Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-16
slooDHouNDs ON THE TRAIL.
The Thoroughbred Brute Never Lays ii old
of His Rundown Victim.

Some time ago l had the privilege, in
company with DR.. Sydney Turner, the
well known authority on hounds and judge
for the principal shows in England, and
Edwin Brough, the foremost breeder of
bloodhounds in the world, TO witness an
exhibition of trailing in the country seat of
the latter. 1t was an afternoon in late
September A thick haze lay in the val
Leg, and the breath of air which might have
released imprisoned nature from its spell
had not come the entire day. The ground,
which had not felt the sun for "A hours,
was in favorable condition.
a runner having been dispatched over an
Intricate and circuitous route, we three
mounted a hillock which commanded
flew of the whole field. We watched him
threading his way through pastures and
swamp and across & stream which demand
td running jump; thence over fences and
atone walls and through cover. leaving no
device untried for throwing off the trail OF
his expected pursuer. Half an hour having
been granted him. the signal was waved
from the hill and the hound released from
the kennel. Ii was Champion Bono, one Of
the dogs entered at London against Jack
the Ripper. He came down the hill in an
easy trot, conscious of the task which had
been prepared for him and with an air OF
perfect willingness to undertake it. The
attendant, having removed his collar, gave
him the word and laid him on.
The conclusion which the writer had
made from accounts of these man trailers
was that heir work was slow and laborious.
Judge of his surprise, then, TO see the dog
start as though shot out of a catapult,
with as determined gallop rs thorough
bred and at the pace of u foXhound.
This was maintained over the entire
course, checked only when the scent gave
out at the stream. One or two casts up and
down the banks We're made, and then, with
the assurance of Il logician reasoning from
the two judgments to the immediate infer
ence OF the syllogsm, plunged in and found
the trail on the opposite side. The hound
ranged with great freedom, giving himself,
while at top speed, a latitude sometimes of
40 yards to leeward of the trail. At fences
and walls, however, he was particular to
cross directly at the spot taken by the run
ner, and having caught the scent on the
other side gave himself up to the careless
curvetings OF Il skater
A flock Of sheep which had crossed the
trail and entirely obliterated it brought
him down to hard work, and for a time he
did some very serious thinking and deal
Of most commercially interesting expert
mentation. At last, having picked up the
lost thread, he let ont Il long, wild cry Of
triumph. which came floating TO us through
the quiet valley for a mile and 4 half.
Shortly after this the dog was lost to sight,
but in due time pursued and pursUer APP
pearcd together. The boy had met a friend
on the road who had detained him and was
ovcrtaken while in his stride. He was not
aware of the hounds approach until he felt
his cold nose on his hand. This is as much
satisfaction as the ST. Hubert bloodhound
demands He never under any circum-
stances lays hold of his man. Having thus
designated him. he feels that his duties are
over and if his services are valuable others
must develop results from this point.-Phil
atlplDhia Times