E. O. Crauswell

Eli Osborn Crauswell (born March 22, 1847 in Pike County; died February 20, 1909 in Pratt City) was a dog trainer who kept charge of the bloodhounds used to track escapees from the Pratt Mines Prison.

Crauswell was one of seven children born to William and Martha M. Herndon Crauswell of Pike County. He learned to train and hunt with bloodhounds from his father, who used them to hunt down runaway slaves. He bought five hounds from his father when he was hired by the Pratt Coal & Coke Company in 1883. In 1886 he was acclaimed as keeper of, "the only pack of genuine bloodhounds in the south."

Crauswell was described in a newspaper interview as, "heavily built, six feet eight inches tall, of florid complexion, and wore a wide brim slouch hat. His feet were encased in high-topped boots, in which his pants were stuffed. His coat was worn open in front, showing an immaculate shirt of snowy whiteness, on the bosom of which, half hidden in the ruffles, glistened a large diamond. He had the appearance of a desperado, but he was genial and frank and an interesting talker, with a voice as soft as a woman's, and with, actions as timid as a girl's."

Crauswell's pack of bloodhounds included "Fannie" and "Bucker", described as, "the two famous man-hunters of the south," capable of following a man's trail even after 36 hours, and despite attempts to elude such as running along creeks.

Crauswell died in 1909 and was buried at the Fraternal Cemetery in Pratt City.

References

• "Traits of the Man Hunters" (April 1886) Nashville American, quoted in "Convicts and Bloodhounds" in The International Record of Charities and Correction (April 1886) Vol. 1, p. 21

External links

• Eli Osborn Crauswell at Findagrave.com