Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-07
THE BULL DOG.

The bull dog is the most brutal and the least
intelligent of its species its depressed fore
head, its underhanging jaws and bloodshot
eyes, unite in forming the personifcation Of
the savage. Although capable of some attach
ment, it cannot be relied upon as a 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 q pet in the
United States, but in England, among large
class of citizens, it is carefully raised and en-
ployed in bull-baits. In these bull-baits the
dog, while fastened to the nose of some un-
fortunate bull, has one leg after another cut
off with knife to test its courage. and this
display has been hailed by the plaudits Of the
rural population, and the encouragement of
| the scions of the nobility, History relates
that Alexander once witnessed bull dog at
tack tame lion, and being willing to save
the lions life, ordered the dog to be taken off,
" but the labor OF men and all their strength
could not loosen the irefal and deep biting
| teeth" The dog was then mutilated by its
keeper, and not only its limbs but its body
were severed from its head, " "whereat the
King was wonderfully moved, and sOrrowfully
repented of his rashness in destroying beast
Of SO noble a spirit "A very natural feeling,
one would suppose, to every generous mind
Many years ago an English ship was ut one
Of our docks, on board of which was a bulldog.
The animal was so ferociOus that he gained an
extensive reputation. Chained at the gang
way of the ship, he spent all the livelOng day
in the hopeless task of springing at every per-
son who passed along either on pleasure or
business The owner, first mate Of the vessel,
would sit for hours and detail the wonderful
feats Of this mighty dog. Crowds of idlers
rather, there raved the insane creature at the
multitude, each individual indulging the
vague hope that he would presently break
loose and pitch into somebody, and thus show
his proves.
Among the idlers was an Indian who occa-
sionally visited the city, and made few pence
by shooting an arrow at pennies stuck in the
end OF a stick. Upon the very appearance of
the Indian the bull dog was particularly viO-
lent, greatly to the amusement of the fellow,
whotoo a malicious pleasure in irritating tho
animal. The mate finally interfered, 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 an
nounced to the crowd that if the dog was
brought down TO the ground, and chainod to a
post, he would, for Eve dollars, fight the dog
with nothing but his hands and teeth. The
money was raised, and the mate, after expres-
sing much reluctance at the idea of having the
Indian killed, brought the dog down from tho
ship and fastened him to post. The Indian
put away his bow and arrow, his knife, and
laid his neck bare, and rolled up his shirt
sleeves A ring was formed, and the battle
commenced.
The Indian approached the dog crawling
upon all fours, barking and growing as if he
was one himself The bull dog meanwhile
jumped and fumed at the mouth, while his eyes
beamed living fire with irritation. The Indian,
however, kept up his pantomine, and gradually
brought his face in fearful proximity to the
dogs teeth. The mate now interfered for he
felt confident the Indian would get killed; but
the crowd had become excited, 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 as a solid bar Of
iron. Suddenly the Indian seized the bull
dog under lip between his teeth, and in an
instant whirled himself with the dog over on
his back So unexpected was the attack, and
so perfectly helpless was the dog with his feet
in the air, and his jaw imprisoned, that he re-
covered his astonishment only TO give forth
yells Of pain; whereupon the Indian shook
him a moment as a cat does mouse, and then
let 60 his hold. The dog, once so savage, put
ting his tail between his legs, retreated from
his enemy and screamed with terror TO get
beyond the reach of the chain.