The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-07
Anaconda Steam Laundry. sos E. Park.
GOT THE RABBITS.
The Anaconda Delegation Secures About
900 Hares.

SOU hares.
Hugh Daily, j. B. Williams and John
Reese, the local coursing men who went
down to Market Lake to attend the
rabbit drive, returned yesterday. The
Anaconda delegation was Joined by
couple of the Butte coursing men and
the two towns pooled issues and Sc
cured a carload Of jacks. of which Ana
condas share will be about 200. The
car will arrive in Butte some time to-
day, and the rabbits will be sent to
Anaconda as soon as a place can be
prepared for them at Athletic field. The
dog fanciers We're somewhat disappoint-
ed both In the number and character OF
the rabbits secured
In speaking of the trip yesterday Mr..
DAILY said that he had never seen any
thing like the drive In his life. He was
loud in his praises of the manner in
which the visitors had been treated by
the committee, and said that everything
possible had been done by the executive
committee to fill the car. but that those
engaged in the drive became so excited
that the rabbits were nearly all killed
before the coursng men got their whack
at them. Mr.. DAILY says the crowds
that gathered for the drive were enor-
nous; that hundreds of people came
from all parts of the state and that
many drove 80 and 30 miles to see the
drive.
The drive itself was a great success.
Something like ZOO rabbits were driven
into the corral, and the excitement ran
high. Those engaged in the drive
worked in three divisions, moving to-
ward the corral like an army. The
movements of the divisions were con-
troIled by flags of various colors, by
means of which direction and speed
were indicated. AS the circle narrowed
the rabbits began to come in in great
numbers. When the circle had mar
rowed down to a couple of hundred feet
the ranks of men stood eight deep. Each
man was provided with a club and he
made all the noise he possibly could.
The entrance TO the corral was too
small to allow the rabbits all 10 get in,
and many of them tried TO break
through the circle of men, only to be
killed by the clubs. When the corral
had been filled photographs were taken
of the rabbits and the work of slaugh-
ter began. The dead rabbits We're
shipped to Butte, TO be distributed by
the associated charities of that city.
The people of Market Lake provided
we'll for the great crowd in the matter
of food. A great barbecue was held
and enormous caldrons filled with cof-
fee warmed the inner man. In the
evening two dances were given and the
visitors TO the little Idaho town enjoyed
themselves TO the fullest extent.
Mr.. DAILY says that the rabbit pest
around Market Lake is something re-
markable. The animals breed SO fast
that nothing seems to afford a remedy.
The drives are a relief in a way. but a
very small proportion of the rabbits in
the territory covered are run in. This
is illustrated by the fact that after the
drive the eoursing men took their dogs
out for a little run, and before they had
gone a mile from town each dog had
jumped up and was chasing a different
rabbit. One of the committee recon-
mended a certain field. where. he said.
there We're not many rabbits. but in
less than a minute dozen had been
jumped up. In less than Is minutes
the hounds had chased and killed 3
rabbits. The hares are great null
sance to the farmers in that section and
their ravages are something enormous.
Mr.. DAILY SAYS that the rabbits are
not near so big and strong n M5a:ana
jacks and he does not consider them
half SO good for coursing purposes.