Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-09-27
HUNTING WILDCATS.
Thrilling Sport with Which Flori,lianl
Amuse Themselves.

Thrilling Sport with Which F1ori.iians
Amuse Themselves.
Chatting over their cigars. a few
gentlemen passed pleasant hour ex-
changing personal experiences of the
chase. Mr.. NJ. N. Bryan. of Madison
County. Fla, told, with much interest
to his listeners. stories of the hunting
Of the wildcat. He said:
1.-The Florida wildcat, when fully
grown. weighs about fifty pounds, is
as large as a goOd-sized fox-hound.
and when in full chase of a pack of
hounds is an object to startle and be-
wilder 4 Northern hunter. With fur
thrown back, claws extended, leaping
with great springs through forest or
swamps. 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 family,
except young and unprotected chill
dren. need have no fear of him.
know of no sport so exciting and de-
handing effort so hard and long.
continued as cat drive The hunt
ing party having been agreed upon.
they meet an hour and half before
daylight, mounted on their best horses
and attended by hounds, often to the
number of forty. The wild cat is gen.
orally found foraging at this hour and,
being surprised, runs quickly to the
cover of the nearest swamp, or climbs
a tree. If he seeks q tree, he is not
shot, but the tree is cut down or he is
otherwise dislodged. 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 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 are the farmers
who can resist leaving team a-field and
running to the house for saddle
when the baying of hounds and the
blowing of horns tell that cat
drive is on. The hounds of every
farmer hearing the din leave their
kennels, and are found lOndest-
mouthed in the pursuing pack. At
last comes the end, as all sports m ust
end.
AFTER an all days chase the wild
cat at four o'clock in the afternoon, or
at five o'clock at the latest, can 20
little further. The swapping jaws of
the hounds come closer and closer
He turns his glaring eyes a 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 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 vicious
ly at any hound that dare attack him.
The battle is long and bloody. and be-
fore it ends hounds are frightfully
SCARED and often lose an eye. Many
time after a cat chase have sewed
up the ears of my dogs. The cat drive
is the Florida mans favorite sport. 1t
is not pursued with the purpose of ex-
terminating the animals. Indeed, by
State law, hunter, who will shoot
cat in front of his dogs, is fined $25,
and. by a rule of the Hunters Asso-
citation, he is fined again for the same
offense. You see if the cat is killed
by bullet the hounds that have fol-
lowed it are forever spoiled for the
chase. Their proper discipline and
future usefulness require that they
should kill the cat. On this account
shotguns and rifles are usually left be-
hind. st. Louis Globe Democrat
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