Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25

The Virginia authorities have secured
and trained pack of hloodhounds which
are used for the purpose of capturing es-
capped prisoners and TO assist in the capture
of those who have committed a crime and
eluded the officers of the law.
The use of bloodhounds IN the southern
part of the United States for catching
criminals Is common practice For over
fifty years dogs have been trained in the
south for this purpose. Before the civil
nearly all of the larger plantations
had one or more pure bloodhounds trained
to pursue runaway slaves. In some cases
the plantation owners would club together
and purchase a pack. each having the use
of it when needed to catch the fleeing negro
In those days some white men In the south
made 1t business to train dogs especially
for the purpose, and accompanied them
when they were needed for a chase" as 1t
was termed. Very few were ever used for
bird or animal hunting. 1t affected their
scent Tor men. The planters fond of hunt
ing kept other breeds of dogs almost entire
" for sport. Since the war the value of the
bloodhound is SO well known in following
escaped criminals that today the half
breeds are almost as numerous as the
others We're thirty years ago, although
many were killed by the Union soldiers and
the negroes themselves during the war
Dog fanciers say that there are probably
not twenty-five pure-blooded dogs of this
breed in the United States at present. The
first of the kind came from the north of
England. near the Scotch boundary line
When not in service they Were often kept
about the house as pets. probably because
of their courage and dOCility, for the real
bloodhound is anything but the savage and
vicious brute depicted by artists and de-
scribed by novelists in his ordinary coadi-
ton. When not aroused he is as gentle and
as traCtable as lap dog. Let him be pro-
voked however. and he will attack man or
beast with ferocity equalled by no
other breed of CANNES. He never gives up
as long as life lasts, and II is either death
10 himself or the object he attacks. The
savage side of the dog is aroused by re-
sistance. and he Will seldom bite any one
who does not offer II unless Influenced by
the scent of blood This trait is proved by
numerous Illustrations whore the animal
has been used In the southern states. The
negroes in the slave days were well aware
of IT, and frequently when run down
darby would throw himself full length upon
the ground and remain motionless The
dogs coming up, would stand around bay
ing until the pursuing party reached the
fugitive. Many a runaway. however. met
his death I'm endeavOring to strangle the
dogs or beat them off with club.
The hounds of the pure specie have an
unusually long and narrow forehead, with
ewes very large and soft, while in color
they are dark tan or fawn. They stand
about two feet above the ground their legs
are short but powerful, and they are not
swift running dogs, although they have as
much endurance as any of the hunting
breed Their scent. however. is wonderful,
and probably surpasses that of my other
variety. This is shown after they are
broken in TO hunt criminals. The manner
of breaking them in in the southern states
IS TO select stretch of country about
mile long, with one or two thickets on the
course as 1t is termed. The ground may
be a pasture or perhaps an old cotton field
where the stretch is loose. negro boy,
who IS a good runner. Is hired or induced in
s1ue other way to take the part of the
runaway He puts on pair of shoes or
brogans. the soles of which are rubbed with
Mood from some animal or chicken. and is
given a start of about twenty minutes.
This will enable him TO easily cover the
course. at the end of which is tree or
Some other refuge I'm which he can climb to
avoid any possibility of being injured by
the dog.
when the animal is loosened the trainer
nuts the animals nose 10 the spot where
the negro started. and as rule he Is on
the scent in second, going at full speed
pcross the stretch Of country. In the thicket
he may be puzzled few moments, but gen
orally he strikes the trail again and In few