The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-05-13
From the New Orleans Delta.
Tho White Shark or Newfound-
land Dogs Vengeance.

| for the dog, where. i'll alluding to 4 sort
Of mania for dog killing, which prevailed
at the time Of which he speaks. in oonso-
quence of an unreasonable apprehension
! Of hydrophobia, says, among other fuo
! things, that the dog is the only animal
| which will leave his own kind voluntari.
! ly to follow man.
1t is true, and the truth should bind
man to be the dogs protector and friend.
The American brig Cecilia, Captain
| Symmss, on one her voyages, had on
board splendid specimen Of the New
foundland breed, named Napoleon, and
hs magnificent sizo and proportions. his
intelligent head, broad, white chest, White
feet, aud whito TIPPED tail, the rest Of
bis CLASSY body being black, made him
as beautiful as his peerless namesake,
who would. no doubt, have been proud
to possess him.
Clpt Symmes, however, was not par
tial to animals of any kind, and had an
unaccouutable and especial repugnance
to dogs, as much so, indeed, as if all his
ancestors had died Of hydrophobia, and
he dreaded SO to he bitten like his uDfor-
tunate predecessors.
This dislike he one day manifested in
shocking manner, for Napoleon had
several times entered his room, and by
the wagging Of his great bauncr of a
tail, knocked paper and ink off his desk.
On the next occasion the captain seized
a knife and cut tbs poor animals tail OF.
The dogs yells brought bis master to
the spot, and seeing the calamity and
the author Of it, without moments hes
itation he feIled Captan Symmcs to the
cabin floor with sledgo hammer blow
which, had it Bit the temple, you'd bave
forever preyontcd the Captain from cut
ting off any moro dog'a tails.
The result was that Lancaster was
put in irons, from which be, howovor,
was soon released, Captain Symmes
ropented his cruel deed on learning that
Napoleon had once saved hi; owners life.
The white shark. as I'll my nautical
friends are well aware, is one of tho lar
gcst Of sharks. 1t averages over twcn-
ty, and have seen one tventy.seven and
half feet long 1t is generally con-
sidered to be the fercest and most for
midable of sharks
But few days elapsed after this CO.
taStrophe of poor Napoleon ere be be.
renee, the very thought of which has of.
ten filed me with horror. During tic
interval the noble beast was not at all
backward in exhibiting his wrath at tho
captain by his growls Whenever 10 ap.
preached.
ln vain did his master, fearful for tn,
life OF his dog. essay to check these signs
ofauger. Captain Symmes, however,
made the allowance and offered no fu.-
ther harm to him.
One morning as tho captain was stand.
ing on the bowsprit he lost his footing
and fell overheard, the Ceciiia then run
ming about fifteen knots
Man oycrboard Captain Symmes
overheard p was the cry, and all rushed
to get out the boats as they saw swiln
mer striking out from the brig, which
was at once rounded 10, au,. as they felt
especially aprrehensive on account oltha
white sharks in those waters, they re.
garded his situation with tho mos.
painful solicitude
by the time the boat touched tho wa.
ter, their worst fears were realized. for
at some distance behind the swimmer
they boheld advancing upon him the lish
most dreaded in those waters.
Hurry hurry, or we shall be too
late, exclaimed the mate, whats that 2"
The splash which caused this inquiry
was occasioued by the plunge OF Napo.
leon into the sea the noble animal hav.
ing been watching the cause of the tu
mutt from the captains fall, aud heard
the shout, and for few moments had
vented bis feelings in deep growls, as if
he was conscious of the peril Of his enemy
and gratified at it,
His growls, however, were soon chang.
ed into those whines of sympathy which
so often show the attachment of dog
to man, when the latter is in danger.
At last he plunged, aud rapidly made
his way towards thu now nearly exhaus.
ted captain, who aware of his double
danger, 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 fol-
lowed the dog, whose huge limbs propell.
ed him galautly TO the scene of danger.
Slowly the fatigued swimmer made
his way; ever aud anon his head sunk in
tho waves, and behind him the back of
the voracious animal told him what fear
full progress be was making, while Lam
caster, in the bow of the boat stood
with kuife in his upraised hand, watch
ing alternately the captain and his pur.
sucr and the faithful animal which had
saved his own life There was fixed
look of determination in his face, which
convinced all that should the dog become
a sacrifice to tho shark, Lancaster would
revenge his death if possible, even at the
risk Of his own life.
II" Goodness what a swimmer !" ex-
claimed the men, who marked the speed
of the animal " The shark will have
one or both, if we don't do our best !"
The scene was Of short duration. Ere
tho boat could overtake the dog, the
enormous shark had arrived within three
oars length of the captain, and suddenly
turned over on his back preparatory to