Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-02
Terrible Battle With Dogs.

The Detroit Mich Free Press, of Thursday
last, says
Yesterday morning, peddor of dry goods
and notions, named Norton Freeman, living in
Hamtrsmck, arrived by the cars from Clinton
county, being wretched sight to look upon
week ago yesterday, while driving his wagon
through the country few miles north OF OVID,
Clinton county, he stopped and got down to
drink at creek crossing the highway. As he
rose up from the creek he was bitten in the leg
by large dog, which had come softly up behind
him, and Freeman saw two other good. sized
dogs near the wagon. He sprang for his vehicle,
when the three dogs made at him together, and
his shouts and their yes started the horse off on
a trot. The peddler was bitten seven or eight
times before he found anything with which he
could defend himself, and then he got hold of q
stick about five feet long, which could be easily
handled. The dogs retreated as he picked up
the stick, but when Freeman sought to gain the
road they all sprang for him. He says that ne
struck to kill, and Knocked each brute down in
turn, but as last rs knocked down they would
spring up and attack him again Within five
nlinutos after the battle opened the peddler S
hands were red with blood, and blood was run
ming down into his boots, but by fortunate
blow he SO disabled one of the smaller dogs that
the brute had to draw out Of the fight. There
was rest again Of four or FIVE minutes, and Free.
man walked slowly back into fence corner and
exchanged his club for a better one Without
movement on his part the two dogs attacked
him again, one biting at his legs, and the other
leaping for his throat The latter animal caught
his teeth in the peddler's shoulder, and tore
away all that side of the mans coat, and made a
wound in the flesh which will be weeks in heal
ing. Freeman was dragged down and both OF
the dogs were on him at once, though ne man
aged to shake them off and regain his feet: A
blow from his club dashed out the larger dog S
eve, and the brute ran round and round in cir
Gle, bowling so feartully that the other dog ran
away. Watching his chance, freeman hit the
crippled dog blow which killed it, and then
he crawled down to the creek and tainted away.
Some men came along in q wagon and dlscoV-
cred him, and he WAS taken to farm house and
cared for. On his left leg there are nine wounds
from the teeth of the dogs; on the right eleven
on the right arm, five; on the left arm, three
on the back, three; on the shoulder, two; on the
face. two; on the right foot, two on the right
hand, five; on the left, two, and one on the back
of the head, making in Bill forty five distinct and
sepsrate bites Some are mere "nlps," drawing
little blood, and making the flesh black and
blue, while others looked Sc if the dogs nad
s'chanked" the flesh. The dogs were seen BY
the farmers, and they could not identity the
brutes as being owned anywhere within i've
miles of the spot where they attacked Freeman.
He offered no provocation for the attack, nav
ing even no hint of their presence before oeing
bitten. The deepest wounds were cauterlzeo,
and Freeman anticipates no greater misfortune
than the loss Of months time.