The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-28
A NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS VENGEANCE
BY OLD GRAY

| was always fond Of dogs. Goldsmith in
his touching and eloqueat plea for the dog,
where in alldding to sort of mania for dog
killing which prevailed at the time of which he
speaks, in consequence ofan unreasonable ap-
prehension of hydrophobia, he says among other
fine things, that the dog is the only animal
which will leave his own kind voluntarily
to follow man.
1t is true, and the truth should bind man to
be the dogs protector and friend.
The American brig Cecilia, Captain Sym
mes, on one of her voyages, had on hoard a
splendid Specimen of the Newfoundland breed,
named Napoleon, and his magnificent size and
proportions, his intelligent head, broad, white
chest white feet and white tipped TAIL tie
rest of his glossy body being black, made him
as beautiful as his peerless namesake, who no
doubt would have been proud possess him.
Captain Symmes, however, was not partisl to
animals of any kind, and had an unaccoantable
and especial repugnance TO dogs as much 50
indeed as if all his ancestors bad died of hy-
and he dreaded to be bitten like his
unfortunate predecessors.
This dislike he one day manifested in
shocking manner, for Napoleon had sc, eral
times entered his room, and by wagging Of his
great banner ofa TAIL knocked paper ard ink
off his desk On the next occasion the Cap
tain seized knife and cut half the poor IL
mails tail off
The dogs yell brought his master to the spot
and seeing the calamity AMI the author of 1T,
withouta monent's hesitation he filled Captain
Symmes to the cabin floor with slcdge-
hammer blow, which hid it hit the temple
would have forever preven ed the Ca plain from
cutting Off any more dogs tails.
The result was that Lancaster was put in
irons, from which however he was soon re-
leased, Captain Sylnmes partly repenting his
cruel deed, on learning that Napoleon had
once saved his owners life.
The waite shark. as all my nautical friends
are well aware, is one of the very largest of
sharks. 1t averages over twenty, and | have
seen one twenty-seven and d half feet long
1t is generally considered to be the fiercest and
most formidable of all sharks.
Bot few days elapsed after the catastrophe
of poor Napoleon ere he became the hero Of
more thrilling occurrence, the very thought
of which has often filled me with horror. Dur
ing the interval the noble beast was not at all
backward in exhibiting his wrath at the Cap
tain by low growls, whenever he approached.
In vain did his master fearful for the life of
his dog. essay to cheek these signs of his anger
Captain Symmes however, made the allow
ance and offered no further harm to him.
0ne morning as the Captain was standing
on the bowsprit, he lost his footing and fell
overheard, the Cecilia then running at about
ten knots.
''AIan overheard Captain Symmes over
boardn was the cry, and all rushed to get out
the boat as they saw swimmer striking out
for the brig which was at once rounded to, and
as they felt especially apprehensive on ac-
count of the white sharks In those waters,
they regarded his situatiou with the most
painful Solicitude.
By the time the boat toucheI the water,
their worst fears were realized, for at some
distance behind the swimmer they beheld ad-
vancing upou him the fish most dreaded in
those waters. t. +.
| a"Hurry! hurry, nneni or we shall be too
late,,, exclaimed the mate. eWhaes thatg''
| The splash which clused this inquiry was
occasioned by the plunge of Napoleon into the
sea; the noble animal having been watching
the cause Of the tumult from the Captains fall,
and heard the shout, and for a few moments
had vented his feelings in deep growls, as if
conscious of the peril of his enemy and graft
fed att. ata i7st a4 s
| His growls, however, were soon changed
into those whines ofsympathy which so Of
ten show the attachment of the dog to man,
when the latter is in danger. At last he
plunged, and rapidly made his way toward
the now nearly exhausted Captain, who aware
lofhis double danger, and being but passable
swimmer, made fainter and fainter strokes,
while his adversary closed rapidly upon him.
-"PulI boys, for dear life.' was the shout Of
the mate, as the boat now followed the dog,
whose huge limbs propelled him gallantly to
the scene of danger es.a ,slss9 pt'-.lA ~
/ Slowly the fatigued swimmer made his way,
lwhile ever and anon his head sank IN the
waves, and behind him the back of the yora-
Icious animal told what fearful progress ne