New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04
o.7>,p For DECEMBER T. 1910
CHASE OF THE DOG
Nv Marvin Dana

h
;r,t,er,;d policeman. That IS the extern
of orr doc hunting. But about htindIe :.
wears ago. in England, one dog. manager u :.
defv the hunters for five months, ana IId
doey;te the fact that the whole county Vi
Cumberland was hot on It's tran nc We va,
indeed a public enemy, an ouLCaSI' wiz
every mans hand against him. whence nc
came none ever knew; but when ne CaIHo
he made his presence instantly perceived ~
the farmers. for he ravaged the fiockS WIN
annaIling ferocitv. He was large Deast'
with tawnv coat, striped like tiger $; 1t i
probable that he was a cross OF rnaStiii anu
GREYHOUND, with few other strains u iii''Ae
a good measure of depravity-
it was in May, 1910, that TINS d0g SUI,
denly appeared in Lower Ennerdale' anu
forthwith his depredations began: Oiterl ne
killed seven or eight sheep IN a single insnt'
But he displayed diabolical cunning III nls
ontrages: for he never attacked the same
Goclr Twice in succession On the contrary,
his successive fields of slaughter were sep
arated bv wide distances. 1t was only after
q sufficient interval of time had elapsed 70
relax vigilance that he visited hero tne
second time. Moreover, he performed his
exDloits with singular discretion; never d
bark or a growl gave warning OF his presence
And always he chose the plumpest OF the
flock for his victims, killed them by one bite
into the iugular and then drank the not
blood.
The dalesmen had many furious chases
after the creature. The farmers and then
workers formed bands which kept watch
over the hocks by night, equipped with
hounds and guns. A shot or shout was
the signal that the dog had been sighted
when all rallied to the pursuit Yet he was
rarely discovered; for he was WondrouSly
steathe in all his ways. A number OF times
he was seen in the daytime. On such Occa-
sions everyone Joined in the chase Plow-
men in the fields freed their horses, farmers
driving along the roads took theirs from the
carts. and all rode off bareback to hunt the
spoier of the herds The dog would let the
hounds follow him for ten or fifteen miles,
and then, somehow, throw them off the
scent. Often he waited for the leading
hound to overtake him, and then crushed
the forelegs of his pursuer by one bite OF his
powerful laws His speed was far beyond
that of the hounds, as was his strength. No
hound could ever be made to venture a
second attack on him.
For weeks this condition of affairs con-
tinued At last it became necessary to hire
men to take the place of the watchers, who
were worn out by their vigils and pursuits
of the enemy The crops suffered from neg
lect. The women too were wearled; tor
much unaccustomed labor fell on them by
reason of the mems activities against the
foe The dog always prudently fled at the
approach of a human being; but, despite
that fact, the children had become so afraid
of him that none dared go to school,
Therefore. in July, two months after the
first coming of the dog, money was sub
scribed for a special pack of foxhounds to be
used in hunting the slayer. There followed
some most exciting runs, better by far than
any ever had in pursuit of fox Once the
dog led a company of two hundred men from
Kinniside to the coast at Seascale, where he
contrived to disappear. Two or three times
in each week the dog was thus hunted out
of Ennerdale; but he always promptly re-
turned to his fayOrte mutton.
One notable run occurred on a Sunday.
As the hunt swept by Ennerdale Church, the
congregation hurried forth to join the chase,
and with them came the vicar, leaving his
sermon unpreached. But again the quest
was fruitless, though the dog was followed