The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-30
THE TRUE BLOODHOUND.
A Descendant OF tho Deer Hounds 81 Old
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

4 Descendant OF tho Deer HOUNDS OF Ola
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The true bloodhound originated from
the old Talbot breed Of Northern England.
From these deer hounds Of old England
the modern Texas bloodhound is de
sccnded OF course there are other spe'
ccs of bloodhounds, viz. the Siberian
bloodhound. which is an immense AM
mai. and too entirely ferocious to use IN
the pursuit Of any human being, and the
Cuban or Spanish bloodhound which is
nearly akin TO the one just named. These
latter were used by the Spanish colonists
to track Indians, and in later times to re-
claim fugitive slaves. but they have
rarely. if ever. been used by any one in
the United States They are, besides, an
entirely different breed Of dogs.
The Cuban bloodhound is cOmbina-
ton of the deer hound, the ferocious
nastin and the Russian (or Siberian)
greyhound. They thus unite the uner'
ring scent Of the deer hound, the savage
bIoodthirstiness of the mastiff and the
feetness of the greyhound. They will
track fugitive, and, having "bayed
him. will tear him in pieces.
Far different from this terrible animal
is the genuine Texas bloodhound. The
name blood" hound is, in fact, in GER
tain sense, misnomer The Texas
hound is not q savage animal, save when
wounded, or when resistance Is made.
They are true descendants Of the splen-
did animals which made such royal sport
for the Norman kings and mobiles. Gen
tie. patient. untirlng and magnificent In
strength. they are at once the patricians
of their race and the favorites OF their
masters. The cruel admixture Of blood
which gives the Cuban hound his devil
lsh hatred of fleeing foe is happily,
absent from the physical development OF
orr American hounds. Indeed. public
opinion would not for a moment tolerate
the use of the Cuban hound in pursuit Of
criminals even of the most desperate
character The object to be attained 10y
the use of bloodhounds il not the death
or mangling of the man pursued, but his
capture. and the hound is, therefore,
called into requisitiOn not on account OF
his powers of destruction, but because
his unerring instinct will guide him
straight and true on the path the culprit
has taken, even though twenty-four
hours may have elapsed and rains have
fallen and winds have blown to render
the scent cold and faint and perplexing
These noble animals have inherited all
he instincts Of their forofathers, who
gave back the deep and mellow echo Of
their bay in English glades in response
to the notes blown by royal lips.
When Cpur de Lion and his noble
train pursued the fleeing stag through
sunny Sherwood's forest aisles they knew
by the note of the hound that the ant
Tered foe, arrow stricken and bleeding
was bayed by the faithful pack, but only
bayed. The painting animal did not at
tempt to Stake his thirst in the blood OF
his majestic prey, as the Cuban hound
would have done. but sore and furnishing
as he was, he kept the buck on the de-
fensive until the hunters arrived, and ii
was only when the arm of his royal or
noble master had driven home the sharp
steel blade that he ventured to feast on
the rich. red current which flowed from
the stricken throat of the gallant Zoe
which had led him many weary mile
that day over bog and moor, mountain
stream and bosky thicket.
And in this power of restraint consists
the great, the true value Of the Texas
bloodhound He responds faithfully to
the inherited instincts of his race. Trained
10 track a stag, he will follow him until
he has bayed him. and will leave the
victim unframed until the arrival Of the
hunter Trained to track man, he will
do the same thing exactly. Hence, as
silerifIs do not desire the death but the
capture Of criminals. it will easily he
seen how far superior the Texas hound is
to his Cuban cousin, and how much
better adapted to the needs of humane
and civilized people.
Ii may be taken as an absolute fact
that no fugitive need fear harm from a
Texas bloodhound if, when brought to a
stand, he will remain quiet until his
captors come. II he offers resistance,
continues his fight or wounds the hound,
why, then the hound will do just as his
master would do under similar circum-
stances, and resort to extreme measures
20 defend himself. Galveston Cor. Globe
Democrat.