The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-27
CATCHING CoNVICrs.
How They Are Run Down by
Hounds in Alabama.
The rroverblal Convict Catching Blood
hound Is Nothing More Nor Less Than
Small Fox-Hound Trained with
Considerable Care.

Bloodhounds arc inseparably asso
ciated with slavery in tho South
"Unclo Toms Cabin" and other stories
and dramas Of that character would lose
half their interest without the horror.
inspiring bloodhounds. Since tho wal
tho bloodhounds in the South have been
trained to chase escaped convicts.
Every few days newspapers all over the
country publish kilograms from some
Southern city giving an account Of the
escape of convict and his capture by
the aid of bloodhounds.
Those convict-catching bloodhounds
are amyth. There arc no such dogs In this
section of the country, Tho dogs used
in trailing escaped prisoners are small
fox hounds, a very insignificant and
harmless animal.
AT Pratt Mines, five miles from this
city, there are twelve hundred convicts,
leased by tho State to the Tennessee
Coal Iron e Railroad Company, writes a
birmingham (Ala.) correspondent of
the st. Louis Globc-Dcmocrat The
company is responsible for the safe
keeping of the convicts, and isrequired
to pay the State Il good round sum for
every long-tcrm man who escapes.
To capture those who escape the com-
pany keeps Il large pack of hounds.
These dogs are small red fox hounds. a
few of them are spotted, but the major
ity are solid. duh rcd color They
are small, slendcr-limbed animals, c1pa-
bic of fair speed and endurance, and they
can without difficulty follow a trail five
to eight hours old.
The dogs at Pratt Mines have for
years been in charge OF Il. II. Crosswell.
They are kept in largo stockado q
short distance from the prison, and
never taken outside tho inclosure ex-
ccpt when wanted 10 trail escaped con-
victs. In appearance these hounds arc
as lazy and cowardly as any "yaller
dog" in existence, but when onco they
strike the trail Of n convict they become
all life and animation. From puppy
hood these dogs have been taught TO
follow nothing but tho trail of men.
They ar"noycr allowed to hunt game Of
any kind, and would pass over the trail
OF fox or deer without notice.
To get the dogs on the right trail
a coat or hat belonging 10 the escaped
convict is obtained If possible and
held TO the nose of each dog, whilo
Trainer Crosswcl by signs makes
thcm understand that is tho scent
they arc expected to follow. They arc
then taken to the point where tho con-
vict made his escape from the mine or
prison, or to tho place where he was
last seen The moment they scent tho
trail they recognize it and give 4 sharp
yelp. Their lashes are then slipped Off.
they are told TO 90 and the race begins.
Guards on horses follow close behind
Trainer Crosswcll, who rides a feet
horse and keeps right with the dogs.
AS soon as the trail is struck the baying
OF the hounds begins and tho music they
make would stir the blood in any old
hunters veins. The dogs follow closely
a first, but as the trail grows warmer
they increase their pace. The fleeing
conyict may run through crowded
street, double on his track. enter houses
and minglc with crowds of people, but
he can not dodge the yelping pack of
red dogs on his trail. There is only one
chance to escape them. and that is UNI
certain if they are close behind. By
taking TO water the dors can be thrown
of the trail If tho convict can reach a
small creek and wade through the water
in the middle OF tho stream several
miles he may be able to escape the keen
scented pursucrs. They can not follow
him in the water If the dogs are close
behind this plan Will fail, because the
guards separate the dogs and follow
both banl.s OF the creek. often distance
of several miles, in the hope OF striking
the trail again.
Trainer Crosswcll is proud ofhis dogs.
Once fairly started on a trail they mover
lose it unless thrown off the scent by
hard rain or the convict taking TO water.
Tnev have trailed men through the
principal streets Of this city where
thousands had passed over the trail and
finally run the fugitive down. They
never make mistake. Ii they are
started on the right trail they follow it
to the end When several convicts.
escape together and separate in tho
woods when pursued tho dogs are
divided and the separate trails all fol-
lowed.
The narrowing stories told in novels
Of men being torn to pieces by blood
hounds have no foundation. When tho
dogs ovortalle an escaped prisoner they
make no effort to attack him, but
simply circle around while their deep
mouth baying tells the guards the gamo
has been run down. Us soon as tho
guards come up and secure the prisoner
the hounds Immediately relapse into
that state of lazy Indifference which
characterized them before the opening
OF the long chase.
On several occasions these dogs have
done good service in trailing down muir
dcrcrs aad burglars. Trainer Crosswell
says he can take any ordinary foX-hound
when young and teach it TO trail men.
1t is entirely matter of education and
not Of breed.
Cuiy one Days Delay.
In Chicago recently the boiler and en-
CINE of printing establishment were
wrecked by an explosion. A month
,ra,,ll La ,,nnnccnr-. 10 cot nnrr hni lnrs