New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-22
Captain scott's Dog.

| The celebrated Martin Scott was friend of Gen
Marcy, who ia bis new book, Thirty Years Of
Army Life" gives many interesting anecdotes
| about him: ... -. .. A.
Captain Scott was at one time, while stationed
at Prairie du CHEN, in possession of a wonderfully
sagacous dog, across Of the setter and pointer.
The captain would, for example, while sitting in
his quarters at the fort, with the dog at his feet
say, mark, want you TO 60 over to the Island
and ascertain If there are any woodGock there
and come back and tell ne.n The dog would in
staatly go to the river, swim to the island, and
if he had found birds, run up to his master, then
to the gun, wag his tail, and make other demon
STATIONS of joy, which made it perfectly apparent
that he had been successful Scott would then
tell the dog to get the canoe in readiness, aud
strange as it may appear. he would take the cushion
IN his mouth, carry 1t to the river bank where the
canoe was moored, place it upon the seat. return
for the paddle, carry that to the canoe, then go
back to Scott aud look up in his face with an ex-
preston which indicated that all was ready.
The captain had at the same time another dog
which he called Turk. These dogs, from Their
first acquaintance, had never been on friendly
terms, and they had many severely contested en-
counters, which finally resulted in Turks gaining
and retaining the mastery. Mark was emphati-
eaily vanquished dog, and, by his meek and sub
missive demeanorin the presence of his adversary
admitted as much.
Upon one occasion Turk had gained possession
OF 5Onfie bOUche, in the form of a beef s bone
which he was quietly enjoying by himself upon the
parade-ground, when Mark CHANGED to pass that
way, and scented the choice morse The long
ing, anxious look which he cast towards the bone,
he circled around at respectable distance told
how DESTROYS he was to participate in the feast
but his experience had taught him that an attempt
TO conteI@ with his powerful adversary would
only resulEA% his own discontinue. He therefore
prudently resolved to resort to strategy in order
to accomplish his ends. Accordingly, he ran
furtously outside the stockade Enclosure and set up
a tremendous barking as if something very extra
ordinary had occurred upon which, as usual all
the dogs in the fort hurried out of the gates to see
what was the matter, and among them was Turk
who, in the excitement of the moment abandoned
his bone. AS soon as this was done, Mark yery
quietly slipped back, seized theprfze and carried
1t to hiding place where he could enjoy it at his
leisure.
Mark was by no means dog of regular habits
and would often steal away from home and pass
the night among his canine companions of the OBJ
posite SEX For this he was invariably punished
his master compelling him to stand on his hind
feet, with his fore paws resting against the wall
while the castgati0n was administered with cow
hide. Ia one Instance, after having absented him
self all night, he returned home with a most de-
ected and pentent air, and, seeing his master
looking very angry at time, he mmedately went
10 the wall, placed himself in the position he had
been required to assume when he received his pre-
Sious punishments, and at the same time turned
hls head around and looked at Scott as much as
to say, " am ready.n
In the course of time Mark waxed in years and
was no longer able TO endure the work required in
hunting, and Capt Scott took him home to Ber-
lington to pass the remainder of his days in quiet
and here he continued to make him. |
lelf useful even in his dotage by going to the pas
.nre every night and driving home the cows 1t |
certainly appeared as If this animal was endowed
With something beyond mere brute instinct, as he
eemed to comprehend all the relations existing
between cause and effect.
Capt.IScott was so very fond of his dogs that |
nave known him, upon the death OF tavorte one, |
% walk his room in great apparent distress of
mind during the entire night, and afterward place
The body in coffin and, with his boy Jack leading
his hnntng-hOrse draped in black, followed it to
TIE grave, and bury it with as much care and cere-
nony as fit had been child |