The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-12
THE BLACK TRACKERS
Wonderful Keenness Of These
Natives of Australia.
USED TO TRACK CRIMINALS.

These Men Are veritable Bloodhounds
and Have q Natural Instinct For
Running Down Desperadoes Who Are
Fleeing From Justice.
A criminal in Australia knows that
his chances for escape are nearly hope.
less If a 'tracker' is put upon his trail
within a day after the crime is discoy.
cred. A trucker" is native black
man having natural instinct for run.
ming down criminals fleeing from jus.
tice. These men are veritable blood,
hounds, and their strange power is pos
sessed by no other race in the world.
So implicit is the confidence felt in
them by the police that when black
starts out upon man hunt the officer
who goes with him merely follows In
his wake. He does not question him or
In any way interfere with him, but,
leading his own horse, allows the guide
to go In whatever direction he pleases,
no matter how apparently reasonless
his course may seem.
The most successful trackers are in
Queensland, near the edge Of New
South Wales. They will travel any
distance animated by no feeling Of ha-
tired for their quarry. but only desirous
sf proving their expertness. The re-
ward they ask is absurdly small for
the long and difficult trails. A few
shillings or some cheap bracelets,
rings, and so on. quite satisfy them.
They have no idea of the value Of
money. Rum is their great weakness
Once tracker was employed to To-
cate some valuable trees for timber
nan. He had to travel some forty
miles through forest so dense that it
was necessary to cut his way through
with his tomahawk. All he asked for
was a bottle of rum, while the timber
merchant derived over $4,000 from the
sale of the trees.
The following description OF man
hunt will convey a clear idea of the
dangers and hardships to be endured:
In this particular case the tracker
was a splendid specimen of manhood.
The usual loin garments Of kangaroo
skin he had exchanged for light COW
ering of cotton cloth provided by the
police He led horse, so as to make
time in the open country districts
where the runaway's footsteps could
be seen from horse. The hunt was
yery earnest, because the fugitive had
Etolen some cattle. In Australia the
crime Of cattle stealing is most Sc
Yerely dealt with and considered a seri-
Gus Offense.
The offender was a well seasoned
Aushman, cunning and acquainted with
the tactics of the trackers. Further
more, he had two days start of his
pHrsuers.
To accompany a chase like this is
Gwesome, the utter silence and desola-
tion Of the woods is so depressing.
Tben, too, the trails are deceptive, Of
tea leading to a deserted wood camp
beneath a foliage so dense that it is
impossible even to catch a glimpse Of
the sky. Darkness closes in very
quickly in the mountain regions, and
by nightfall the tracker and his en-
Pl0yer were glad to reach an accom-
modation house." or rancher's home,
where such as these were usually well
eomed and allowed to put up for the
night At this house the officer tried
10 hear tidings Of bis man, hut no one
had seen him.
All the next day the black fellow led
along as swiftly as possible. The way
was extremely rough, and mile after
mile was covered through wild silences
uutfl stranger would surely think the
guide was playing losing game. At
10 time could they ride, and it was
with great difficulty that they reached
q sort of clearing, where the horses
we're tied and camp struck for the
night. Tearing huge strips Of bark
from the trees and wrapping blankets
around them, each lay on the concave
surface of one for bed and rested
At noon the next day a bushman's
cabin was reached, and there the tired
horses were tethered. The hunters
then proceeded on foot. Another night
In the forest, and the fourth day found
these intrepid hunters making their
way through underbrush peculiar to
Australia, called lawyers and barris-
ters," because Its thorns and BRAIN
bles catch one at every turn. Once the
guide hesitated, turned back and struck
0f in another direction down an elm
hankment the rest tumbling after him.
A wild chase that must have been!
Two white men following the appar-
emily mad actions Of black fellow
into places so remote that 1t would