The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-06-25
STORIES OF THE DAY.
A Great Rabbit Drive Recently Held Near
Fresno. Cal.


The great rabbit drive which was 50
deliberately planned was carried into
successful execution near Fresno recent
~, with the result that thousands Of
rabbits met their fate from the merci-
less clubs Of farmers and townspeople
Estimates as to the number killed vary,
ranging from 10, 900 to %, 900. 1t was
impossible to count them, and the best
estimate Is no better than a guess. But
the slaughter surpassed anything of the
kind ever seen there before.
Ten thousand people took part-foot-
men, horsemen. wheelmen and vehicles
Of all sorts. When the line was formed
ready for advance, it was in a huge
crescent, one horn near MCMILLAN sta
ton and the other near Caruthers, on
the west side of the railroad. The line
Of people was "a miles long. 1t was aft
er 10 O'Clock when W. +. Rowell signal
ed a general advance, and the line
moved forward across orchards, fields,
vineyards, and finally emerged ON the
open plains. The best of order was
maintained The marshals galloped
along the line giving instructions. To-
ward noon the north and south wings
began to fold inward to the center, and
when within three miles of the corral
the line of men had contracted till it
was less than three miles long.
All this time the rabbits had been
driven forward, constantly increasing in
numbers. At first they had not shown
much concern, but when they began to
be crowded they grew excited. Several
coyotes were started. Some were shot
and others died later. Some whelps
were caught alive Many rattlesnakes
were killed. When the rabbits had been
driven into comparatively small space,
they covered the ground and soon grew
excited and tried to escape by rushing
through the lines. Then the slaughter
began. A solid line of men dropped on
their knees and dubbed the rabbits.
From this point to the corral men adj
vanced ON their knees, leaving the
ground heaped with the dead behind
them. Fully 10000 We're thus killed,
and the others were forced into the cor
raj, where they rushed to and fro, fran
rio with fear. They trampled and smoth
cred one another to death by thousands.
A coyote that entered the corral was
actually trampled to death by the rab-
bits. Fifteen minutes with clubs finish
ed the work
Many good judges place the total
killed at 80, 600. Farmers hauled wag-
ON loads away to feed hogs The best of
order prevailed. Only one person re-
fused to obey orders. He was beaten
and driven off the grounds by the crowd
The drive was the best managed, the
largest and most satisfactory ever held in
| the county.-San Francisco Chronicle
How Speaker Reed Counted Quorum.
1t is not known to cut of 100 states
men in congress how Speaker Reed came
| to count quorum in the Fifty first con-
gress 1t is known to still less that the
only man i'll the speakers confidence ON
| the subject was Joe Cannon, chairman
of the committee on appropriations in
the present congress.
Mr.. Reed conceived his purpose to
count q quorum as the only alternative
Of maintaining his authority in the
house and the position Of the Republic
ans at very early stage of the session.
His only confidant was Cannon. He and
the speaker were closeted ON the PROPOSE
ton for several days. Everything was
considered and every chance was care.
fully weighed. Reed knew that he was
taking a desperate responsibility, and
that nothing was sure as to what the
position of the Republicans would be.
The fact that without consulting his
party associates he determined upon his
first conceived purpose is an illustration
of his fearlessness. Cannon, after long
session, approved the programme ant
promised to stand by the speaker, bu
kept his counsel. twas to be surprise
alike to the Republicans and the Dem
ocrats. There was to be no council O.
war of the leaders, with prospects o.
friction and division, but coup d'eta
pure and simple If it succeeded, i
would prove a great thing in parliamen
tary history; if it failed, everything wa
lost. III short, the plan was to risk ev
erything on the hazard of die.
What occurred when the speake
counted quorum in the contested cleo
ton case then pending is known to ever,
reader The Republicans were pani
stricken. They thought Reed had gon
daft. In the supreme moment of the up
] ,Oor on,l ,ol, oo,,,ol ID o,,,o
sentative Anderson of Kansas, Repub
hcan member, rushed up to the speaker
desk and in the greatest excitement said
Reed, what in heavens name ar
you doing?"
Reed smiled coldly and told him h
was counting those as present who re
fused to vote. Anderson was dumfound
ed for a moment. Then he said:
Its the riskiest piece Of business
ever saw; but, if you havemade up you
mind to do it, by the gods I'll stand b
you'll
In discussing the matter with
friend afterward the speaker said tha
the words Of Anderson convinced hin
that the Republicans would supper
him in his position. He was right
There was quick rally among his part
associates, and in short time the pr
litical lines were faulty drawn on til
question of sustaining the speaker, an
he won. -Washington Post.
3 His Heart HUNS.
Edward Lewis, who says he is Pc
ish Hebrew and Russian ex-convic