DRIVES IN CALIFORNIA. 51 



A writer in the Chicago Tribune of October 1, 1<SJ)3, tlius o-raphic- 

 ally describes one of the hir<,^cst drives which lias taken uhice in the 

 vicinity of Fresno, Cal. : 



A close feucc forming the corral is Ijuilt about aftO yards S(£uare, witli an opening 

 or entrance for receiving the drive at one end, ilio opening being perhaps 50 feet 

 •wide. This is the linlsliing point of the drive, and will hold thousands of rabbits. 

 From this opening <liverge two fenci-s, close enough to keep the rabbits from jump- 

 ing through, about 5 feet high. These two fences diverge from the entrance for 

 about 3 miles, increasing in their distance apart as they increase in distance from 

 the entrance. * * * 



By 7 o'clock in the morning all is busth^ .uid ])reparation for the drive. Some 

 men have heavy sticks and some heaA^y clul)s, but no pistols or any kind of lirearms 

 are allowed, and no dogs. The sticks and clubs are used to beat the brush' and to 

 kill the rabbits at the finish. 



A general is appointed to give orders, and under him are those who keep the lines 

 in order. But sometimes they are any tiling but orderly. The order to start being 

 given along tlio line, the cavalcade rushes ^()r\^ ard. Boys with hoots and cries run 

 hither and thither, wielding their sticks. .Men on foot in advance lines are followed 

 by those on horseback and in vehicles. Those on foot seem to have the best success 

 in putting up the rabbits. * * * 



After advancing a few miles the commencement of the fences diverging Ironi the 

 corral can be seen. The scene is humorous at times, when a horseman is seen dash- 

 ing at full speed after a jack rabbit and a man on foot running in another direction 

 after another. Now hundreds of the poor creatures are easily discerned as the 

 fences appear on the left and right, miles apart. Many try the back track only to 

 meet death in the attempt. All the horsemen gallop in cowboy style, some with 

 long sticks in their hands. Great numbers of rabbits dash in. every direction 

 in front of the advancing hosts, and far ahead the long ears of hundreds more can 

 be seen racing for life, occasionally crouching and then starting ahead again, but 

 still surely advancing into the inevitable death-trap. The close proximity to the 

 finish makes the chase exciting. Those on foot are heated and eager. The fence on 

 each side is closing in fast, and although still some distance from the corral the 

 screaming of the poor creatures can be heard as they find their retreat cut off. 



The climax of the drive is now at hand. Hundreds of men and boys rush in every 

 direction. The horsemen and carriages ])artly hide the view. The clouds of dust 

 are stilling. Now the screeching of the rabbits can be heard above everything, and 

 the ground is covered with dead rabbits l)y the dozen. At the corral entrance the 

 scene is indescribably pitiful and distressing. ^ * * 'Po slash and beat the poor 

 screaming animals to death is the work of but a short time, but it brings tears to 

 many an eye, and makes the heart sore to witness the finish. It is a relief to every- 

 body when all is still, when the trying day is at an end. The result of the drive at 

 Fresno was 20, 000 dead rabbits. 



The rabbits killed in the drives are utili/.ed in various ways. If 

 they arc in good condition some are dressed and shipped to market 

 where they find a ready sale. But nsually tlie drives are carried on 

 solely for the purpose of exterminating the pests. In localities where 

 a bounty has been offered the ears are collected for 'scalps' and the 

 bodies not saved for food are either used for fertilizing purposes, fed 

 to hogs, or thrown away. 



Drives have occurred in nine counties of California, viz: Inyo, Los 

 Angeles, Modoc, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare. 

 With the exception of those in Inyo, Los Angeles, and Modoc, all have 



