The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-26


In olden times, dogs who were doomed TO
death by the authorities we're usually smothered
by an overdose of the fumes OF sulphur That
was heathenish practice; IT partook strongly
of the idea of a personal Devil, horned and
hoofed, and bearing in his bosom blazing
furnace, the flames of which consumed those
who fell into his power. The enlightened Nine.
teenth Century has frowned it down.
II was also q custom with our forefathers to
tie stone TO the neck of a vicious dog, and then
to cast him, alive and kicking, into a running
stream. We believe that this custom still pre-
yails to a certain extent, in the rural districts of
New Jersey. But when il comes TO slaughtering
thousand dogs in this fashion, and that within
two months time, the items Of wasted stone and
rope run mp TO high figure. This mode of exc
cution also savors strongly of the punishment
inflicted upon witches in the early colonial days
OF Massachusetts,. II was barbarous from be-
ginning TO end; the Nineteenth Century has pro-
nounced it SO, and wisely trowned IL down.
now DOGS ARE TORTURED TO DEATH IN NEW YORK
How, then, Is a dog TO meet his doom The
Metropolitan executioners OF our neighboring
city imagine that they have hit upon the most
appropriate and least cruel process. The dogs
are lifted severally by the nape OF the neck, and
hurled, tootioremost, into large, dry tank.
Dog upon dog Is piled up, until the receptacle
is nearly filed. That dogs should submit to
such treatment without raising an unearthly din
is inconceivable. Their cries and groans are pita-
BILE to listen to, and would move a heart of
stone to compassion. A heart OF stone however,
is something that Is seldom heard oil in the COM
merca metropolis OF the nation. So the process
goes on, until the tank becomes one vast, dense
mass OF writhing, shreking flesh. When the
tank is full, tightly fitting lid is closed over
all. Then the water ls turned on. It's
gurgling rush is joined TO the yelpirg of the
bounds. If some wrelched cur, averse to such
a fate, chambers above his fellows and hugs
| the bars OF his cage in the agony OF
death, he is pushed down with long pole, and
unites his piteous voice to the dying wall below.
| The water rises the yeps grow more frequent
and more furious the tank becomes one cease
| less turmoil of strife and woe. But such things
cannot last forever, and by-and-by the cries
grow fainter, until at last they are hushed in the
| silence OF universal death. This is all very
refined and OF a surety reflects great credit upon
| the man in whose fertile brain it was conceived.
HOW PROFESSOR" PRICE TERMINATES DOGS
CAREER,
But the dog executioners of our own city have
not yet carried cruelty to such high pitch OF
refinement. The process which is still in favor
with them is somewhat old-faslioned, yet not
absolutely barbarOus. Twice week-on Wed
| nesdays and Saturdays-the innocent ours are
slaughtered. Ab there we're to be no further
executions Tor some time 70 come, we were pre-
sent yesterday to witness the operation. 1t was
| very simple, but expeditions withal, as sixty
| four OF The unfortunate creatures were hurried
out OF existence in less than quarter of an hour.
AT ten minutes OF 10, prccsely-the public
| appears to have a morbid curiosity tor extreme
| minuteness OF detail in everything partaking of
| the character OF an eXecuton-at ten minutes of
| 10 Professor" Price entered the dog-pen, fol-
| lowed by his grim assistants. Each was armed
! with short, stout club, and a coil OF
| rope. We have already given the dmen-
| sons of the cage--it is very little larger
| than the tank which has won such favor in N sw
| York. The entry of the eXecutioners was the
| signal tor grand commOtlon. The six. ~. i've
captive dogs seemed to realize nstlnctiv ely that
something terrible was about to betall them.
| Yet they behaved themselves very prudent .ly
and very quietly under the circumstances. With
| low and plaintive whines they Euddled together
| in the remotest corner, as If for mutual protec-
| tion, presenting to the eye or the spectator sim.
| ply an ndistnct mass OF quiverng hair. They
were certainly packed very closely together, bu,
| with this advantage for comfort there was on ~
| one thickness in depth.
THE FIRST VICTIM.
A huge black animal of the bulldog species
was selected for the first victim. He was seized
by the front legs from behind, by one of the
assistants who held hun erect, while the
Professor" adjusted moose about his ugly
throat. The end OF the rope was quickly thro WI
over a ratter and drawn tight, until the anima
swung clear between earth and heaven. Ther
the assistant grasped him by one OF his hmd
most eXtremities for the purpose of steadyint
the body, and the Professor" seized his club
After preliminary flourish he laid the weapon
heavily upon the back of the animals head
three times only, and in less than half minut
the life was completely knocked out of his car
cass. There was not grOan, not a kick, no
a drop of blood This last feature was pecu
liar one, and every now and then some one 0
the eXecutioners would raise the cry OF IN
bloou no blood" The thing was neatly done
and-shal we Iot say so?-humanely.
Only the big dogs were treated in this scien
thC manner, the invidious distinction between
big and little dogs so often exempided upol
the street, following them even to the END o
their wretched career. But although the ma
a jority of the lusty fellows died easy. now an
u then tough customer would be swung int
mid.air making show OF FIGHT and an effort a
a howl.
IGNoMINIoUs DEATH OF THE SMALL GAME.
Meanwhile the little ours were dying in al
ignOminious fashion by the score. While wv
OF the eXecutioners devoted themselves to bull
dogs, mastltfs, and other large game. the otne
two were laying about them with their clubs
striking right and lett, and eXtinguishing a lif
with every well.directed blow. Sore -eyeC
poodles and nimble.legged terriers were on
moment frisking about in the most tantasti
way and the next they quietly fell over dead
without knowing what was the matter witt
| them.
CURIOUS SPECIMEN OF "DoRG."
One of these last, cock-eyed, crop-eared, ham
strung beast, created considerable merriment b.
his efforts TO avoid the club, which was sen
whirling after his Uranium halt dozen times il
succession. He was horrid looking wretch
| One of the bystanders pathetically remarked
that ''he had never seen sich a head on dort
: | in all his life !" The remainder OF the "dorg
was on par with his head. He was, in truth
, "a curious specimen
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