Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-12-10
JACK RABBITS FOR couRslNa.
saiI To Re Greatly superior to the English
Hare For That Purpose.

Hare Tor That Purpose.
The sport of rabbit coursing is reoeiv.
ing "a now isapctrs since the Kaneas
black tailed jack rabbit has entored the
arena. Not until quite recently has the
coursing fraternity been aware 1f the
great superiority Of the jack over tho
cotton tail rabbit or the English hare for
this purpose. Kansas jack rabbits are
now greatly in demand both in this
country and in England, and live ones
command good price. The difficulty in
catching them alive is very great, and
only one man in Kansas, 80 far as
known, has given his undivided attcn.
tion TO the work.
Charles Payne, familiarly known
throughout the west as hunter and
plainsman, has been jack rabbit en-
thusiast for years, and il il largely
through his Efforts that the merits If tho
animal for coursing purposes have be-
come 50 generally recognized. The cap
ture of live jacks involves the purchase
Of great deal Of expensive parapher-
MALTA. Mr.. Payne has two nets made "
seine Irvine, 3 feet in height, which.
when both are extended, reach almost
across a section, and made expressly for
catching live Jacks. His method Of en-
trapping the live jacks is unique. 1t is
his usual custom, when preparing for
the raid upon the rabbits, to advertise
among the farmer boys the day upon
which the jack rabbit drive is to take
place.
AT the appointed time hundreds Of
country boys, mounted on ponies, flock
TO the rendezvous armed with fog horns,
drums, bells and anything else that will
make discordant music. They are de-
ployed in "A semicircular line two miles
in front Of the net, and at "a given sig
nal from the marshal Of the day the line
moves toward the net, each man making
all the noise possible If the hunting
grounds have been well selected. the
horsenen will have no trouble in
"bouncing" rabbits innumerabIe, aud
az they scamper away toward the net,
followed pellmeIl by the eager farmer
boys, the scene Is one Of great auima-
ton.
The rabbits, II they do not become
confused by the noise and excitement,
bound away toward the net at almost
lightning speed, and many Of them
strike the net 30 hard that they break
their necks Those that survive the shock
scamper into the pockets which ara tD-
geniously arranged for their reception,
and for them the Jig is up. Rabbits
sometimes die Of fright, not having suf-
6Cient strength 10 make the race for life.
These rabbit drives are among the most
popular sports In which the prairie
1armers indulge. and 1t is customary fog
the organizer Of the drive TO provide q
bounteous spread for his gratuitous
helpers. Phi ladelphia Timea
The M ascot worked
Otto Feudner has been buying lottery
tickets for years and has never won SO
much as an approximation prize He
concluded that he would have TO get q
mascot, so on the advice of colored
/ friend he set d box trap out in the ceme-
terry TO catch graveyard rabbit.
Feudner caught great big fellow the
first night and put him in a big dry
goods box. 1t was the day before the
drawing, so 10 make sure that the mas
cot would work all right Feudner put
$50 worth Of tickets in the box with the
rabbit After the drawing he went to
see what he had won.
The mascot had worked. 1t had eaten
up all the lottery tickets San Fran
cisco Post