The Opelousas courier., 1904-09-03
DOGS e FEAT,
Travels 46o Miles in Less Than Six
Days.

Travels 46o Miles in Less Than Six
Days.
Pilot, the big wolfhound, leader Of
the Midlothian Country Club pack,
the dog that jumped his nine foot
kennel on May 2 and disappeared, ar
rived at his native home, the breed
ing fran of Thomas B. Hudspeth, at
Sibley, Mo-, early Saturday morning,
according TO advices received by J..
L. Stack, NJ. F. H. of the Midlothian,
in answer to his telegram this morn
ing.
The event is the topic Of conversa-
ton ct the Blue Island Club and Is
the occasion Of much discussion as
to the possibilities of a dogs endur-
ance.
This Is an illustration Of the I'M
erring instinct that will direct a dumb
creature owe a country entirely new
u it-for the hounds came here in an
express car-to the place it chooses
for its home" said the M. F. H. Of
the Midlothian this morning. "The
same instinct will take the thirsty or
hungry beast to water or food. It
seems almost incredible that Pilot
could travel those 460-odd miles,
crossing the Illinois, Mississippi and
Missouri rivers, to say nothing of the
innumerable other ~hindrances, in less
than six days. His name is certainly
appropriate.
He Is a magnificent beast, perfect
in every way, yet I believe it would
be unwise to have him returned here.
really feel re~lievedthat he is gone,
for If We brought him back he would
probably demoralize the pack, and on
the first ruiz lead them all away. Ger,
tainly we could not make him con
tented here, and after such a noble
attempt he deserves the right to have
his own way. Then he is a wolf
hound, a direct descendant of the
stock used In pursuing the runaway
slaves before the war, and upon sew.
eral occasions / have thought be was
going to attack our colored whip.
I'VE will miss the big fellow; still,
a new leader has developed that bids
fair to be as masterful as Pilot, and
having acquired his leadership at Mid.
lothian he will have no desire TO
leave It. He runs low and true to
the scent and Is beginning to take on
the unmistakable airs of the king Of
the kennels"
Il see nothing unnatural or very ex-
traordinary in what this dog has
done" said Charles Essib, director Of
the Chicago Kennel Club and owner
Of beagles. "At Oakland. Cal, the
beagles are put in pursuit Of rabbits
and are so swift and run SO true to
form that the betting is usually 20
to l that the hound will catch the
hare. On a long cross country run,
when the pedometers are attached, a
days scouting will register anywhere
from 100 to $50 miles. Of course the
long run a dog in condition will travel
till nearly exhausted and then seek
water and take a plunge, which in
variably revives him and sets him on
the trail again.
II know Of two instances Of dog
sagacity which appeal to me. Tramp,
the dog which used to travel OF the
Northwestern between st. Paul and
Chicago, made his trips regularly,
stopping OFF at by stations, visiting
for a short time with friends and then
resuming his travels. He knew what
passenger trains were for and ignored
| the freights.
"Bill Griggs, the egret feather hunt
er, was out In his boat one day alone
and got lost In a Louisiana marsh.
Shortly after tho time when he should
have returned his dog, which was
chained at the lodge, raised such a
disturbance that the men let him
loose and, seeing that he went to the
river and plunged in, followed him in
a boat. The plucky little hound swan
without scent or apparent indication
OF his masters whereabouts to a
point in the marsh four miles distant
on the other side, where Griggs was
swamped, his boat capsized and him
self nearly dead from exposure
| Chicago News.