Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-09
TRAILING ROBBERS WITH HOUNDS.
Western Railroad Will Raise Dogs with
That in View

That in View.
The large number Of train hold-ups
during the past year has caused all
the railroad lines IN the West to con-
slider plans for their protection and
among these Lone is more interesting
than that adopted by the Oregon
Railroad and Navigation company,
writes the Seattle (Wash.) correspond
ent of the New York Journal This
company has become imbued with tne
old idea that there is no way to locate
man wanted badly better than with
bloodhounds, and accordingly large
number of pups of this breed have
been purchased and distributed at va
rious points along the line. They nave
been intrusted to the care of the sever
al agents at the points of custody, and
will be reared with the special view of
tracking train robbers. In fact, cir
cular has been issued from the general
offices of the company to all agents in
whose care the pups have been placed,
giving instructions as to the manner of
daily training that shall be given the
CANNES.
The dogs are of the very best blood
and come from Idaho, where their pa
rents have for years done service in
hunting down escaped criminals.
Their mother belongs to John Ellis,
Sheriff of Bannock county. At the
time of their purchase, week ago,
the puppies were two months old.
There were six of them in all, and af-
ter being packed in separate boxes
they were shipped to agents who were
known to be dog fanciers, and their
training intrusted to them.
This is the first time in the West, SO
far as known, that a railroad company
has invested in dogs. On several occa..
sions bloodhounds have been used in
hunting down train robbers, but in
each case the dogs have been borrowed
for the occasion. Wherever used it is
also said, they have proven success,
as was well illustrated in the hunting
down of Tom Atkins, the Union Pacific
train robber, in Wyoming 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
aterward by the sheriff's posse.
The plan to be carried out by the
Oregon Railroad and Navigation COM
pany in the event of train on their
line being held up, is told by John B.
Lenning, agent of the road at Poca-
tello, where two OF the pups have been
sent to be raised. Mr. Lenning was in
the city today and in an interview re-
garding the innovation said:
"The Oregon Railroad and Navigation
company has gone into the blood
houna business, and from now on it
will hardly be worth while to hold up
any of this company's trains, for the
guilty party is more than likely to be
caught.
"As yet but six pups have been pur-
chased, but this number will be in
creased as rapidly as possible until
sufficient number have been stationed
at various points, SO that in case they
are needed they can be secured quick
ly.
Circulars have been issued to all in
whose care the dogs have been placed,
and to conductors of trains, instruct
ing the latter in case of robbery to
at once wire the two nearest stations
having pups. The agents receiving the
messages will at once get the dogs
ready, and as soon as they can be got
ten 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
will be little danger of the robbers get
ing away very far before the hounds
are close upon their heels"