Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-26
The Hui Dog.

| The bull dog is the most brutal and the least
intelligent Of its species; its depressed forehead
its underhanging jaws and blood-shot eyes, unite
in forming the very personifcation of the savage.
Although capable of some attachment, il cannot
be relied upon as friend. So utterly without
intellect is the courage Of the bull dog, that it
will attack anything that gives offence. This
dog has never been pet in the u. States; but in
England, among large class of citizens, it is
carefully raised, and employed in bull-baits. In
these buli-baits, the dog, while fastened to the
nose of some unfortunate bull, has had one leg
after another cut off with knife to test its cour-
age; and this display has been hailed by the
plaudts of the "rural population" and the en-
couragement of the scions OF the nobility! His
tory relates that Alexander once " itnessed bull
dog attack tanned lion, and being willing to
save the lions life, ordered the dog to be taken
Off ''bnt the labor of men and all their strength
could not loosen the ireful and deepbitng teeth.
The dog was then mutilated by its keeper, and
not only it's limbs, but its body were severed from
its head; tswhereat the king was wonderfully
moved, and sorrowfully repented his rashness in
destroying beast of SO noble spirit "a very
natural feeling, one would suppose, to every gem
erous mind.
Many years ago an English ship was at one Of
our docks, on board of which was bull dog.
The animal was ferocious that he gained an
extensive reputation. Chained at the gangway
Of the ship, he spent all the livelong day in the
hopeless task of springing at every person who
passed along, either on pleasure or business.
The owner, first mate of the vessel, would sit
for hours and detail the wonderful deeds Of this
mighty dog Crowds Of idlers daily collected,
and there stood the hero, rather, there raved
the insane creature Of the multitude, each indi-
vidual indulging the vague hope that he would
presently break loose and pitch into somebody,
and thus show his powers.
Among the idlers was an Indian who OCCASION
ally visited the city and made few pence by shoot
ing arrow at pennies 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 malicious
pleasure in irritating the animal. The mate
finally intarfered and told the Indian to 60 away,
lest the dog might break loose and eat him up.
The Indian, not the least alarmed, in broken
English announced to the crowd that if 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, his knife, laid his neck bare, and
rolled up his shirt sleeves. ring was formed,
and the battle commenced.
The Indian approached the dog crawling upon
all tours, barking and growing, as if he was one
himself. The bull dog mean while jumped and
fumed at the mouth, while his eyes beamed living
fire with irritation. The Indian, however, kept
up his pantomime, and gradually brought his
face in fearful proximity to the dog 5 teeth. The
mate now interfered, for he felt confident the In
dian would get killed; but the crowd become ex-
cited, 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 Indian, until it was straight and
solid MS bar of iron. Suddenly the Indian
seized the bull dogs under-lip between his teeth
and in an instant whirled himself with the dog,
over on his back. So unexpected was the attack,
and perfectly helpless was the dog, with his
feet in the air, and his jaw imprisoned, that he
recovered his astonshment only to give forth yells
of pain whereupon the Indian shook him a mo-
ment as a cat does mouse, and then let 60 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.