Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-05-11
ULLMAN'S EDUCATED DOG.

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educated dog at Searsdale. depot, His
name is Knapp. He is the property of
Mr., George Ullman, the station master.
Knapp is a shepherd dog, and about two
feet high, and is covered with a dark
brown coat of fine hair. He was born
in the Scotch Highlands nearly four
years ago. In his infancy Knapp was
imported at considerable trouble by
gentleman of Searsdale, who, being sud-
denly called to Europe shortly after
wards gave him to Mr.. Ullman. Motto
ing genius and intelligence in Knapp,
Mr.. Ullman began to train him.
Now Knapp can perform many won
derful feats. He has been taught to as
sist his master in the performance ofhis
duties around the depot. Knapp has
learned to tell by the clock when train
is due and at night when the hands
point to the proper hour, Knapp takes
lantern in his mouth and stands on the
platform with the light, guiding the en-
gineer to the stopping place. Knapp
knows an express train from a mail
train, and mail train from way train.
In the day time when an express train
approaches the station and the track is
clear, Knapp shows white flag which
signifies all is we'll.
Not many days ago Knapp appeared
with the white flag as an express train
hove in sight, but seeing two small chill
dren going down the wagon road igno-
rant of the approaching train, he saw
that the children would reach the cross
ing simultaneously with the train.
Knapp dropped the white flag and seiz-
ing red flag in his mouth, he darted
toward the crossing. The engineer saw
the flag and shut off steam before the
animal reached the children. Arriving
at the crossing, he stood there and pre-
vented the train from passing until the
children were safely across the track ;
then he laid the flag down and the train
went on.
On another occasion Knapp snatched
a child from in front of way train just
as it was stopping at the depot. The
child's clothing was torn by the wheels
of the locomotive so narrowly had it es-
capped death.
Knann consnlts the clock every. dau
for the arrlvalsof the mail train. A few
moments uefore the mail train is due
Knapp stations himself at the mail rack
and when the bag is thrown from the
car, he carries it to the post-ofice, and
if it contains any letters for his master
he takes them back to him.
| When freight trains begin to switch
cars at the depot, Knapp always takes &
red flag and trots up or down the track
as the case may be, and flags any trair
that heaves in sight. Knapp always
keeps his position faithfully until called
in by signals, just as any other 1agmar
is. Engineers all know Knapp, ant
faithfully act upon his signals. Afte
the departure of freight trains KNAPP
often walks down the track and careful
ly examines the switches to see that tn
breakmen have left them right. Salts
fed that no blunders have been made
! he walks back to the depot, and if tn
clock shows that he has a few leisur
moments he signifies to his master hi
desire for a pipe. Mr.. Ullman ha
. taught him to smoke, and he alway
keeps Knapp's pipe ready for lightin
when he calls for it. The pipe bein
lighted the animal sits on chair an
smokes with as much apparent ease an
comfort as his master.
Mr.. Ullman is good musician. II
. has piano in the ladies' room of tn
depot, and he often performs on i
Knapp has been taught to sing or whin
] the tunes which he plays. The dog o
. ten perches himself on chair beside b
master with his fore foct on the piar
frame, and accurately turns the shee
of music with his tongue. Knapp ca
waltz, dance a schottish or a polka /;
! well as anything can on four legs.
) Of late some of the mischievous brak
men have thrown snow balls at KnaE
just as the train started, or have mac
;. ugly faces or stamped their feet at hir
, He seemingly took no notice of these i
: suits, but on one Monday one of Il
: brakemen went into the depot to get
!, drink of water When he started O
Knapp stood In the door and would n
: allow him to move. He made a NOV
ment as though about to administer
= kick, and Knapp opened his mouth al
uttered growl, which convinced t
brakeman that such proceeding wou
at be dangerous. Knapp kept his prison
a in the room until the train had gone
d, far that the brakeman could not cat
ne it, and then releasing him, Knapp wal
m ed away as unconcernedly as thou
r; nothing unusual had occurred.
en- Since that time the brakemen ha
been exceedingly civil to Knapp, but
- treats them with lofty Indifference.
d. 4 local paper says that at a Missol