Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-07-18
THE BULL DOG.

S"O i"'eLISeuC ol us species ltS depres-
sed forehead, lis underhanging Jaws and
blood shot eyes. unite in forming the very
personi6cation of the savage. Although
capable of some attachment, it cannot be
relied upon as friend. So utterly with
out intellect is the courage of the bull dog,
that it will attack anything that gives Of
fence. This dog has never been pet in
the United States but in England, among
large class of citizens, it is carefully
raised, and employed in bull bats. In
these bull bats, the dog, while fastened
to the nose of an unfortunate bull, has
had one leg after another cut off with
knife to test its courage ; and this display
has been hailed by the plaudits of the
" rural population" and the encourage
ment OF the scions of the nobility His
tory relates that Alexander once witness
ed bull dog attack famed lion, and be-
ing willing to save the lions life, ordered
the dog to be taken of, {" but the labor
of men and all their strength could not
loosen the ireful and deep-biting teeth"
The dog was then mutilated by its keep
er, and not on y its limbs. but its body
was severed from its head, whereat the
king was wonderfully moved, and sorrow
fully repented his rashness in destroying
beast of SO much spirit very nat~
urNl feeling, one would suppose. to every
generous mind.
Many years ago an English ship was at
one of our docks, on board of which was
a bull dog. The animal was so ferocious
that he gained an extensive rcputation.-I
Chained at the gangway of the ship, he
spent all the liyclong day in the hopeless
task of springing at every person that
passed along. either on pleasure or busi-
ness. The owner, first mate Of the vessel,
would sit for hours and detail the wonder
full deeds of this mighty dog. Crowds Of
idlers daily collected, and there stood the
hero, or rather, there raved the insane
creature of the multitude, each individual
lnduIglng the vague hope that he would
suddenly break loose and pitch into some
body, and thus show his powers.
Among the idlers was an Indian who
occasionally visited the city and made
few pence by shooting an arrow at PEN
nies stuck in the end Of stick. Upon
the very appearance of the Indian, the
bull dog was particularly violent, greatly
to the amusement of the fellows, who took
q malicious pleasure in irritating the an
imal The mate finally intcrfcred, and
told the Indian to 80 away, lest the dog
might break loose and cat him up. The
Indian not the least alarmed, in broken
English announced to the crowd, that i'll
the dog WAS brought down to the ground,
and chained to a post he would for five
dollars, fight the dog with nothing but
his hands and teeth. The money was
raised and the mate, after expressing
much reluctance at the idea Of having the
Indian killed, brought the dog down from
the ship, and fastened him to post
The Indian put away his bow and arrow,
and his knife. laid his neck bare, and roll
ed up his shirt sleeves. A ring was for
med and the battle commenced.
The Indian approached the dog, crawl
ing upon all fours, barking and growing.
as if he was one himself. The bull dor
meanwhile jumped and fumed at the
mouth, while his eyes bcamcd living fire
with irritation. The Indian, however,
kept up his pantomine, and gradually
brought his face in fearful proximity to
the dogs teeth. The mate now interiors
ed, tor he felt confident that the Indian
would be killed !; but the crowd had be-
come excited, and insisted upon " seeing
the thing out" a. mutual silence ensued
between the combatants, the dog straining
his chain'in his anxiety to reach the In~
dian, until it was as straight and solid as
a bar of iron. Suddenly the Indian sciz-
ed the bull dogs under lip between his
teeth, and in an instant whirled himself
with the dog over on his back. So unex-
pected was the attack, and so perfectly
helpless was the dog, with his feet in the
air, and his jaw imprisoned, that he res
covered his astonishment only TO utter
yells of pain !; whereupon the Indian shook
him for a moment as cat does mouse,
and then let go his hold. The dog, once
so savage, putting his tail between his
legs, retreated from his enemy, and
screamed with terror to get beyond the
reach OF the chain.