The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-01-13
COURSING.
Gen. Baker Takes in the Sport
at Los Angeles.
Graphic Account of a Day Wherein
Hounds and Jack Rabbits Figure
in the Excitement.
No. ".

LUIS Angeles, Odl., Lee. ~, 1875.
They have sport here in Los An
geles which is unique. and so far as I
know, altogether original In fact, I
am told that it originated in this city.
L am not much given to sportive di-
versions, and was enticed and seduced
into attendance upon this afternoons
frolic by our good and trustworthy
friend, Deacon" Halfhill, upon whose
upright department l relied with i'm
plicit confidence. This field diversion
was to be given at the Agricultural
Park, " and I am, as you all know, de-
voted to all those things which make
for the promotion of agriculture
Therefore, without much persuasion,
I was induced by the good Deacon" to
join in flock of ex- governors, generals,
colonies and high functionaries of that
ilk, and go out to the agricultural
Park, which adorns one of the suburbs
of this beautiful city, and witness a
new diversion which had been gathered
into the fold of California agricultural
displays. Taking the proper street
cars, in due season we arrived at the
superb park. There we found as fine
grounds and as complete an equipment
as ever lay out of doors for horse race,
or any other immaculate agricultural
business, which might delight far
mers heart. There was grand stand :
and it was a grand stand. There was a
race course, which was a daisy, smooth
as an unruffied sea The race course
was elegantly boarded in. But OBJ
served that inside of the coursing
ground there were other conditions and
equipments, which indicated different
state of things from such as had been
accustomed to in honest old Minnesota.
The band was discoursing eloquent
music, the ladies were plentiful and
beautiful enough The pools were
selling loud and hot; money was going
up, and everything was electrically
thrilled with excitement Now" said
[ to the immobile Deacon" where
are your horses?" And he pointed to a
corral which had hitherto overlooked,
and there l saw not less than one hun
dred jack ra bbits in the enclosure Such
a collection Of these timid and long
cared creatures was sight to behold.
In their own separate booths, were
some fifty or more grey hounds, each
with his groom and generally blanket
ed, like a race horse. There was a
judges stand, big black board to an
nounce the names of the hounds which
were to run in each coursing, and each
dog had its own specific colors, The
dogs were brown, spotted and mouse
colored. The hounds came from San
Francisco, Los Angeles. and all along
the coast, and are thoroughly trained
for his sport.
One jack rabbit is slipped out from
hole in the corral at time, and only
two hounds were put after the rabbit.
When poor jack was turned loose, he
appeared dazed for moment, and then
realizing his liberty, he struck out into
the fifty acre arena and skipped and
jumped, with all the JOY of freedom,
sometimes obliquing, like knight ON
a chess board, and then vaulting as
though taking hurdle, like horse
When the hare was about fifty yards
away, the two hounds who were chat
fling in tine grooms' hands, were I'M
leashed, and speedily jack was aroused
to the fact that there were enemies in
his rear Then business began in dead
earnest Down the centre field they go,
lickety- spindle This time 1t was big
jack rabbit, with ears like a mule and
logs like kangaroo 1t was fast
hare. On it dashed, the hounds at its
heels, about ten feet apart. The hounds
gained when the hare turned quick as
lightning, and the dogs tumbled over
each other in the dust, and jack was
seen running back to the starting point.
But the dogs pulled themselves about,
and were aftec him hot, and with fine
run, were onto jack again when the
hare made quick flank movement and
was off toward the judges stand He
headed for the fence, the hounds again
came..within an ace of swapping him up,
and 10 the dust and confusion, /