BLOODHOUND AT WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 246, 14 October 1905, Page 13

BLOODHOUND AT WORK.

An extraordinary scene wae witnessed in South Wales In connection with the disappearance of the three-year-old boy, Edwin Pincott, who has been-missing from j Abertillery since Friday, Augast 25. Following a public meeting all the colliers in the district refrained from work and when the day dawned a body of from GuOO to 7000 men marched four abreast to the Pontypool mountains, and there commenced a resolute search. The men formed themselves Into pangs at the foot of the mountains, and, despite a drenching downpour of rain, couriuued their quest until the evoniuß. A Cl tuned bloodhound was also used without success, owing to the enormous crowd which gathered to watch its movements. The hound was first taken to the lad's home, but some delay occurred In giving It a scent, as all the little fellow's garments had been washed since last they were worn. Eventually a pair of boots were produced, and on scenting these the hound started on! as though on a hot trail. It worked in the direction of the pond near the lad's home, and It lingered fhere so long that the fear arose that Pincott had met with a watery grave. Presently I the animal left the pond aud proceeded towards the school. Without hesitation it made at once for the seat which had been occupied by the little boy. The animal, following up the trail, proceeded round the schoolyard, and ran along a road which the boy was In the habit of taking on leaving school. By this time the crowd of spectators had assumed enormous proportions, ithd considerably Hampered the hound as it was w orkiug for a bridge across a' stream, witU the evident Intention of making far the open. The crowd was appealed to, but they declined to disperse, and at last the o\«jer of the hound had, reluctantly enough, to abandon the search. A forge pond was cleared out on Tecsday and the tlnworks searched, but without finding any trace of the boy. There was a rumour that the bor nn d been stolen by gipsies, and a gipsy encampment near Nautyglo was visited, while other Inquirers went to Ebbw Vale aud Beaufort. At the latter place a man and woman carrying a child answering to the description of the missing lad were detained, but the father, who w.as hastily scut for, said the lad was not tils son. It Is stated that Pincott has wandered away from home <en four previous occasious. ® It has been recalled that A schoolboy disappeared from the district thirty yt'ars ato under circumstances similar to those of the present case. The mountains wore searched, but it was not uiitil three diuutus aftt-i warus tuui lue ItiuvuctS L.idy was .found on one of the peaks. The little fellow's head .was resthu: upon a boulder, as though he had laid himself dowu peacefully for his last Iouk; slut-p.