The San Francisco call., 1904-06-20
RABBIT CHASE
MAKES DISCORD
One-Eared COttontail Sets a
Fast Pace for Little Willie
as the Park Band Plays
FAMILY JOIN IN PURSUIT
Hare Taking Refuge in Bass
Horns Depths Is Caught.
Sad Sequel to This Tale

Sunday rabbit driving at Golden
Gate Park is making stronger bid
for popularity every week. Yesterday
the soulful "um-to-tas" of Steindorft
brasses were almost drowned in the
yells of small boys who chased the
elusive cottontails under the benches
and over the lawns of the music con-
course.
At this season the feeding in the un-
cultivated parts of the park is unpala-
table and the rabbits bring their fam
lilies to the cultivated sections. The
crowd of Sunday visitors pouring
toward the Spreckels Music Stand un-
Intentionally forms a rabbit drive,
penning the little animals within the
barriers of humanity. Then the small
boy shines.
AS the strains of the national hymn
blared forth yesterday little Willie Nc
Grummit, the nineyear-old heir OF
John McGrummit of 407 Rose avenue,
was seated quietly between pa and ma
Suddenly one cared rabbit popped out
from under the bench. Willie was
sportsman and could not stay. Stein
dorff's most impressive gestures failed
TO hold his eye and the noble music OF
America" lost it's charms. With
screech he gave chase.
over the first bench into a basket
full of ham sandwiches leaped Willie.
He overturned a baby carriage and,
darting between the colossal legs of
fat man, sent their owner to earth
with a plaintive "oof."
Pa started after Willie and ma tod
died behind pa. Two fox terriers and
a bull dog Joined in the chase. FL
bowling. squirming and fighting his
way through the throng went the de-
termined huntsman, followed by his
convoy Before him the white tuft of
the cottontail waved like the plume on
the helmet of Navarro.
A crowd of sedate Germans sat
listening entranced to Schuberts s
"Serenade." Suddenly came the cry.
There he goes" The next moment
the hare leaped the hurdle of spell
( bound Germans and over went their
bench in the surprise of the moment.
The hunters in full cry trotted over
the fallen. Grayhounds may be 1eeter
but Willie had perseverance. People
stood on chairs and benches TO watch
me progress of the hunt.
7 Bunny grew tired and began to look
for escapes. After a weary circle he
leaped up on to the bandstand during
the intermission The bass horn lay
invitingly near. Here was an inviting
retreat. thought Bre'r Rabbit. and in
he jumped. With a cry of triumph
little Willie plunged his head and
shoulders into the instrument. He
stuck For several minutes a bass
horn mounted on a pair of small legs
capered about the platform emitting
more painful sounds than II ever
breathed even in Wagnerian selections.
Then pa eXtricated his offspring from
the brassware. Little Willie had two
black eyes, hardly any skin on his
face and less clothing on his frame.
but there was a cherubic grin on his
countenance and in his right hand he
held the one-eared rabbit.
AS the band waited UP sweet strains
from ''Erminie' a vail that blended
i'll with the music arose from the rear
of the bandstand Little Willie was
getting what was coming TO him.
The one cared rabbit loped quietly
homeward to the sand dunes.