The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-12-22
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ANEWFOUNDLAND DOGS VEN
~ GEANCE. 49,
BY OLD GRAY.

4 was always fond of dogs. Goldsmith
in his touching and eloquent plea for the
dog, g,where, in alluding to a sort of mania
for dog-killing which prevailed at the time
Of which he speaks, in consequence Of on
unreasonable apprehension Of hydrophia
says, among other fine things, that the dog
is the only animal which will leave his own
kind, voluntarily, to follow man.
Itis. true, and the truth should bind man
to be the dogs protector and friend. ..
The American, brig Cecilia, Captain
SYmmes, on one of her voyages, had ON
board asplendid specimen of the Newfound-
land breed, named Napoleon, and his mag
nifcent size and proportions, his intelligent
hend, broad, white chest, white. feet, and
! whitegtipped tail, the rest of his CLASSY body
beiag black, made him as beautiful as his
peerless name sake, who would, no doubt,
s$.aye been proud to possess him. o.s',
Captain Symmes, however, was not par.
tial to animals Of any kind, and had an un-
accountable and especialrepugnance to dogs,
as much SO indeed us if all his ances tors had
died Of hydrophobia, and he dreaded to be
bitten like his unfortunate predecessors.
This dislike he one day manifested in a
shocking manner, for Napoleon had several
times entered his room, and, by the wag-
ging Of his great banner of tail, knocked
paper, and ink off his desk. On the next
occasion the Captain seized knife and cut
the poor animals tail off.
The tdog'styell brought his master to the
spot, and seeing the calamity and the au-
thor Of it, without o moments hesitation he
felled. Captain Symmes to the cabir-foor
withsa sledge-hammer blow, which, had it
hit the temple, would have forever prevent
ed the captain from cutting off any more
dog = tails. ..+.4
The result was that Lancaster was put in
irons, from which he, however, was soon re-
leased Captain Symmes partly repeiited
his cruel deed, on learning that Napoleon
nau5 once SdVeu OWIlSE 3 INV
The white shark, as all my nautical
friends are we'll aware, is one Of the very
| largest Of sharks. 1t averages over twenty,
ana / have seen one twentyseven and a
halfifeet long. It is generally considered
| to be the fiereest and most formidable Of
sharks. u ,,t{.. ssg-.3gl s1s. ....i ~
But lafew days elapeed after the catastro-
phe of poor Napoleon ere he became hero
. Of a more thrilling occurrence, the very
! : .iought Of which has often filed me with
horror During the interval the noble beast
was not at all backward in exhibiting his
wFathaat the captain by his growls, when-
ever he approached him. NEE i3.ls* .@ ...a1 .s &.
In vain did his master, fearful for the life
ofhls dog, essay to check these signs of his
anger. Captain Symmes, however, made
the allowance and offered no further harm
10 him. @sesa&e 7a sa
One morning, as the Captain was stand
ibgIon the bowsprit, he lost his footing and
fell overheard, the Cecilia then running at
about ten knots. s Ha @@
saMan overheard! Captain Symmes over
board!'' was the cry; and all rushed to get
out they cav a swimmer striking out for
the brig, which was at.once rounded to. and
assthey felt especially apprehensive on &C.
count, COUNT os the white sharks in those waters
they regarded his situation with the most
painful sclicitude.
by tke time the boat touched the watei
theft worst fears were realized, for at some
distance behind the swimmer they beheit
advancing toward him the fish most dreaded
in those waters. .sta3 4
"Hurry, hurry, men, or we shall be toe
| late" exclaimed the mate: "Whats that?
The splash which caused this inquiry wal
| occasioned BY thef plunge of Napoleon int
the sea; the noble ANIMAL having beer
watching ngthe cause Of the tumultlfrom tn
captain'a fall, and heard the shout. and fo
| few. moments had vented bis feelings il
/ asep growlss as if he was ccnsciots Of th
peril of hi enemy, and gratiiea atsit.
aIIisgfowlss however, were soon chahgs
insos those whinss of sympathy which q