The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-08-21
CoWARDLY BLOODHOUNDS.
How Three of the Savage Brutes Were
COwed by a Man who Had
Strange Influence.

I think that bloodhounds can hardly
be called cowardly animals, yet thor
oughly frightened three of them in
ways that were both surprising and
peculiar.
While engaged in the removed of an
old telegraph line in the south came
TO a pole near kennel to which was
chained bloodhound, who manifested
great desire for my anatomy, but
fortunately HIS chain would not per-
init him to reach me, although his de-
hire and anger were undated as l as
Cended, says writer in the Los
Angles Times.
When l removed the last wire the
pole, which had become decayed under
the ground, gave way and 1 saw, to my
horror, that l would be thrown in
front of the kennel and literally into
the jaws of the enraged dog, who ex-
pected would attack me before ] could
escape, but the apparition of a man
coming down through the air astride
of a telegraph pole was too much for
the canine. With howl of terror he
made plunge which parted his chain,
and he bounded over fence and dis
appeared in the distance, yelping as if
expecting another attack from some
aerial monster.
Some time after this / accepted an
invitation to visit Gen. f. at his beauti-
full country homeenear Atlanta. As I
did not arrive at the hour / was ex-
pected there was no one to meet me
when left the cars in the early even
ing at the little station near my
friends home. I thoroughly enjoyed
the walk in the fresh evening air,
knowing full well that I would be very
welcome upon my arrival. So occupied
was my mind with pleasant thoughts
that it was not until after had en-
tered the grounds that ] thought of
the generals caution to be very sure
not to come in the evening without
notifying him, as he kept two blood
hounds, which were allowed the range
of the grounds from darkness to day
light, and saying if anyone attempted
to enter during those hours that he
would surely get hurt. He had been
compelled to adopt this means to
check the depredations of thieves.
About the time / thought of my di-
rections I heard the dogs approach
Ing in the darkness. To retreat
would be impossible. To call for help
would be useless, as no one would
hear me. So I folded my arms and
waited, and soon 1 could distinguish
their forms as they approached me.
moving slower and slower, side by
side, until they were within a few
feet of me, where they remained per-
iectly motionless for few. moments,
which seemed like hours to me, when
each one raised his head high in the
air, gave dismal howl, turned about
and disappeared in the darkness as
fast as their legs could carry them
The general was much surprised
When l reached the house and at
once inquired how 1 had escaped the
dogs. ] remarked that had not es-
capped them, but that they escaped
from me. / then related my expert
ence, which surprised and puzzled
him very much, and thought he was
inclined to question the truthfulness
vi VI H. ne Stll lndG dS lar as ne
knew I was the only person who had
entered the premises without help
since they had had the dogs, and he
had many stories to relate of their
watchfulness ARD prowess
When we went out on the porch the
Following morning the dogs were
sound asleep on the ground near by.
Being disturbed they looked up an
saw me. They acted terrified, gave
the same dismal howl as on the pre-
vious night and disappeared as quick
ly as possible, nor could they be in
duced to come near me during the
two days I was there.
We were unable to account for
their strange actions, but that I had
in some way thoroughly frightened
them there was no question.