Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04

CHASE OF THE DOG
By M:rvin Dana

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blocks and then falls before the revolver of
an intrepid policeman. That is the extent
of our dog hunting. But about hundred
years ago, in England, one dog managed to
defy the hunters for five months, and that
despite the fact that the whole county of
Cumberland was hot on its trail. He was
indeed public enemy, an outcast, with
every mans hand against him. Whence he
came none ever knew; but when he came
he made his presence instantly perceived by
the farmers, for he ravaged the focks with
appalling ferocity. He was large beast,
with tawny coat, striped like tigers; it is
probable that he was a cross of mastif and
greyhound, with a few other strains to make
a good measure of depravity.
1t was in May, 1910, that this dog sud-
denly appeared in Lower Ennerdale, and
forthwith his depredations began. Often he
But he displayed diabolical cunning in his
outrages; for he never attacked the same
flock twice in succession. On the contrary
his successive fields of slaughter were sep
arated by wide distances. 1t was only after
sufficient interval of time had elapsed to
relax vigilance that he visited herd the
second time. Moreover, he performed his
exploits with singular discretion; never a
bark or 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 jugular, and then drank the hot
blood.
The dalesmen had many furious chases
after the creature. The farmers and their
workers formed bands which kept watch
over the focks 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
stealthy in all his ways. A number of times
he was seen in the daytime. On such occa-
| 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
spoiler 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 jaws. 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 wearied; for
much unaccustomed labor fell on them by
reason of the mems activities against the
foe. The dog always prudently fled at the
approach of human being; but, despite
that fact, the children had become so afraid
of him that none dared 60 to school.
| Therefore, in July, two months after the
first coming of the dog, money was sub
scribed for 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 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 favorite mutton.
| One notable run occurred on 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
all the way to Cockermouth. The next run
was to Derwent, distance of twenty miles,
Another to St. Bees, almost an equal dis