Evening journal., 1907-04-09
PLAYERS ENGAGE
In A IMAM HUNT
Wilmington Boys Follow the
BlOOdhOundSand Succeed in
freeing" Bill Smith
CHASE WAS A NOVEL ONE

stan Correspondence Evening Journal.
PORTSMOUTH,, April SITS seldom tnat
a baseball team 'llmbers up" to the yelp
OF blood hounds IN hot chase of a negro
who has been liberated from prison for iAo
purpose Of affording amusement and who
ls supposedly beating IT, for the purpose
OF escaping JAIN sentence, but such was
the experience of The Wilmington baseball
club yesterday.
Learning that the visitors had never
seen what is termed in this section of the
country as imam chase" Deputy city
Sergeant Jesse +. Hoopnogle arranged
an event OF this kind for the entertain
ment OF the Wilmington boys and the
members of the Binshampton n. w.
team, who are also iimbering up in Ports
mouth. "Bill" smith, q colored youth,
who is serving "a three months sentence
in city jail for larceny, was induced to
become the victim whom the dogs
should run down. Bill had been locked
up for the past two months, and a
breath OF fresh air, even II the dogs wore
upon his trail, was not adverse to him.
Accordingly Smith accompanied by Ser
geant Hoopnogle reached the BAN grounds
whore the start was 10 be made from
shortly before ten O'clock the dogs under
chain leash proceeding them a short time.
Arriving at Athletic Park, Smith di-
vested himself Of his coat, which he gave
In care Of the officer and was directed
TO beat IT, to the woods, two miles dis
tant..
"Fo Gawds sake, Cap'n Jess" said
Smith before staining, "doan't yo-all tusn
dem dawgs loose TO- I git 70 de timber.
Yo-al knows whatll happen TO Bill if
dey done lSetch him bofo' he gifts dc tree.
"Gwan, Bill" replied "Capn Jess "yo
can make IL alright, all yo's got to do is
TO hoof # fast. Wen TEX care Of The
dawgs. Hit 1t boy"
And Bill did "hit IT," starting of in a
dead run an the while casting a glance
OF apprehension behind him. Straight
across lot ne ran, turned abruptly to
/ the left and "hoofed" lit out street Lead
ing TO a woods. clear of underbrush. the
limbs of the trees branching out from
the trunks fully thirty feet above ground
Fifteen minutes had expired before
preparations were made to turning The
dogs loose. During this time they were
ugging at their chain leashes, painting
! NnlnlnH ana NlNhlub AA"hNiN Nti'N'tf9t -'
get away
"Give EN- the scent" ordered Sergeant
Hopnogle and IN moment the negro
coat was tossed to the blood hounds &c
smell. Another yelp Resembling "a bay aud
the dogs were free, one dragging h'
chain with IA dash they ran through 'n'
gate of the fence enclosing the baseball
grounds but upon reaching the OUTSIDE
paused only a second they waited, how
over when with their noses close TO tho
ground they made a break IN the direction
that Bill had taken.
They've got him sho onuf" exclaimed
Sergeant Hoopnosle. 'Yo fellows who
want 70 see the freeing batta stick close
TO the hounds cause II yo all doant you
won't he there in time. suitng his action
10 his word the sergeant jumped into h.s
team while County Constables Pettjohr
und Hodges sprang into teams that we~,
I'm waiting nearby.
"He's gone TO the timbers," called oui
the officer as he drove speedily away fol.
lowed by tho constables and the ball play
vrs IN uniform. Captain Cassidy led tn,