The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-27
A THRILLING INCIDENT.


in line steamer, with but few passengers.
Among the ladies', one especially interested
us. She was the widow of wealthy plan
ter, and was returning with only one child
to her fathers house. Her devotion to the
child was very touching, and the eyes of her
old black nurse would gil with tears rs she
besought her mistress "not to love that bow
too much, or the Lord would take him away
from her."
We passed through the canal of Louis
vile, and stopped for few moments at the
wharf, when the nurse wishing to see the
city, walked out on the guard, at the back
OF the boat, where, by n sudden effort, tho
Child sprang from her arms into the terrible
current that sweeps towards the falls, and
disappeared Immediately. The confusion
which cnsued attracted the attention of a
gentleman who was sitting in the fore part
of the boat quietly reading. Rising hastily
he asked for some article the child had worn.
The nurse handed him a tiny apron she had
torn off in her efforts to retain the babe in
her arms. Turning to a splendid New
foundIand dog that was eagerly watching
Lis countcnance, he pointed first to the
apron, and then to the spot where the child
had gone under.
In an instant the noble dog lcaped into
the rushing water, and also disappeared.
By this time the excitement was intense,
and some persons on the shore, supposing
that the dog was lost as we'll as the child,
they procured boat and started off in
search of tho body. Just at this moment
the dog was seen far away with something
in his mouth. Bravcly hc struggled with
the waves, but it was evident his strength
was failing fast, and moro than one breast
gave sigh of relief as the boat reached
him, and it was announced that he had tile
child, and that lie was alive. They were
brought on board tile dog and the child.
Giving single glance to satisfy herself
that the child was really living, the young
mother rushed forward, and sinking beside
tue dog threw her arm around his neck.
and burst into tears. Not many could
view the sight unmoved, and as she address,
cd and kissed lis shaggy head she looked
~ to his owner and said:
80, sir 1 must have this dog! am
rich, take all 1 have, everything, but give
nc my clild's preserver."
The gentleman smiled, and patting hi
dogs head said, ~ am very glad, madam,
ne has been of service to you, but nothing
in the world could induce me to part with
him."
The dog looked as though he perfectly
understood what they were talking about,
and giving his sides shake, laid himself
down at his masters feet, with an express
ion in his large eyes that said palmer than
words, No, nothing shalt part us!"
Zoologicul- number of vertcbrated
animals is estimated at 10000. About
1900 species of mammals are pretty pre-
cisely known apd the number, according
to Prof. Agassiz, may probably he carried
to about 1000. The number of birds well
known is 1000 or 5000 species, and the
probable known number is 5000. The
reptiles number about the same as the
mammals-1,5O described species-and
they will probably reach the number of q
900. Thesfishes are more numerous i there
arc from 5000 to o,ooo species in tho mu-
seums of Europe, and theanumber may
probably amount to 5000 or 10000. The
number of .mollusks already in collections
probably reaches 5000 or 10000. There
are collections Of marine shells, bivalve and
unbivalve, which amount to 5000 or 1900,
md the collections of land and ;fitiyiatile
shells, Which count as many as 1000; the
total number of mollusks would, therefore,
probably exceed $1,000 species. OF tire
agricultural animals, s0'f every species, the
probable number is computed at 100000.
Including every living species of the ami,
NAL creation, the number is set down by
Prof. Agassiz at 25o 900; and lie estimates
the number Of fossil species to be fully as
great.
Longevity of Turtles.-<AA few days ago
young man caught turtle in Sparks
mill pond, in Dumbarton, whose back was
marked as follows:-
"Natsan Gatterson," 1892. Tie turtle
was a large black one, and moved along
easily with two young men standing on Lis
back. From Hayward's N. II, Gazetteer.
under the head of marlborough, Mass
we copy the following:-"Shubal Thomp.
son found a land turtle marked on. the she'll
Il. w, F47.' Thompson markedsssss and
let it gos Elijah Clapp foundi it iRI77s:
William shaw found it In 1875; Jonathan
Soule found it In 1906; and Zenas so;,f,