The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-24
At THE RABBIT DRIVE.
How Colonel Lamphrey Showed Off at
Franklin.
his Brief Struggle With an Oyergrowr
Hare-And Few Incidents
on the Outside.

The rabbit drive near Franklin yester-
day was largely attended, and while there
was not very great slaughter of the
pests there were plenty of amusing incl
dents connected with the affair to keep
everybody in good humor.
Quite number of Sacramentans went
down there to show the country fellows
what they knew about club-throwing
and hare-slaying, but they did not par
tlcularly distinguish themselves, with the
exception of Colonel William Lamphrey.
The Colonel was a little soft and out of
condition, owing 10 lack Of leg exercise,
but the way he went after those big mule
rabbits is said to have been a caution.
When the flock had been driven into
the corner where the corral stood open to
receive them, and the jacks saw the kind
of trick that it was the intention to play
on them, several of them started back in
:! determined effort to break the line of
drivers. Billy was on the left of the adj
vancing army of cluD-swingers, and in
attempting to turn the flank of the enemy
met with disaster.
A big buck rabbit, that must have seen
the floods OF great many winters, came
straight at the veteran railroad man with
its ears laid back and blood in its eye.
Billy saw him coming and squared him
SELF lie didn't know whether the critter
intended to butt him, jump over his
shoulder, or run between his legs, but
from the size of the beast and the manner
in which it carried its head he concluded
that it was butter.
So Billy turned his back to the advanc-
ing foe.
If it should resort to butting he deemed
1t best to be prepared, and if 1t should try
to get between his legs he would be in
passed through.
lie stopped over just in time to receive
the force of the charge. The tough old
jack was too big to get under, or Billy
was too squatty, for, while its intentions
were honorable enough, circumstances
were against it.
The eolllsion was awful. The Colonel
went down under the shock and landed
on his head in a soft spot. The over
grown rabbit was less fortunate, and
when picked up by one OF the drivers it
was found to have suffered a compound,
double-coinninuted fracture OF the skull.
Some one suggested that it might have
been case OF concussion Of the brain IN
the case OF the hare, of course). but
Lamphrey-who had by this time got the
mud out OF his eyes and mouth-swore
that banked critter that had no more
sense than that one couldn't have any
brains. lie had seen hareS along the
Placerville Railroad for twenty years,
and while none OF them could lay claim
to intellectual development of even an
average order, still one of those FL Dorado
critters knew more in one minute than
whole colony OF Franklin's lopg-eared.
jackassical rabbits knew in lifeline.
The rabbit drive had by this time lost
its charm for the Colonel. and he wan
dered aimlesSly about until the fun was
over. lie grew very weary and wanted
to sit down, but couldn't find anything
sufficiently yielding to render sitting
possible, owing TO circumstances over
which he had no control.
After the drive his friend D-n got
Ply. Becilley, the Mayor of Franklin, to
give them a couple OF big buck rabbits to
take to town. They wanted them to turn
loose in the Ell Paso Saloon, but with
what object in view they did not explain.
They got the hares, anyhow, and put
them in a bag. The bag had two holes,
but they saw but one-strange to say.
That one they tied up, and to make the
prize more secure Billy's companion
took his fine Christmas-present silk
handkerchief, with the name OF the donor
worked III one corner, and with it bound
together the rabbits hind legs.
The bag was placed in the buggy and
Lno pair SIdfIeu IOI franklin. Iley had
gone about half a mile toward Franklin
when a shout behind them attracted
their attention, and on looking about
they saw the rabbit with the silk apend-
age leaping through field of growing
grain. 1t had found the other hole in the
bag.
The owner of the handkerchief clamb-
cred through a barbed wire fence, but
lost time in so doing, and struck on the
trail of the hobbled hare. 4 country bow,
who was crossing the field, enjoyed the
chase for awhile, and then squatted, spat
on his hands and grasped his CORY club
fresh from the slaughter-pen, with both
hands.
The hare was coming his way and we'll
in the lead. AS it neared him he jumped
up, swung his war-club and let it fly.
The hare went down and the country lad
grabbed it, took OFT the silk handkerchief
with the name worked on one corner,
and waving it alott struck out for his
ranch.
The Sacramentan returned disheart-
ened, only to find that in his absence the
other hare had escaped right under Lam
phrey's nose while he was enjoying the
chase.
Sorrowfully the pair drove to town.
and while they tried to look pleasant
they failed to convince any of their
trends that they had enjoyed the rabbit
drive.