Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-02-14
A Newfoundland Dogs Vengeance.
BY OLD GRAY.

BY OLD GRAY.
/ was always fond Of dogs. Goldsmith, in
his touching and eloquent plea for the dog,
where, In aIIudng to a sort Of mania for dog
killing which prevailed at the time Of which
he speaks, in consequence of an unreasonable
apprehension of hydrophobia, says, among 9th
er fine things, that the dog is the only animal
which will leave his own kind, voluntarily, 10
follow man.
1t is true, and the truth should bind man TO
be the dogs protector and friend.
The American brig Cecilia, Capt. Svmmes,
on one of her voyages. had on board splendid
specimen of the Newfoundland breed, named
Napoleon, and his magnificent size and proper
tions, his intelligent head, broad, white chest.
white feet and whiie-tipped tail, the rest of his
glossy body being black. made him as beaui-
fu as his peerless namesake, who would no
doubt, have been proud 10 possess him.
Captaio Symmes, however, was not partial
To animals Of any kind, and had an unacconn-
table and especial repugnance To dogs, as much
So indeed as il all his ancestors had died of hy-
drophobia, 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. aud, by the wagging of
his great banner of a tail, knocked paper and
lux off his desk, Ga the mex; occasion the
Captain seized knife and cut half the poor
animals tail off.
The dogs yell brought his master 10 the
spot, and seeing The calamity and the author of
II, without moments hesitation he felled Cap
tain Symmes TO the cabin floor with sledge-
hammer blow, which, had it hit the temple,
would have forever prevented the Captain from
cutting off any more dogs tails.
The result was that Lancaster was put in
irons, from which, he however, was soon re-
leased. Capt. Symmes partly repented his
cruel deed, on learning that Napoleon had once
saved bis owners life.
The white 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 half feet long. 1t
is generally considered 10 be the fercest and
most formidable Of sharks.
But few days elasped 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 vas not at all
backward in exhibiting his wrath at the Cap
tain by low growls, whenever he approached.
II vain did his master, fearful for The life Of
his dog, assay TO check these signs Of his an
ger. Captain Svmmes, however made the al
lowance and offered no further harm 10 him.
One morning, as the Captain was standing on
The howsprit, he lost his footing and feel over
board the Cecilia then running at about ten
knots.
Man overheard Capt. Symmes overheard =
was The cry, and all rushed to get out as they saw
a swimmer striking out for the brig, which was
at once rounded 10, and as they felt especially
apprehensive on account of the white sharks in
those waters, they regarded his situation with
the most painful solicitude.
By the time the boat touched the water their
worst fears were realized. for at some distance
behind The swimmer, they beheld advancing to-
wards him the ish most dreaded in ihose wat
erS.
Hurry hurry men, or we shall be too late,'
exclaimed the mate. What's thatr
The splash which caused this inquiry was
occasioned by the plunge of Napoleon into the
sea; the noble animal having been watching
the cause of the tumslt from the Captains
fall, and heard the shout, and for few mo-
ments had vented his feelings in deep growIs,
as if conscious of the peril of his enemy, and
gratifed at it.
His growls, however, were soon changed
into those whines of sympathy which SO often
show the attachment of the dog to man, when
the latter is in danger. At last he plunged
and rapidly made his way towards the now
nearly exhausted Captain, who, aware of his
double danger, and being but passable swim
mer, made fainter and fainter strokes, while
his adversary closed rapidly upon him.
Pull, boys, for dear life = was the shout of
the mate, as the boat now followed the dog,
whose huge limbs propelled him calamity to
the scene of danger.
Slowly the fatigued swimmer made his way !,
while ever and anon his head sank in the
waves, and behind him the bark of the vora-
cious animal told him what fearful progress
he was making, while Lancaster, in the bow