The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-01-08
BLIND HUNTER.
NOW TOM JOHNSON OF KENTUCKY
CAUGHT A MAD DOG

- M.nv Remarkable Feats-Rides TO
w.unds as Well as Ever Familiarity
with Country an Explanation = His
Mount Also Blind.
remarkable feat accomplished
few days ago by Tom Johnson, who
has been blind in both eyes for twenty
wears. has been the talk of the county
for the past ten days, says Nicholas
vile XIV. letter in the Chicago Times
Herald. johnson is fox hunter. He
keeps pack of the finest hounds In
the county. Mag, one Of his favorite
dogs. went mad. Johnson's wife and
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 frantically
rushed into the house, locked the
doors. and told johnson of the condi-
ton of his favorite dog. In the
meantime Mag had dashed by the
house and started off in the direction
of neighbor's. When Johnson was
told of the dogs hydrophobia he arose,
and, despite the efforts of his family
and Mr.. Brumfeld, walked into the
yard. Directly Mag came back and
seemed to be in more violent state
of madness than before. Those IN
the 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 statue listening to the
snarling of the dog. Mag spied hin
and came straight to him.
ssThere she comes, yelled Brum,
| field. from inside of the house. Still
the old man stood his ground. Within
| ten feet of him Mag stopped, then
slowly approached him, still snappine
and snarling. Right to the blind
mans feet came the dog, and as she
was about to seize his leg he reached
down and, with an instinct seemingly
superhuman, grasped her about thu
neck in vise-like grip.
The dog struggled in vain to fret
himself, but Mr.. Johnson started
toward the woodshed, dragging her
Brumfield came and opened the dool
of the shed, and Johnson approached
and hurled the dog inside. Brumtielt
quickly closed the door, and Mag wa
left to her rawlings till a shotgun wa
procured and she was killed.
This feat of Mr.. Johnson's is onl.
one of many in his remarkable career
|; He is 80 years old, and the story Q
!. his deeds sounds more like fiction thai
fact. Twenty years ago he was ma
!. of affluence, but he lost his eyeslgh
and, having a large family, his fol
tune dwindled until today he has onl
house and few acres of land. Al
his life he has been passionately fon
of fox hunting, and has always kept
: fine pack of dogs. When he wen
: blind it was thought his hunting day
: we're over, but such was not the case
He became even more devoted to tn
. sport. Strange as it may seem, b
Q has never required guide to aid hll
r in riding over the cliffs of the Kentuck
9 river in his chase. Mounted on b
: old blind mule, this blind man may /
+ seen one or two nights every wee
y riding along dark and narrow pat
n of rugged cliff while his dogs al
:. searching for trail of fox. Aft
a the trail is found he stops, and a
d night long listens to the baying
Il the dogs as they follow the trail, mo
a ing only when Reynard leads the dos
N to more distant parts.
o Typical fox hunter that he is.
!, knows the ''mouth" of his every do
n Did stranger meet him on a dal
r night he would never know the ma
$ was blind. Many are the tenderfe
n he has led on these night hunts. ID
Q ability to find his way on these chas'
r is accounted for by him in that he
perfectly familiar with the scope
country over which he hunts, b
L when it is remembered that this SEQ
: extends for many miles along the ru
s. ged cliffs of the Kentucky river, al
Il that he rides mule as blind as hi
1 self, it can be considered no less
y markable.