The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-10-30
Ia DOG CATCHER cAUGHT.

TT Is hardly to be doubted that the
most heartily despised set of per-
sons on the face of the earth are the dog
catchers.
The Oldest man now living cannot re-
member the day when he heard a kind
IL word uttered in behalf of the snarers
OF yagabond CANNES. 1t is an article
of faith in some localities and among
certain people that Ishmael owed his
unpopularity and utter isolation.to the
presumed fact that he was unwise
enough to hire out us garnerer of SUR
plus dogs.
Just now the Chicago dog catchers
are experiencing their regular fall car
niyal of assault and battery, and the
people whose pets they lure or drag
away are offering up their ancient and
time-honored testimony, which is to the
effect that most wire wielders are
thieves who go on private property to
steal good and valuable dogs, while ut
terly ignoring the measley ours which
are alleged to throng the streets with
out hiudrance.
1t is the same story which is told of
dog catchers in all worlds and at all
times. And, unfortunately, in many
cases, il turns out to be the truth. for
the men on the big wagon have n shrewd
idea of the great profit arising out of
the harvesting of high-class dogs and
holding them for ransom. There was
man Of that kind once in Council
Bluffs, Ia, but he was discouraged out
of the business. His name was Whim-
pie. and he has reduced the dog traf-
fic TO science. He paid very little at
tention to the untagged Migrants of the
canine species, but give him good
chance at some good mans ~ Bernard
or foXhound and he would classAsetse-tt
trio light towers and get his wire moose
over the head of the quarry. He was
clever about it, too, and although the
owners of good dogs hired detectives
to watch him. with hope of getting |
criminal case against him, he always |
succeeded in eluding the sharp eyes of
the sleuths, and would, indeed. by care
full maneuvering, even while closely |
pursued, slip around into a back yard,
loose fine hunting spaniel from his
kennel and entice il out into the alley, |
where. with the support and backing |
Of the law, he would clap his moose over |
the beasts head. Valuable dogs had |
the fondest passion for losing their
tags about Is minutes before Whim-
pies arrival in the neighborhood. The |
explanation of the phenomenon was
never clearly given, but at any rate
Whimple succeeded in finding more !
good dogs without their passports than
any other dog catcher who ever lived in
that city. And. once caught, it cost
quite n neat bit of money to ransom
such victim.
Bill Boyer, 4 printer and statesman,
was n dog fancier who for six weary |
years suffered at Whimple's hands. He
whipped the man thrice, but as the dog |
catcher was always able to make fair
showing that he had been inside the
lines of the law the fines imposed upon
Boyer amounted to more than the
brides which he was obliged to pay |
Whimple for the release of his impound- |
ed pets. Boyer at last worked the thing |
down to a system. One year he would
whip Whimple and pay fine of $22.30
and the next he would give the dog |
catcher the amount of his claim for the |
catching of his dogs-usually about |
500 The former course cost more, but |
Boyer calculated that he got at least
$3.40 worth of satisfaction out of break
ing Whimple's visage. The printing
man would regularly pay the city for
his dog licenses, but as regularly the
tags would disappear in some mystic
rious manner, and Whimple would get
action.
Boyer at last decided to take ex-
IRENE measures in the matter of Whim- |
pie and his dogs. One of the finest |
pointers sickened and died one day,
and instead of giving it the usual re-
spectful and sorrowful burial Boyer
sent the body over the river to tax
idermist and had II stuffed in most |
artful way.
Make it lying down." he said to Col
bert, the taxidermist; Lying down,
with its head standing up in the air."
And so 1t was fashioned.
Now, them" said Bill, 81 want you
TO fairly line that dogs hair with little,
line wires. Make il so that there1l be
metallic surface to meet anything |
mat comes in contact with the coat"
which was also arranged.