New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
CALIFORNIA RABBITS.
WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF THE FLEET.
FOOTED PESTS.

IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNEl
Los Angeles Cal, Aug. THE rabbits Of Southern
California vigorous and prolific 40 any OF the
other productions OF the State. In newly settled re-
gions they prove devastating pest to the orchard
owner. In consequence there IS decided hostility
felt toward the pretty little animals which has led to
the institutlng of rabbit drives" One Of these 0c-
CURED yesterday at Ralto, hoom-timc' town near
san BcrraIdino. The drive did not I'm results. com
pare with those which IN some OF the sections
further north, where the slain number up into the
thousands, but It interesting IN ITS way and was
a fair sample Of the sport, as people here call a
slaughter OF animals where the only skill required IS
ability to WELD the club.
There were about 800 men, women and children
in attendance on foot horse, mule and buero in car
rags carts aud buggies. \ special train carried
several hundred from BernadnO. which put on the
festive appearance Of circus day bands paraded the
streets and the enthusiasm was well worked up.
The method pursued III this sport IS TO build a
Vshaped corral out Of wire fencing at some suitable
spo: on the plains. The drivers then form line as
long As possible with the ends curved toward the
end, Of The wire fence. noisy march then ensues'
the country being thoroughly beaten. The fence
wings stretched about two miles, coming 'Ogethof
al point at which was built a slaughter pen,
covering about an acre. At least thousand men,.
women and boys took part in the drive, yelling
whooplue and startling tie bunnles' from Their
shslter. Tie great jack rabbits went bounding
along IN Kangaroo STYLE while the timd little cotton
tail scurrlcd hlher and thither sometimes In their
izht they would blindly right into the line Of
tie elul-swlnging mob, and rush would be maze
for them with club cane, or perhaps psras"
When the crowd finally arrived at the gap between
the wing, of the fence the excitement grew Intense
II was whack whack whack: men and women wildly
rushed around pounding the poor creatures 10 dea'h
The scene can hardly he imagined, the weather was
very not the mercury being up in the ninetes, but
that made no difference. The thousand people were
mad with the lust OF killing aud 50 wen Wds tnelr
work done that the close when the last amman hH
been smashed t. pieces the ground inside Of the wings
for distance OF two miles was sIewn WIN ueaI
rabbits. However. from non sentlmehtal pOlni vi
Wow the result satisfactory for the end uesneu
was accomplished. II,
The people of Rlalto provided the visitors with
luncheon and did everything 10 display theF
ia.iiudr aud Hospitality. The whole ahaif was a
cliiou, sight not the least Interesting part oi Wlch
was the energy and vindictivcneSs with whIcn ihe
women and girls entered into the amusement labDlng
and pokng their game to death. Inc NUM-
J",nonstIated one thing that the fair sex cannot
Weld a club with deXteIiiy, Notwithstanding me
illusions Of the humorsis to ther haDH Vi coirco'i"s
husbands with the aid Of the rolling PIN