The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-03
KILLED by . Dog-A Fearful Tragedy
In GeorgIa-IIow q Dog Protected
His Mlstress-Tho Throat Torn
from q Villain.

IT'S mIstress-Tno Ihront TORN
In one of tho mountain counties Of Georgia
there live two families, each before tho war
noted for Its wealth and refinement. Since
the war the families, (whom we shall re-
spectiycly call r. and L., though they had,
like nearly everybody else, lost everything by
tho conflict, still retained the high position
In society which they had for some long tlmo
filled. One Of them, tho LIS, lost several OF
Its members, as we'll as its fortune, by the
war, and at the commencement Of our story
consisted Of Mr.. L., u gentleman ffty-fvc
years OF age, his wife, nearly the same age,
and an unmarried daughter Of about twenty
five. Within about q quarter Of mile OF
their house lived one of the RS, q young
man who had recently married very beau.i-
full young lady Of the county, and having
LEFT tho paternal mansion, was farming by
himself on small tract Of ground. The two
families lived some distanco-from the county
town, In sparscly inhabited section of coun-
try, and being each the nearest neighbor Of
the other, were OF course on terms Of great
Intimacy. Between tho young wife and tho
daughter Of Mr.. l.. a fast friendship was
soon formed.
A few days since Mr.. r. Informed his vito
that he had received letter which would
compel immediate attendance In Atlanta,
where he would have to remain for several
him to take her with him to that city, ad-
yiscd that she should ask hor young neigh.
Dor TO stay with her during his absence.
The next morning he set out In his buggy
for Atlanta, and his wife during the morn
Ing went oyq 10 LIS house for tho purpose
Of inviting Sar young friend to stay with
her. The Jung lady, after consultation
with her mother, readily assentod to tho
proposition, and promised to come over dur
Ing the afternoon.
About 0 o'clock Mrs. r. began to feel
little uneasy, as Miss L. had not yet come,
when servant came up to the house and
brought note from her expected friend,
stating that sho would be unable to spend
the night with her, as she had promised, for
her father, from some cause or other, had
positively refused 10 give his consent to the
arrangement. A..er delivering tho note the
servant took his departure aud tho brave
woman prepared to spenc the night by her
self. Feeling that she had protector In a
large ard very fierce yard dog belonging TO
her husband, she took him Into her bod
room, and after securing tho house lay down
aud resigned herself to sleep.
At about 12 o'clock she was awakened from
her slumbcrs by a noise In tho house and tho
angry growing Of a dog, and discovered that
the hall door had been forced, aud that some
one was standing at her room door seeking
an entrance. Speaking as loudly as her
fright would let her, Mrs. r. asked, "Who
Is there" A mans voice, which she did not
recognize, replied by telling hofto "open tho
door" Again she asked the same question,
aud again received the same reply, tho
stranger adding that II she refused he would
break the door down. During this dialogue
the dog, still growing, crouchcd upon the
aoor, as II ready to spring. Thinking to
intimidato this man, who sought her ruin,
Mrs. r. cried to him that II no forced the
door she would shoot him.
Laughing scornfully, the ruillan throw his
weight against the light door, burst It opt.i
and entered the room, when, quick as
thought, the anyagc dog sprang forward aud
fastened on his neck. The man, astonished
at the sudden attack, attempted to kill the
dog with knife which he held in his hand,
but unsuccessfully, and the powerful animal
dragged him TO the ground, still retaining
his hold upon his throat. Stunned at first
by this unlooked-for dellycrance, the woman,
In few seconds, rcgained her presence OF
mind somewhat, ran screaming from the
house, never stopping until she arrived at
the place Of the LIS, where her cries soon
aroused the family. Her tale was rapidly
told, and the servants wero preparing to 90
to the scene OF danger, when suddenly Mr..
l.. was missed, and his wife, almost on the
instant, as II struck by sudden present
ment, screamed, "Merclful God il must
be my husband |" With cry of horror the
party set forth, and ran as fast to the house
OF Mrs. X. as the latter had run away from
II few minutes before. Arrived there they
found the man still on tho floor, and the dog
still grasping his throat. Beating him away
from his prey they found the suspicious Of
Mrs, l.. but too correct; II was her husband;
but the teeth Of tho dog had done their
work, and he was dcad.-Augastd (Gd.)