riders are worn and iaded.
The eat can rnu ~ more He pre-
pares 20 battle for his life. He turns
on his back. raj es hi, feet and strikes
his long claws yiciOusiy At any
hound that dare attack him.
The battle j. long and bloody,
and before il ends hounds ere fright
fully Scared. and often lose an eye
MANY a time after a eat chase have |
sewed mp the ears Of my dog. The
cat drive is the Florida mans fayoriie
sport. II j. not pursued with the puE-
pose of exiermiuatiug the animals.
Indeed. bv a state law. a hlnter who
viii shoot a cat in front Of his dogs i
fined SO. aud by \ rule al the ilunt-
ers' Association he is fined again for
tie same ofFeuse. You see il cat j.
killed by a bullet the hounds that have
followed ID are forever spoile8 for the
ehae Their proper discipline snd
future u-etulness require tnat they
hould Kill the cat on this accauDi
shotguns and rife are usually isit be-
hind.