Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-15
NEGRO BL00DH0UNDS
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE USE OF
BACKGROUNDS IN THE SOUTH.
ed to Track Thieves etc.-How
Dog Convicted n RObber, etc.
Written for the pi,pa,ch.l

Written for the DiSpatch.l
In the old days of slavery, when I was q
boy living on my fathers farm in Virginia.
often heard OF blood-hounds vino were
said TO he kept on cotton plantations IN
the South. Ny brothers and myself as
well as our negro playmates, would have
our blood curdled and orr hair would
stand on end at the wonderful stories told
us by our Uncle Remus." 1t was lust
awful. and we could not sec how human
beings could be so cruel and hard-hearted.
DOWN IN ALABAMA.
But years ago moved to the very centre
OF thus black district Of Alabama, where
many such tales Of childhood had been
located. The negroes were free. and manv
time l hunted over the plantations and
talked with the negroes Of old times, when
they had such a hard time under the lash
OF the tsskmaster. Ia some cases found
that while the white master was gone the
colored master WAS still on hand. ana moro
severe than he dared 10 be while he had a
humane master 90 restrain him.
But still. the memory Of bloodhound
stories, Ike the memory of ghost stones.
haunted me a. in bOyhOOd DAYS. i had
learned enough of the world to know That,
even on the score OF common-sense and
economy. many tales that were told me
tNeu Elu'J De ItlSe.
THE BLooDHoUNDs.
Uncle Remus." at our house, used 10
tell u that in the cotton-helds, way down
in Alabama" they "hitched a niger long
side of mule 10 a plow." What that was
for / could not tell. for y negro would cost
the planter $1,000, while he could buy
anQsher mule for 500. He also said that
"niggers down thar was run down by
lie I'D oil 20 - fIhfQ
was rather hard 10 swallow, too. for It was
too costly food, even for blOodh0unis.
But until few years ago ! did believe
in the bloodhound rs a reality, and while
such tales arc still told. it is q fact that the
so-c0Ned bloodhound" - no moro of
bloodhound than he Is bench-leg tce.'
Man WHO KNEW.
After a days ride on the cars I took
LODGINGS for the night at the Windsor
Hotel. in Montgomery, Ala. Supper over
/ strOllcd into the smOking-rOOm aod was
greeted by an old friend who l knew had \
convict farm IN the cane-break section
of the state. We sat down to a coy chat,
which was prolonged TO q late hour at
night. and all my old ghosts of blood
hounds were at once exploded with
hearty laugh from my friend.
The conyicts IN that Stale arc hired out
at go much per month. Tho hlrer pays 30
much money % the State and agrees to
cOthe and feed the conyiots and Is re-
spOusible for their safekeeppg. In cases
where they work in mines they are locked
up at night and guarded. On farms they
are guarded ali day and ar nightaro locked
up in q building, whore they sleep In tiers
of hunks, as prisoners did during our late
war.
THE REAL DOG.
Captain II. told me that the bloodhound
was merely q good deer or fox-hound, Sc
lected because OF his cold noSe and perSis-
tency IN following the trail. They arc
trained 10 follow the track Of n runaway
from the time thoy are brought 10 the
farm. A negro boy Will be sent out and
directed to follow a certain course, to cross
as many fields where negroes arc 40 work a.
possible and 20 make tho trail as lndlstlnct
as possible Then when he comes IN he
goes ut once 10 the prisoners quarters and
climbs for safety tothe highest bunk.
Meantime the hound IS put on the trai!
and the master follows on horseback and
encourages him. Many time be dog Will
run in among the negroes 40 work, but
never loses the trail OF the ole he Is pur-
suing, or II be does they Will point out the
track 30 the mqster and be % the hound,
and this practice continues until the dog
is thoroughly trained. Captain II. has sew
eral that are SO certain to track mp the cul-
prit that none of his cOnylcts ever dare 10
try TO escape.
When asked if the dog is not dangerous
should he oycrtake his game he said: No,
the darby easily mounts q tree or fence
when he hears the dog; and the dog IS not
ferocious. lie viii te9 q negro a ne Will q
'p0ssum or coon, and bark and crowl until
the master comes on the scene"
REMARKABLE sToR-.
He then gave me this wonderful achieve
ment Of the best hound be ever owned :
He said one dark, stormy fearful nlgnt ne
was aroused bv a hGlloaf from theyard gate.
Going 10 the door be found a ncghbor on
horseback. who told him that his country
storehouse had been broken open, the
mouey-drawer taken out, and his gin-hous q
had been set on fire, and was still burning.
He wanted the Captain and his dOg 20 try
and find the culprit. Mounting his horse,
and followed by the dog they rode through
the rain several miles % the store. Enter-
ing. they put tine dog ON The trail. He W mt
behind the counter. stood up at the place
from which the money-drawer had been
taken, dropped TO the door again, and took
the trail through the centre %. the room
and out Of the door. Ashley followed hun
through the room he noticed coarse cot
be d clue, kicked it under the counter.
TRIED THE COON.
Tho dog kept the trail and they followed
until he entered pine tulcNet. which they
avoided for fear of q masked batt ~. ~
Bothered for awhile and seeming 10 lose
the track. the dog stIuc0 10 again 800 camo
out of the thicAet on the opposite SIDE.
He then went straight - a caoin. tho door
OF which was wide open. Gong IN tue
dog went around the room with his nos" 10
the floor then came out and took pain
which led g. where the gin-h0pse was still
burning and around which were hundred
or more negroes, drawn together by curl
Osity. Going a. once 10 the crowd the dog
went from one 60 another and smellcd,
until az last he stopped at one man and be-
gan 10 grOwl.
The Captain walked up and said, "iou
are the man. sir. You broke open that
store. hid that money, went back TO your
house, and then came here and set fire TO
the Clubhouse 10 hide the theft"
OF course no protested MS innocence.
But sad the Captain, =" what KIND OF
socks are YOU wearingy" The man replied
that he put on two pair. o. Il was cold and
raining. But, alas for him when he pulled
of his boots one foot had two socks on and
the other only one. while the sock IN the
stOrehouse matched ne ODD sock on The other
foot. The mOney-bOX was found IN the
thicket next morning and the negro was
soon convicted on The dog 5 eCideace and sent
to the penltentlarY. OLD boz.