Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-07-13


dog as to the chase and his traps
In the " course OF human events" as
| learn from a gentleman who resided
in Berlin at an early day, it came TO
pass, on hunting excursion, that Mr..
Fowler, accompanied by his faithful
dog, started deer Of great speed
and large size, his head ornamen,ed
by majestic pair Of horns. The
dog and his master, in hot haste, pur-
sued their game for many mile, un-
til coming to the stream upon what
is now the farm Of Mr.. Martin, which
empties its waters into the Winoos-
XII nearly opposite the new cemetery,
the deer leaped into the water, when
the dog caught him by one Of his hind
legs, holding the wild and frightened
animal floundering and splashing in
the water until the excited huntsman
came TO the rivers bank, and boun-
ing into the stream, seized the deer
by both his antlers. Now came the
tug OF war and the tuslle for triumph.
The contest was so equal, for while,
that IT seemed doubtful which of the
contending parties would eventually
wear the laurels. Jowler stuck TO
the leg like puppy at a root, :"
and the hunter to the horns, s,rug-
Cling manfully to press the animals
head under water. Occasionally the
head was put there, but the difficult
iy was 10 make it stay put" Jow-
Ter being, as the boys say, know
ing dog and percelving that some
thing must be done, or his master
was "goner," let go his hold of the
lee aud seized the deer by the tip Of
the nose, saying, as plainly as dog
could say by his significant look,
Drown him drown him The dog
made dive and the hunter pressed
hard upon the horns. 1t was too
much for the hcrOlck buck. lie gave
up the ghost aud the contest, not
that he was fairly conquered in hon
orable warfare 10y the trap or the ii
fle, but that he couldn't breathe I'M
der water. The rich prize was borne
in triumph TO the shanty, and laying
ii down at the feet of his spouse the
hunter said, in tone oil triumph
and of kindness, "There, my dear,
is venson for you % But how is
this, huzi see no blood and heard
no report of the rifle" Oh, no, "
replied the hunter, tive gave him
the wet sheet, and Jowlcr and |
drowned him in the stream Just back
of the hut" Well done, Mr..
Fowler Well done 1t seems
then that you have caught another
deer besides me and we must di-
vide the honors between us-let US
call Tint stream Deer River" a" No
no, | thank you, my dear-it mus
be called Dog Rlver-and feeling {
IilIle poetic on tho occasion, spoke
out his reasons in dog-rill verse;
For our faithful Dog Jowler,
Saved the deer and--old Fowler"
The good woman, remembering hel
nupiial vow TO " honor and obey,
gave it up, and Dog River tina
stream was then christened, and iU
more than half century Dog Rive
it has been called, though il has new
or been known, that am aware OF
either to howl or to bark. The orr
GIN of the name Of this stream SEEM
to have been quite as romantic, tho
no, as pugllslic, as the name OF Bar
re. That town, according 10 Thomp
sons excellent Gazetteer, derived ii
present name by "wager OF battle
between two of its early Settlers
Ii is thus described in the Gazetteer
"This township was granted Nov
6, 1850, to William Williams an'
his associates, and chartered by III
name Of Wildersburgh. This nam
being unpopular with the inhabllanl
of the Town, in the year 1893,
.own-meeting was called, to be hold
en- at the house of Calvin Smith 70
the purpose of agreeing on some 9th
er name to be presented 10 the legis
lature for their sanction and approx
al. The meeting being opened
freedom was given for any one I
present the name he chose, and III
choice among the number presen,e
was 10 be decided by the vote of III
town. Several names were propos
ed, such as Paris, Newburn, &c
Two of the voters present, Capt. Jc
.eph Thomson and MIR, Jonaiha
Sherman, the first from Holden, tn
other from Barre, Mass, each i
their turn, strenuously commended f.
the name of the town from which b
came and as the matter seemed
] liI ChttlAl oeiWtth tiSeS wv, u W.
proposed that it should be decide
between them, by boring, 10 whic
they readily agreed. The tern
were, that they should fight across
pole but if one should knock III
other down, they nigh, then choos
their own mode of warfare. I'll
meeting then adjourned to a ne
barn-shed, erected by said Sml,i
over which floor of rough hemloc
plank had just been laid, and on III
The issue was to be decided. Agre'
ably 10 this arrangement, the con
ba,ants advanced upon each o,he
and soon Thompson, by a well d
rected blow, brought his antagonl
to the floor, and sprlnging upon h'
at full length, began TO aim his hea'
blows at his head and face ; but She
man, being more supple, avoidt
II