The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-16
a Dog Kilss his Master and Dies o.
5gsss Grief.
tFrom the Momphis tTeun.) Appeal, NoveIaes ...a

r,ro,n ,hs Noranhis fTeun.) Appeal, November ioj
did Peter Bean had been digger OF welS
On fila locality for thirty years. his oio pusl-
mess his labor and amusement, cons'stea III
dejvinv down into the bowels OIL Tue catts
In search OF springs Of living water: ne hsea
a nIa Of loneliness and celtbacy, ana pFocuIeu
bis meal; az Mrs.. ksnora'S boardinS.nousc'
an Front street between Market and WIN
chester. He was truly n good old man: hiS
Arm aud fast friend, his companion IN ho9rs
of toll arc, OF leisure, was large cog, that
WAC hardly ever known TO be absent
from the side Of Peter. BE was cheerful,
even happy, character, Of qu'et ana
playful disposition, and when he worked, 70
use a bameiy style Of phraseology, he "ork,
ed.o No one knew how old Peter was, anu
nobody would even venture to guess AZ tiie
are Of his dog. His was sort OF peTehnin
you,bfiIlness. The lapse of changciui years
and tho vicissitude Of things had no seniie
effect on him. In the natural ana regular
course Of things there was every prebabiiity
that Inc would cutlire q couple more genera
lions. But 1t was not so to be. lie ieii yes
tertay the victim Of an accident when no
foresight could have anticipated and no pre-
caution arrested. It was III this way:
Peter was digging we'll on Front street
not far from his lodgings. lie had reachea
o depth Of forty feet, and was still incustri-
ouslv delving in the earth. what MS loneis
thoughts down there in that narrow hole
were is only known TO the angels that Tor
eakc not man. no matter into what caves or
dark recesses he may penetrate. His assist
ant. Oh the surface OF the earth, had just
ba,,Ied I'D a bucketful Of dirt, which was
carried to some distance and emptied out,
and the bucket, detached from the rope, as
was usual, lay Oh tie edge OF the PIT. refer
was below wiping his brow or cheerfully
delving, no one knows which, when his faith
full dog, having got loose, rushed madly
al,a,,t in search OF bis master. The vigorous
and excited animal bounded toward the. pit
TO bark down TO his friend Mt the bottom,
knowing he would get q friendly answer.
This enthusiastic friendship of the dog
proved the death Of the man. III jumping
fothc edge of the pit he drove the bucket
before bin into it. There was nothing
heard afterward but low, painful groan,
md all was still below in the dark anu nar-
row hole. :,
When Peter was taken out 1t was found
that the bucket had split bis head IN Two.
He died Instantly. Justice Spellmnn held an
inquest In an hour or so afterward, and the
Jury, having become acquainted with these
llcls, gave their verdict accordingly, laying
ali the blame Of the terrible accident OH the
doy-the last creature on earth thst would
have Injured or allowed others to injure hair
of his masters head. SO great was the grief
or attlietion of the animal on finding that the
cold hand of Peter caressed him no more,
aud the voice of Peter failed to reply to his
friendly yelps, that he lay under the dead
nan's couch yesterday and died himself. 1t
Is curious, and sad as curious, episode In
life and death.