The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-18
COON LED DOGS
A MERRY CHASE
Mansfield, Ohio, the Scene Of
an Exciting Hunt.
LEFT RUIN IN THEIR WAKE
Wagon Tipped Over, Stands Upset, Horses
Frightened and Restaurant 0YsUun
With The Callnes

Mansfield, o., Oct 1s-The citizens OF
this place have Just engaged in night
coon hunt through the city streets that
will go down in history as the greatest
local happening" In recent years
The event had been looked forward 10
for several days and every man and boy
In Richmond county who owns a dog was
invited to be on hand with his dog at
p. m.
Central park "a located in the exact
centre of this city and covers an area OF
one square block In II are many large
trees. probably 100 or more and II was
In and about this city park that the hunt
was to have been confined. The night
was an ideal one for coon hunt. the
bright and the atmosphere clear and
cold.
Long before tho hour announced for
the hunt men and boys began TO arrive
at the park, and about every other man
brought with him his dog. Such con-
glomeration OF CANNES was probably
never before assembled at any given
point
There were big dogs and little ones.
heavy and light. short and long. old
and young, black dogs. white dogs.
spotted dogs and yellow dogs.
foxhounds. coon dogs, greyhounds. black
and tans, mastiffs, Skye terriers. blood
hounds, poodles bulls, Newfoundlands,
colfies. water spaniels. ST. Bernards.
pointers. settlers, ''sooners' and few
that were Just dogs"
SOME PRELIMINARIEs
There were any number OF prelimi-
naries 70 the main bout OF the evening,
and many OF the CANNES paired off into
catch-as-catch-can goes" on sight. Au-
dftor FRITZ had just completed the county
tax showing a total OF 2l64 dogs on which
taxes were paid In Richmond county.
They were nearly all on hand. with a
few thrown In from adjoining, counties.
Soon after p. m. Colonel Houselon got
busy with his coon. Every dog owner
was asked TO hang on to his dog until the
coon was taken sufficiently far away TO
establish a scent for the dogs 10 fol-
low and the scramble to keep the dogs
from any premature move simply battles
description.
The coon was less than half a block on
its way when Chief OF Police Well let
go his hold on his prize winning coon
dog. and II was all of
Every man and boy followed suit. and
then went after the dogs. Playing. bark
ing growing and yelping. the biggest
pack of dogs In Ohio was under way.
Chief Wells dog had the scent and was
following 1t. with the rest of the canine
army hard after the leader. About 80 per
cent OF the animals wouldn't know a coon
from a tpmcat face TO face, but that made
no difference.
Big dogs stumbled over little ones I'm
the wild chase, and two bad bulldogs
clinched during the scuffle, much TO the
delight of the sporting element. Black
and-tans no larger that a peanut tried to
bluff bloodhounds. and one French poodle
endeavored 10 start something with
great Dane that looked like a horse.
WAGON AND STANDS OVER.
Still the chase continued. around and
around the park. through one street. up
IN alley, back to the park and all around
again. popcorn wagon was overturned
two fruit stands upset, horses took fright
and one started a show on his own ac-
count by running away.
Meantime the panic-stricken coon spied
the open front door Of its masters restau-
rant on about the tenth lap and bolted
uncerimoniously In and through 10 the
kitchen. Thirty seconds later the van
guard OF the dog brigade, which was by
this time stretched out for distance OF
three blocks. with noses close TO the
ground and travelling up the street like
the wind. turned suddenly at the restau-
rant door and followed the scent OF the
coon.
II was like trying 10 cork broken dam
10 stop that avalanche OF dogs from It's
onward chase, and in less than a mo-
ment pandemonium reigned not only In
the restaurant but In the entire block. for
the eating place was filled TO overfiowing
with the toughest-looking bunch OF dogs
imaginable.
Tables were overturned, dishes broken.
chairs smashed and a general reign Of ter
TOR was rampant Somebody called up the
police department and somebody else
called out the fire department but the
coon had taken refuge UP a chimney and
the scent was lost