The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-12-29
BLIND HUNTER.
HOW TOM JOHNSON OF KENTUCKY
CAUGHT A MAD DOG.

MANY Remarkable Feats-Rides to
Hounds as Well as Ever Famliarity
with Country an Explanation - HIS
Mount Also Blind.
A remarkable feat accomplished
few days ago by Tom Johnson VINO
has been blind in both eyes for twenty
wears, has been the talk OF the county
for the past ten days, says Nicholas
Vile Ky. letter in the Chicago lines
Herald. Johnson IS fox hunter. he
keeps pack of the finest hounds IN
the county. Mag, one OF his favorlte
dogs, went mad. Johnson's wife ana
children and a neighbor, 10 Harvey
Brumfeld, were out in the yard when
Mag came running through the orchard
foaming at the mouth, and swapping
right and left. 1t was a genuine case
of hydrophobia.
The people in the yard frantlcally
rushed into the house, locked the
doors. and told Johnson OF the condl-
tion of his favorite dog. In the
meantime Mag had dashed by the
house and started off in the direction
Of neighbours. When Johnson was
told of the dogs hydrophobia he arose,
and. despite the efforts of his family
and Mr.. Brumfeld, walked into the
ward. Directly Mag came BACK ana
seemed to be in a more violent state
of madness than before. Those IN
tbe house called to johnson that the
dog was coming, and piteously begged
him to return. The old blind man
needed not the appeals of his family,
but stood like a statue listening to the
snarling of the dog. Mag spied him
and came straight to him.
s'There she comes,' yelled Brim.
field, from inside of the house. Still
the old man stood his ground. Within
ten feet of him Mag stopped, Their
slowly approached him, still snappin}
and snarling. Right to the bllnt
mans feet came the dog, and as she
was about to seize his leg he reached
down and, with an instinct seemlngl.
superhuman, grasped her about tn
peck in vise-like grip.
The dog struggled in vain to tre'
himself, but Mr.. Johnson starte'
toward the woodshed, dragging her
Brumfeld came and opened the doc
of the shed, and Johnson approached
and hurled the dog inside, Brumtiel'
quickly closed the door, and Mag wa
left to her rawlings till shotgun wa
procured and she was killed. -
: This feat of Mr.. Johnson's is onl
one of many in his remarkable career
{ He is so years old. and the story
: his deeds sounds more like fiction tina
fact. Twenty years ago hewas ma
) of affluence, but he lost his eyeslgt
J and, having large family, his TO,
s tune dwindled until today he has onl
I house and few acres of land. A
his life he has been passionately ion
). of fox hunting, and has always kept
> fine pack of dogs. When he wei
It blind,it was thought his hunting da,
Il were over, but such was not the cas-
He became even more devoted to tt
q sport. Strange as it may seem,
e has never required guide to aid hi
II in riding over the cliffs Of the Kentucl
IS river in his chase. Mounted on h
t. old blind mule, this blind man may
/. seen one or two nights every wet
y riding along dark and narrow pa
n Of rugged cliff, while his dogs a
r, searching for trail of fox. Att
a the trail is found he stops, and 1
ID night long listens to the baying
Ill the dogs as they follow the trail, me
a ing only when Reynard leads the do
in to more distant parts.
10 Typical fox hunter that he is.
n, knows the "mouth" of his every dc
IN Did stranger meet him on a da
r night he would never know the IN
es was blind. Many are the tenderft
N he has led on these night hunts. T
1e ability to find his way on these chas
W. is accounted for by him in that he
perfectly familiar with the scope
country over which he hunts,
H. when it is remembered that this sec
Vs. extends for many miles along the II
IS: ged cliffs of the Kentucky river, 8
III that he rides mule as blind as HI
n self, it can be considered no less
w markable.
he