The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-08
anderson gateltigenter'
A SLAUGHTER OF RABBITS.

War on the Pests Every Year In Callior-
MIA.
SAN FRANCISCO, February 25.-With
the month of March opens the season for
sport that is distinctively and exclu-
sively feature of California life. 1t is
rabbit drive. Though marked by cold.
blooded and promiscuous slaughter, the
rabbit drive is yearly growing in popu.
larity with Calitornians, who when they
go a6eld with sinews strung for the
acticn, literally combine business with
pleasure. A rabbit drive means half
day of the widest excitemnt to regi-
ment of men, a violent and certain death
to legion of long-eared, litbe-limbed
jack rabbits and the preservation of thou
sands of bushels of grain and
numberless valuable trees and grape
vines.
The valleys of Central and Southern
California swarm with jack rabbits. For
years they proved themselves q pest of
the worst kind to farmers. They rooted
over the grain fields and destroyed young
grape vines and fruit trees by girdling'
them near the ground with their sharp
teeth. All sort of schemes were resorted
to the annihilation of these creatures,
but in spite of-the poisoned bats and the
traps prepared for them they increased
in numbers until they threatened 10 de-.
stroy every crop of grain that was plant
ed, and every vine and tree that was set
out.
Five years ago the farmers of Fresno
County resolved to rid the county of
some of the animals, aud they planned a
rabbit drive. On certain day the grain
and fruit growers for miles around as.
sembled in the fields at the southeast of
Fresno. The country was virtually de-
serted, and the ranks of the farmers were
strengthened by men, women and chill.
dren from the town who made sport OF
what the farmers considered serious bus
iuess.
First, corral was built of wire fenc-
ing about four feet wide. This inclosure
surrounded about an acre of land, and in
form represented Bartlett pear split
,leDgthwise. The entrance WIS at the
small end. Running out from each side
of this gateway we're wings of wire fen
cling extending nearly a quarter of a
mile each way. From the extremities of
these wings the people far into the field
as their numbers would permit without
breaking the rank, until they formed a
living circle around tract of land twen-
ty acres in extent.
The women and children we're placed
nearest the fences, for in the field active
work was to be done. When the line
was completed and all the things were
in readiness the leader of the drive
gave the signal, and, yelling at the top
of their lungs and beating the
ground With clubs, the line closed slowly
in.
When the advance toward the corral
began, now and then the drivers at some
particular point in the line would be
aroused to a degree of enthusiasm that
seemed almost maniacal by light brown
hump that rose from the ground and
stretched itself into dim streak that
momentarily heightened toward the op.
posite line of drivers. That was q jack
| rabbit, started from hir lair. As the lines
| of men drew near each other the brown
streaks doubled rapidly on themselves,
and finally began to zigzag wild
ly across the inclosure as the fright.
ened long cared creatures ran hither
and thither in search of an open.
ing through which they might escape.
Gradually the animals. we're driven to-
ward the corral until finally the last one
was in the inclosure, which was an undu-
lated mass of hopping and skipping bun
MES completely at the mercy. of their
enemies. As many Of the men and boys
as cared to do 80 entered the inclosure
aud with clubs slew the rabbits, sharp
crack on the skull being all that was ne.
cessary to put permanent quietus on
the animals. In about four hours time
upwards of ten thousand rabbits were
killed.
The undertaking wss voted a complete
success by the farmers, and from that day
the rabbit drive has been an established
thing in Central and Southern Califor-
mia.
The most exciting and successful rab-
bit drive ever held came off on the 10th
Of March, 1892, near Fresno. It was the
last day of the encampment of the Grand
! Army of the Republic, which was being
held in that city. A crowd of people
numbering eight thousand, including
war veterans and visitors to the encamp
ment, encircled a vast territory. 1t was
disastrous day for rabbits, and also fol
q good many ofthe drivers who, after the
fan was over, had picturesque as
sortment of bumps and bruises to exhib.
it as result of the reckless use Of the
! clubs.
i An immense corral was built, and after
7; q few hours of enthusiastic labor it was
literally alive with rabbits. Twenty
thousand is the estimate of the number
ofanimals killed on that occasion. The
ground within the wire fence was heap.
ed with the carcasses of the dead crea-
/ lures.
Tho roooths &c Mornh ond mil orc