The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-01
CATCHING WILD CATTLE.
How 1t Is Done In Massachusetts, with
Trained Bulldogs.


Springfield (MaSS.) republican
AS the winter approaches each year the
farmers are apt to find cattle in their pas
lures that have become wild through the
summer and cannot be driven into the barns
When the farmer finds that he cannot drive
his stock in himself he calls in the aid Of
man with a bulldog good at catching the
animals, and in this way secures them
There are several men in Franklin county
who do this work. Among them is Burke
Richmond of East Charlemont, who, with
his brindle and white Mack, a dog Of The
bulldog breed has done quite business in
this line. Mack is now getting along into
years and already as, the life of dogs goes
is old. Mr.. Richmond and his dog have
reputation, and their services are called for
far and wide: Mack has earned his master
over 500 in this way besides catching num-
berless woodchucks in summer. While Mack
has fondness for the work he is called
upon to do in the fall season, he never mo-
Tests cattle in the summer, and Is not used
to drive them then His master speaks or
him as an intelligent dog, who has not re-
qured any licking" in the last decade.
When the time comes for business a party
Of men go into the pasture where the cattle
are, and the dog sizes up the situation at
once and proceeds to catch an animal by the
nose. The bulldog always catches hold Of
the nose, while dogs of other breeds are apt
TO catch hold wherever there IS a chance,
only TO be thrown off and at the same time
1nJuring the creature. The bulldog with a
good grip on the nose is a troublesome an
tagonist. The tenacity of the bulldog is pro-
verbal when once he gets a hold. Some
times Mack is shaken off, but he does not
lose his courage. He catcheShold again, and
in the end always conquers A large crea-
ture will raise the dog and shake him often
times as cat shakes rat, but in the end
mas to suceumb. Mr.. Richmond dog is Stlll
sore and a little lame from being shaken and
stepped on the last season.
Not all of the herd goes wild as a general
thing, but the wild ones are apt to stay to-
gether. Considerable care has to be taken
in approaching the animals, so as to come
on them unaWareS. The dog will seize
and when he has him well in hand or sub
dued. men with ropes tie him fast and the
dog goes for the next one. There is usually
a
and sometimes there is a long chase before
the next one is overtaken The creatures
may run for miles, but more often they cir
Gle around. When cattle are very wild they
are as wary as deer and stalking is almost
as difficult as deer stalking. Mr.. Richmond's
fees are 81 head, and he earns s. or 50
some days. When he works all day he makes
a reduction from the usual rates. This year
ne caught eleven head; last year thirty. He
says no fence will stop cattle when run
ming wild" They easily jump the highest
fence. He says some men have attempted
TO run down cattle without the aid of
dog, and sometimes will succeed. but the
plan is not usually success. Instances are
known Of a swift-footed man following a
single creature. and. in time, in the Yankee
Vernacular, tUckering him out But the
men are few who have succeeded in running
down wild animal. The odds are too great
in favor of the animal.
V. NJ. Maxwell, of Heath. formerly had a
good dog for catching wild cattle, but he
was shot by the owner of another dog, who
objected TO the Intimacy between the two
CANNES. GseOrge J. Graves of Ashded is
another man who formerly caught cattle by
the aid of dog. He had many calls for his
services, and was successful as long as his
dog was young. hut now the dog is too old
to be any good for catching cattle.
Albert l.. Hubbard. of Sunderland, has a
fuIl-blooded English bull terrier. five years
old, that has caught forty-six head of wild
cattle. Mr.. Hubbard says the element Of risk
in being gored-which is always present
when wild cattle are at bay-lends excite
ment to the chase, and that one must be
sure OF his dog before starting in. His dog
always catches hold of the nose. and has
never been known to lose his grip. Last Mon
day Mr. Hubbard started with his dog TO
hunt wild heifer that was last seen on the
southern end of Mount Toby. in Sunder-
land. The party drove near to the place
where the heifer had last been seen, and
then started on foot Very soon the dog
acted as though he smelt game and began
to pull at the strap by which he was led.
They erept forward as carefully as possible,
and when in sight % the heifer the dog was
released. There was an awful believing
from the creature that made their blood
tingle they ran up TO fasten the ropes on
The animal tried 10 gore them, but the dog
held fast and she was soon tied so she could
do no harm. Mr.. Hubbard says the secret
of catching cattle is to get as near as pos
sible before letting the dog loose so as to be
near with ropes to tie them. He says the
cattle are regular game when wild and
there Is lots NJ snort IN afrhiuor fhefrz