The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30
GREAT NOSE FOR NEGROES.
Southern Bloodhounds Could Always Track
Runaway slave.

i
| Runaway slave.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat
Il was recently reported that Gov Ty.
Ter, of Virginia, was entertained on a
visit to a convict camp by man hunt
| with boodhounds, the man being given
| an hours start and plenty of time 10
| climb tree. Such exhibitions are quite
| common on the South Carolina farms,
where bloodhounds are kept. The same
| Kind OF animals are kept By the sherins
of many counties in South Carolina, and
| they always do well on show occasions,
but have never been known 10 run down a
| criminal.
Il very much doubt" said an old slave
| owner, whether there is a genuine blood
hound in the South or one with the nose
of the old runaway slave catcher In the
country. Any breed OF dogs that runs by
scent can be trained from puppies to run
man and man alone. Ordinary deer or fox
hounds take 10 this quite naturally. and
If crossed with half or quarter fox ter
rier they become vicious and persistent In
the chase. But these are not bloOdhOunds,
nor should those now owned by the State
or counties in South Carolina be so
Classed
THE bloodhound in this perfection Of
nose and his ferocity was the product Of
the institution OF slavery. The finest
strains came from Cuba; large, powerful
beasts, tawny or black, with white
points. and so fierce that when not In
service they were chained and only their
master could feed or touch them If they
escaped, they chased the first person they
saw and their desire was 10 eat his flesh.
Many OF the dogs were imported 70 the
South by the men who made their living
catching runaway slaves. They were
crossed on The deer hound and the product
was a good man hunter-ferce enough,
but not so dangerous as the Cuban Sew
eral packs OF such dogs were owned in
South Ca.olina, and their presence in
county keTt many a slave at home who
wOuld have otherwise sought the shelter
of the forest. where, unless followed by
such hounds, he could live for years pay
ing weekly or monthly visits TO the negro
settlements.
"The alleged bloodhounds of this day
cannot run a man If the trail Is over
three hours old, II IL goes In water or IS
crossed by other trails. The slave catch
er's hounds, bred for their cold nose more
than century. could carry a trail thir-
ty-six hours old. The common definition
that used 10 be given for the name OF this
species OF dog was that II a drop Of
blood fell on the track he would never
leave IL. They were like wolves in that
they hunted for meat and were eager 10
devour a man run to a tree or cOFnered.
There are many authenticated stories
showing the remarkable qualities OF scent
and sagacity. 1t was practically impossible
10 battle an old dog, and when his nose
was once put by his master In the foot
prints OF man the particular scent OF
that person was the only one he would
entertain In his nostris, and that track
he would pick out OF a hundred. Ordinary
hounds OF chase are puzzled when the
quarry takes to a running stream and
goes up or down. The man hunter. acute
and wise as man. would systematically
hunt the banks up and down for miles IN
I'll the trail was recovered.
There is case OF particular note on
record where the services Of a professional
slave catcher were called In 20 catch
murderer The crime mad been committed
more than twenty-four hours when the
boss OF the pack arrived with his dogs oa
the scene Of the murder. One naked foot
print was found. retreating from the spot,
and into this the muzzie Of the prize uai-
or OF the pack was pressed, and she was
given the word 20 90, the other dogs b.
Ing held In reserve Miles through
swamps. across ponds Of water. and into
the woods the dog trailed finally coming
out on cultivated plantation. her nose
close 70 the ground and occasionally Civ
Ing utterance 10 the fierce. yet musical,
iong-craVn bay shat carried terror al
ways 20 the hearts o. the runaway Into
ne stree: or the negro village went tho
dog, carrying the trail where IL had been
crossed by dozens OF men, women. and
children, and then into a house. Here sfe
made circle OF the room came out q ths
same door. trziied TO another h0u-r
scratched al the barred door ard wher n
Was opened. caught the murderer under
the bed He belonged % another pianta-
tlon' and had come there for shelter and
protection, and had used every devfas 10
throw of pursuit
~ was, Of course. important and neees-
sary mat the owner Of such a PACK Of
cogs should be responsible and vlgflant
ne mad 70 be fine horseman and ride
horses mat could 10 almost anywhere.
ior ne must be up % the leading dog when
the slave was brought % bay. III The fu-
sitive was too hard pressed 20 climb "A
tree or, as they sometimes did atteFopse9
70 shoot the dogs. ne would b. TORI -
pieces IL the master was not promptly on
ha9d. Laws governing the abuse %
slaves were strict and enforced The most
noted case OF their violation h one Of the
oesi-known criminal cases in our Law.
DOCKS, although II occurred sixty year
aEo. A captured slave had Incurred the
ennity OF the hunters. and he was killed
and his fesh fed % the dogs The tao
whites implicated were tried. Convicted
and hanged at WATERFORD the militia %
being marched sixty miles o.
prevent their rescue by friends on THE day
Il the execution
With the passing OF slavery tie neces-
slty Tor cold-nOSed man-chasers no longer
exists. and the breed. az least in this part
Of the country. Is no longer preserved"