Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-09
POLICE DOGS.
How the Police Dogs of Paris Have
Made Good.

HOW the POlIce Do9S OF FaTiS Td"S
Made Good.
Although Hull Is the only place In
this country where dogs are employed
to aid the police in tracking criminals,
the services of canine detectives have
for years past been requistioned In
France, Germany, Belgium, Austria
and New York. Russia has recently
followed the example, of these coun-
tries. London, alone, among the capt.
tails of Europe is the only place where
dogs have not been enlisted into the
police service. The experience Of 9TH
er countries and the success Of the ex-
pertinent at Hull has completely vim
dicated the utility Of dog policemen"
but, although the authorities at Scot
land Yard are understood to recognize
their usefulness, the sentimental pre-
judices of the public seem to be the
chief objection to their Introduction in
the metropolis. These prejudices may
be surmounted in time, and some day,
sooner or later, London may be equip
ped with canine constabulary"
The idea Of employing four-footed
rowed from Client, the Belgian town,
which is the pioneer in the use Of the
dog thief catcher and, as the system
has proved successful, not only In help
ing the police to capture suspects, but
in preventing crime, as we'll, 1t will be
surprising II 1t is not extended to 9TH
er parts Of the country. The dogs
principally used for criminal work are
Airedale terriers and cross bred blood
hounds. Scientific tests have proved
that the former species Of dog can
hear, roughly 400 yards further off
than a man, and 1t is this class Of ca
nine watcher that has rendered such
effective work at Hull. The dogs ac-
company the police on patrol and are
taught to obey the calls Of small trum-
pets which the officers carry. The an
imals are held in leash and slipped
when required to render assistance.
A large leather muzzle covers the
dogs head, so that when they make
for their quarry and seize him they
cannot bite. The duty Of the dog po-
liceman is merely to throw the mis-
creant until his human colleague ar
rives. The dogs are even trained to
upset bicycles, so that the scorcher or
the thief who tries to escape on wheels
may very easily be caught. They are
also taught to recognize the night
watchman in uniform, so that police
men themselves are never in danger
of being attacked or mistaken for
prowlers Even the discharge Of fire.
arms does not frighten the well-train-
ed terrier. And, lastly, the dogs are
trained to refuse the insidious sausage,
which may be well-seasoned with
strychnine when 1t is offered by a
strange hand.
Marvellous proofs Of the sagacity Of
police dogs were given at the remark
able trials recently held at Paris, when
French, Belgian and German dogs
were tested in the art Of capturing
supposed criminals and in discovering
hidden persons, pursuing them and
holding them captive. Part Of the
programme was TO confront each dog
with an Apache attired in the classic
costume Of a red neckerchief, broad
brimmed hat slouched over the eyes
and no collar. The dogs were, Of
course, muzzled, otherwise the ANA
teur Apaches would have passed bad
quarter of an hour but, as 1t was, they
were attacked with great fury by their
canine assailants and bowled over like
ninepins.
In another experiment the dogs
master arrested a supposed burglar,
who in the struggle dropped sack
containing the booty.
The dog watched the arrest with
critical eye, prepared to assist If his
services were required, and when the
burglar was marched off to prison
stood sentry over the loot without a
word or sign from his master-until
the officer returned and relieved him
Of his duty Among other accomplish
ments the dogs displayed were to climb
walls and to take high jumps Of over
six feet and long jumps Of fourteen
feet. How to knock a man down by
running between his legs and how to
keep him on the ground with vigorous
blows Of the muzzle were acts In which
they all displayed the greatest skill.
One of the dogs recently trained to
assist the Paris police was not long In
giving an account Of himself. Going
out with a couple Of police-sergeants,
he came across a group of beggars in
the Bouleyard Carnot at ST. Dennis,
and began to sniff, whereupon a Grip
pie hit him on the nose with a piece
of iron.
The dog remembered that blow,
Finding himself some time afterward
at Pierrefitte in a professional capac-
ity he suddenly pounced upon a one
armed man standing at the door Of
wine shop. The dogs ill-humor at
tracted the attention Of the police
men accompanying him, and they rec
ognized in the one-armed man the
culdejatte of st. Dennis. The man
was taken to the police station and
stripped. 1t was found that he was
an impostor-that he had both arms,
becoming in turn a blind man and a
cripple.
Another French dog distinguished
himself in signal fashion. A gang of
burglars was arrested at st. Maur;
only the leader escaped. Some days
afterward it was ascertained that the
fugitive had taken refuge in an aban-
doned house, which two police in
spectors entered along with dog
assistant.
On seeing the officers the man pro-
duced a knife and was about to attack
one of the policemen, when the dog
jumped at his throat and succeeded in
upsetting him. The man was imme-
diately seized and bound. One of the
most -talked-of dog policemen in
France is known by the name of Lion.
Recently he covered himself with glory
at Areneil. Systematic plundering had
heen going on at the railway goods