The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-06

The prairie dog talks IN short, sharp
barkS. which are really not barks 1T
all, but calls almost Identical with
the bluejay. The prairie dog is also
an eloquent conversationalist with his
tail, which, though short, is kept wag-
ging all the time. Old plainsmen say
that one prairie dog can talk to an
other wigwag fashion without utter
ing a sound.
Some evening the ranch telephones
in all the surrounding county near
where hunt is scheduled will ring
general alarm, and the ranchmen who
answer Will hear a message for all:
"Going to be a rabbit hunt at the
J ranch tomorrow" That is all the
notice that is needed. On the same
evening the word will have passed
around in town and as many as have
horses to ride will make plans to join
the sport.
Soon after dawn the next day a
procession of riders will start for the
ranch where the hunt is scheduled.
Preceding them will be a wagon or
two loaded with rolls Of chicken yard
fencing, which plays an important
part in the hunt. The men with the
fencing will drive straight to the
point where the hunt is scheduled to
end. Usually this will be the mouth
Of a small canyon or draw. Here will
be built a corral Of chicken wire, and
then stretching out from either side
Of the corral's mouth will be run
long lines of fence wire held in place
by stakes. Sometimes these two
wings or wire Will make V-shaped
mouth a quarter Of mile across. The
point Of the Y is the mouth of the
corral and into it eventually all the
jack rabbits will be driven for miles
around.
After all the preparations have
been made in the way Of fencing the
hunt proper will begin miles back Of
the V-shapped wings. The hunters on
horseback will scatter until they are
a straight line across the prairie COW
ering several miles. There are women
as well as men among the riders, as
the riding is easy and liable to none
Of the dangers attending the follow
ing Of hounds after coyotes. The hunt
has a captain, and at his signal, usu-
ally the firing Of a revolver, the line
Of riders begins to move steadily for
ward. The outside riders move
little faster and soon the line takes
the form Of a semic;rcle.
Steadily the riders move across the
plain and steadily the riders draw in
near each other as the corral wings
are approached. Before the advanc-
ing line the frightened rabbits are
already skipping alone and OCCASION
ally an expert with a revolver takes a
pot shot at one from the saddle.
AS the wings are approached the
riders increase their speed and the
rabbits run blindly. Before they
know it they have run against one Of
the wire wings. There is nothing to
do but follow the fence, and in few
minutes they have run through the
mouth Of the corral.
A rabbit would never think, if rab-
bits do think, Of turning around and
trying to break through the line Of
horsemen. He keep on going until
surrounded by the fence, when there
is no escape. When the roundup
ends the corral is filled with rabbits.
The number may range from a few
hundred up to a thousand. The rab-
bits are killed with clubs or by dogs,
and the hunt is over.
Then comes quite as much Of the
days sport as The aunt itself-the
barbecue given by the ranchman
whose pastures have been rid of the
pest. All day the beeves have been
hanging over the pits near the ranch
house. Coffee has been steam1ng m
boiler kettles and there is an abund-
ance Of bread and pickles. The hun
cry hunters hurry to the scene Of the
feast and, as it is usually 3 o'clock
or after before the hunt is over, they
are ready for the meal.
After dinner the remainder Of the
afternoon is spent in pony racing,
maybe baseball game or other
amusements; and then there is an
other lunch on the remnants Of the