The evening times., 1900-11-06
BLooDHoUNDs AFTER ROBBERS.
4 Western Railroad VIII Use Dogs
for That Purpose

SEATTLE. Wash, Nov. 6.-The large
number OF train hold-ups during the past
year has caused all the railroad lines in the
West to consider plans for their protection,
and among these none is more interesting
than that adopted by the Oregon Railroad
and Navigation Company. This company
has become imbued with the old Southern
idea that there is no way to locate q man
wanted badly better than with bloodhounds,
and accordingly a large number of pups or
this breed have b=en purchased and dis
tributed at various points along the line.
They have been entrusted to the care of the
several agents at the points of custody and
VIII be reared with the special view OF
tracking train robbers. In fact, circular
has been issued from the general offices OF
the company to all agents in whose care
the pups have been placed, giving instrue-
tions as to the manner of daily training
that shall be given the canines-
The dogs are of the very best blood and
come from Idaho, where their parents have
for years done service in hunting down es-
capped criminals. Their mother belongs TO
John Ellis Sheriff of BaEnock county At
the time OF their purchase, a week ago. the
puppies were Two months old. There were
six of them in all, and after being packed
in separate boxes they were shipped to
agents who were known 10 be dog fanciers
and their training entrusted to them.
This is the first time in the West, so far
as known, that railroad company has
invested in dogs. On several occasions
bloodhounds have been used in hunting
down train robbers, but in each case the
dogs have been borrowed for the occa-
sion. Wherever used, it is also said, they
have proven a success, as was well Illus
trated in the hunting down of Tom Arkins
the Union Pacific train robber, in Wy
oming a few years ago. Atkins, when he
found that he was pursued by the dogs,
killed one of them, but was himself shot
an hour afterward by the sherif's posse.
The plan to be carried out by the oregon
Railroad and Navigation Company in the
event of a train on their line being held
up is told by John B. Lenning, agent OF
the road at Pocatelio, where two of the
pups have been sent to be raised. Mr.
Lenning was in the city today. and IN an
interview regarding the innovation said:
The Oregon Railroad and Navigation
Company has gone into the bloodhound
business, and from now on ii will hardly
be worth while to hold up any OF this
companys trains, for the guilty party is
more than likely to be caught.
LAS yet but six pups have been pur-
chased, but this number will be increased
as rapidly as possible until a sufficient
number have been stationed at various
points, SO that in case they are needed
they can be secured quickly.
Circulars have been issued to all in
whose care the dogs have been placed.
and to conductors of trains, instructing
the latter in case of a robbery to at once
wire the two nearest stations having pups
The agents receiving the message will at
once get the dogs ready, and as soon as
they can be gotten to the scene by special
train or otherwise, they will be put on the
scent In this manner it is believed that,
as the trail will be warm, there viii be
little danger of the robbers getting away
very far before the hounds are close upon
their heels