Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-22
DOG-CATCHERS OUT.
THEY SCOOP IN SEVENTEEN UNSuS'
pecTlNC CANNES THE FIRST DAY.
Their Execution Postponed Until To-day
at Noon-Thc Historic Old Wagon
and Its Crowds.

the populace of Richmond. and as re-
sui, OF only one days labor there are
gathered together at the crema,ory Sc
yenteen dogs six goats. and two PIGS
REPRESENTING the animal possessions Of ci-
items from all parts OF the city.
The aggregation of CANNES, at least,
were 10 have been ushered INTO the heaven
especially provided for their class
nrompily at shutdown yesterday. but in
the generousness Of the heart of Major
John Poe. Jr, chief Of Police. the
mighty hand of the executioner was
STAYED until noon to-day. Just as the
clocks ring out that a.l-important hour
the lights OF the unredeemed OF the aiore-
said seventeen will be summary extin-
pplshed. and soon thereafter the great
fires Of the crematory will be smacking
their red jaws upon the carcasses OF the
victims.
/, had been about twelve or fourteen
years since the monstrous-l boxing OH
WAGON with its iron bars AMI It's peculiar
gate AT the back was last driven through
the streets OF Richmond. preceded by
ellht men with their nets In hani ana
their eyes eager for the sight Of an I'M
suspec:ing canine without the legal ere
dentials. and followed 10y the amusement
and discontinue. the Joy. and the anger
OF the hundreds who witnessed the pro
ceedngs Of the canine ensnares. Almost
al day long a stream OF men and boys.
of all ages. cp!ors. and conditions. fol-
loved or preceded the wagon. and the
spor; tina, the In discriminate crowd had
out Of the dog-catchers was equal u
that furnished by a firS;-class circus pa
rade At almost every corner me mon
of followers increased. AMI At times the
scene around the historic Cd conveyance
was riot-likc.
THEY HAD LOTS OF FIN.
The small boys especially enjoyed the
day. 1t was something entirely new to
them and their cheers and Jeers as tn
dog-catChers proceeded down Broad
street. headed by Policemen Otey and
Priddy. Of the First District. mounted.
were deafcnng. As the procession passed
the CITY Hall II was reviewed by Mayor
Richard NJ. Taylor and Colonel William
r. Tanner the former OF whom on Fri
day last. in accordance with the ordinance
upon the question. called out the canine
ex,errnlnators The Mayor viewed thu
work being done by his subjects with
evident satisfaction. and remarked that
he felt confident that the citizens oi
Richmond would be better enabled to
sleep during the coming summer months
than they had during the heated season
for many years. He stated in this con
nection that he had waited for a long
time for the Council To adopt some sort
Of dog ordinance which would meet the
needs of Richmond. but that body had not
seen fit TO do so. or at least had not done
so and he had found il necessary 10 carry
out the provisions Of the Old ordinance
and eliminate from the community the
assortment Of trifng CANNES which had
SO long made night hideous II was THIS
class OF dogs especially that he wanted
to rid the city Of
WAS y SLIGHT DELAY.
AS before stated Mayor Taylor on Fri
day gave his orders calling out the
catChers and the rickety old conveyance.
which has laid up at the city stables
tor many years. but. owing TO some de-
lay, due to repairs 10 the wagon, getting
mules and men, and arranging other
small details. the catchers did not make
their debut to the public until yesterday
morning. And their coming WAS a pro
found surprise TO the whole community.
Very few persons. II any. knew that
the Mayor would commence war upon the
unsuspe citing dumb brutes. and ii was
well that Mr.. Taylor pursued the course
that ne did. otherwise there might have
been fewer of the worthless ours caught
In an hour after the quaint old vehicle
and its corterie OF men and Hrchina
started ont from the city stables a little
yellow dog was scooped in by two Of the
net-bearers. as II takes two men 10 ope-
rate one net. mis- was the signal for
the fun to commence, and il increased
until the close of the day. when IL was
announced that the Staying would be
postponed until noon to-day. This ma
tcrially detected the pursuing spectators
for many Of them had gone into the
thing with the view OF seeing ii en-
urely through. II is likely that tO-days
executions Will be witnessed by a large
assemblage Of boys and men. represent
ing almost every walk in life.
BROKE Up THE SCHOOLS.
4 well-known gentleman while talking
to Dispatch reporter, yesterday about
the dog-catchers, said that he Iem,m-
bered when before the war tae same
methods Of dispOsng Of the unlicensed
CANNES was resorted TO. ana me same old
wagon. with its IRON bars and rs sliding
gate. was pulled through the city in the
presence Of thousands Of persons. mostly
juveniles. He added that IN those days
when the dog-catchers would come along
so many Of the boys would get excuses
from their parents 20 stay from school
that the schools would be completely
broken up for the time. Many tines the
boys would follow the ..oy-"atcne~s all
day long. without a mOuthful Of food or
nOuTishment Of any kind. 50 great would
be their excitement. II was almost as bad
yesterday
People who own good or valuable dogs
have a great fear Of The unsympa,hizing
dog-catchers. In many instances ycster-
day the affection Of owners for their
barking possessions ass .rtnd Itself, and in
one instance. in which The catch-rs were
attempting TO take up a canine before It's
masters eyes. the latter drew a revolver.
and displayed fight. IN another case the
owner stated that If his dog was placed I'm
| that wagon he would sue not only the
| city, but the dog-catchcrs individually
and collectively. That dog was not put
in the wagon. At the corner Of Seventh
| and Main streets a beautiful and pathetic
| incident occuned. \ little black dog was
| scooped in and an eyewitness to the
procedure was a little girl, who viewed
| IL from a window nearby. In her arms
| she held affectionately a pug that she
! was evidently afraid the dog-catchers
would get Her clasp around the neck
| Of her pet was tight, and her features
| plainly depicted the great apprehersio
| that she felt. When the procession had
| gotten entirely past her home she loosen
| ed her grasp around the dog
| and look Of delight took the
place OF that OF despair upon her
| countenance. While one of the dogs was
| being taken up in the West End he be-
came vicious and bit one of the catchers.
| The injury sustained. however. was
| slight. and the man was enabled to pur-
| sue his duties.
| TWO OF THE VICTIMS.
| Among the CANNES who fell victims 10
| the net were the wel!-known Jim" for
| many years owned by Captain Page Nc
| Carly, who in his palmy days was
| cock Of the walk in dogiom (and who
| now is proud OF his record as a fighter,
| and one owned by Mr.. George Med.
| Blake. the MonrOe-Ward alderman, who
| spent so much time in endeavoring TO get
| a suitable dog-ordnance through the
| Council. John Davis" the newspaper
| cur. whose reputation for chasing horses
| and street-cars, is unexcelled, was not
| caught. as was rumored on the streets
| yesterday afternoon. He barely escaped
| the catchers by running into the Dis
| patch building by the rear entrance.
| The city ordinance concerning the dog,