Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-01-27

y, perhaps, no sadter image 10 Be called before
the mind than "the death Of dog"
On the Isl Of January, 1927, Col. WIN. L. Sub
iette, accompanied by famous Moun,aneer csi-
led Black Harris, started on foot. from III Val.
ley Of The Big Salt Lake, on an express expedi.
ton from the Mountains TO st. Louis. The story
OF the whole trip is too long to be told now, and
We only propose 10 mention one remarkable Incl.
dent OF the journey. The two men took with
them no horses, but pushed forward with snow.
shoes upon their feet. An Indian dog, trained
ana broken for service, with pack OF necessa.
r'es weirhing fifty pounds strapped upon its back,
was their only friend, assistant and companion
upon this perilous, desolate and unprecedented
adventure. After encountering suffering, hunger
and hardship, in every shape that winter could
infilct upon them in savage region, they stop.
ped one evening, sick and starving, under three
elm trees, By the side of frozen streamlet, still
two hundred miles outside OF the settlements. -
Inc dog was weak and sore footed, ont OF sirht
behind, - i followed faithfully and wesrliv on.
Sablette had barely strength to scrape the snow
rom spot, gather his blanket around him and
tatl exhausted; while Black Harris broke dead
oranches from the trees and kindled FIRE. If the
condition Of the tive desolate travellers At this
moment hay be imagined, it must present bic.
!nre worthyQf attention. Subletic lay eoiled up
IN his blanket b. the side OF the little eamp-fe :.
while Black hsTrh, sitting cross-lerged opposite.
bent Tor warmth the miserable blaze. his eve
cleaning with strange earne ,iness upon the moor
dog that came crawling in Just as the heaviest
shadows night were gathering around Harris
9o not move, % was his usual custom, TO relieve
the dog from its load. The animal erawled near
the FIRE, crouched and closed its eyes with The
burden still bound upor its back. while BLACK
harris "did rest his chin upon his clenched hands
and smiled" Is his eye roved back and forth from
the poor starved dog 10 alittle axe or tomahawk
that lay near.
captain, ~ said Harris, addressing suble,e.
"gmss muttered the WORKOUT man.
"The dog"
"um7"
Ell say, the dog!''
swell! well, then you amt hungry, I sup.
pose? wont say dog to you againp' ana Black
Harris made miserable attempt to whistle, his
wild eye still liked upon the poor beast tha, lay
near him.
che can't travel any more, any how,n said
Harris.
"CmC,
80, 80 to sleep, II you've had your supper;
legs"
Are you hungry, IIarris:'' asked sublet,e
family.
shungry! o, Lord, no, Ihave eaten three
full meals in only fortnight Hungry, Captainl
why, you're joking me; 80 10 sleep, Captain, 70
to sleep; you have been dining out and induis-
Ing! go to sleep"
"Must we Iii the dog, Harris?"
20, not al all, Captain; can wait awhile nv.
self and he'll save US the trouble before morn
ing.n
1 ..JmD
"We've got nothing more for him to, carry,
any how"
Sand he couldn't carry sny thing If be had it.
don't want to kill the dog!''
~Umn
"There's nothing 10 eat on his bones, any
how; go' night, Captanr'
s'kili the dog! kill the dog, Harris" said Sub
lette; s'you are starving: can't eat the Aesh Of
the wretched creature, but it YOU can, kill it, kill
it, in Gods name!"
Harris snatched the axe, and reelei with weak.
ness as he rose TO strike the dog He struck
again, and the blow descended with fearful ef-
feet upon. the, skull Of the animal. At Cell and
rose again with pttiful how. :.
"Get up, get up and help lne, Captain said
Harris, :. di.ziness is eonihg Over me, and !
can't see the brute"
sNol no! no!'' replied the prostate man, curl
ing himself up closer and closer IN tue folds Of
his blanket.
"Ca ups" repeated Harris, with phrenzied
earnestness in his words, and Subiette rose with
sudden energy to assist. j.
The wounded dog had crawlea away, and lay
mourning piteously some where ia the dark The
two men CROPPED about, biindly, aud half crazy
with hunger and wrstchedness, 10 search Of it,
and at length il was found.
"Hoid Il! hold it!:' cried Harris, as ne threw
more sticks on the fire to get light. @
.sSablette held the dog, while Harris gave il
two more rapid blows upon The skull with his
tomahawk, stretching the creature out upon ,ihe
blood-staned snow, apparently dead Wnhout
pausing an instant the hungry man threw the
carcase on the fire to SINCE The haisDf, when il
exhibited life aeain, wriggleds out Of the aamc
and ran mady away! BY IL own burning hair
The poor travellers traced Il, and, after being
stabbed and stabbed again, snd knocked in the
head again, the heart yet moved when the i'm
patient butcher opened his prey! M
Sublette returned, sick, to his bed in the snow,
but Harris cooked supper and Toasted alone, set
ling the Captains share aside to serve for break
fast They both ate heartily in the morning,
and with renewed vigor set forward for home.
Such is one story Of the death Of dog.