The Prison Blood Hounds – Prowling, Howling, Dreadful

New Jersey, 1889

The Prison Blood Hounds

How They Prowl Around at Night, Undisturbed by Visitors

Acting as assistants to the night watchman at the State's Prison are three huge blood hounds, who nightly are turned loose in the prison yard. The vicious glare of their eyes and gleam of their teeth have created a reign of terror among the prisoners, and doubtless the presence of three canine watchmen has prevented any plotting among the prisoners. For the thought that, although they may elude the ever-vigilant wall guards, yet these faithful retainers of the prison-keeper aided by their keen scent and possessed of such vicious dispositions may at any moment pounce upon the would-be jail-breaker is certainly enough to deter even the boldest from attempting escape. But not only the prisoners are forbidden in the yard after dark by the presence of these animals, but the officials of the prison are also under the ban, and can only enter the prison yard at the risk of being torn to pieces. One of these canines, Sultain by name, died recently but the other two still do effective duty.

They have acquired the habit of howling, and often disturb the stillness of the night with their bloodcurdling yelps, striking terror to the hearts of the lonely prisoners in their cells, whose ears are pierced by their unearthly growling.

With these dogs acting as guards, none of the prisoners are willing to undergo the risk incurred in taking French leave.

–Trenton Times, Trenton, NJ, July 1, 1889, p. 3.