The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-27
THE AsPHYxIATED OURS.

Will Alderman Morris Succeed In Rid
ding tho City OF the Caaines :-The
Pound Closed ON Account of Bergh's
Agents-Thc Experiment Of Destruction
by Drowning Pronounced . Success.
The killing OF the dogs continues to be question
Of vast importance TO the humanitarians, who,
firstly. want get rid of the dogs for sake OF the
people, and who secondly want the rddance
effected in the speediest manner possible for the
sake OF The dogs.
In Aprl last Alderman Morris, who has taken an
ofcial interest in the question from the begin
ming, ofered, by his action in the Board OF Alder
men, TO place the dogs of the city in charge OF Mr.
Bergn and his agents Mr.. Bergh, anticipating =
chance at later time for the display Of his Presi-
dency OF the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society, refused 70 undertake the duty. He would
have nothing to do with the dogs except he got
full, complete and perpetual control over them
during the summer. Alderman Morris made every
EFFORT to bring Mr.. Bergh to a reasonable
way OF thinking. but failed. the latter in
sistng upon having his own way in
everything. Mr.. Bergh wrote letter recon-
mending that the dogs should be destroyed
by carbonlc acid, and Alderman Morris at once
adopted this method. The pound at the foot Of
Thirty -seventh street was Supplied with the neces
sary tank, and apparatus Tor the insertion OF car
bonic acid was put In working order. The boys OF
the city secured the by-streets and highways for
stroning animals, and the pound was daily sup
piled with 1T canine subjects for the tank.
Strange scenes happened IN the crusades for the
dogs stranger scenes happened at the pound, and
altogether there was something seriously funny in
the whole affair The City was fortunately made
free OF thousands OF miserable ours, whose prowl.
ing about day and night might well be considered
very dangerous to the city population.
One day last week these gentlemen stated that
they had discovered new drug by which dog
space OF time. They tried the drug, and alter the
animal had suffered intense torture the dog had
This new drug having Jailed another new method
was discovered. The old way OF killing the dogs
was TO pnt them IN the tank ana then insert
that the proper way was TO insert the acid first
and then throw in the dogs. The experiment was
tried on Thursday last and nearly 200 animals
We're thrown into the tank filed as It was with the
acid. The result proved perfect failure, some OF
the dogs being taken out alive after being thirty
seven minutes in the tank In view OF all these
circumstances and being resolved not to allow
any mock humanitarian notions to interfere with
the duty O! the Board OF Aldermen towards the
city, Alderman Morris gave notice that he would
last evening try the experiment whether drown
ing vas not after all the easiest and the speedlest
death for the dogs.
After the failure OF Mr.. Bergh's agents on Thurs
day Mr.. Marriott announced that no dogs would
be taken at the pound yesterday, and that no
killing would take place, so that only about fifty
OF the doomed canine risoners were yesterday to
be seen in chains in tine house OF destruction. 1t
had been arranged that at five O'Clock the expert
hour Alderman Morris, Captain Mcdonald, OF the
Twentieth precinct and HERALD reporter, with
the oal dock at the loot OF Twenty street,
shifting the unpleasant odor from the adjoining
rendering establishments and awaiting the arrival
OF two black -and-tan ours which were to be VIC
tmlZed Tor the cty'S good.
The process pursued was to take one dog at a
time, tie a twenty-five pound weight, with rope
attached, around its neck, cast MIN into the river
and then time the death. Captain Kennedy's
magnificent repeater was brought into requislsion
TO do the 'timng,n and the owner Of the watch
cried out the seconds. After thrty-hve seconds
not bubble appeared upon the waters surface
and The rope ceased to be pulled The dog was
taken out after two minutes. out, though evidently
incapable OF living for any time, revived somewhat
on the dock anu was certainly q live dog. The
second animal was thrown in to remain for three
minutes, and Captain Kennedys tlmepece had
only reached the Lhirty-fve seconds when the man
holding the rope announced tnat the pulling had
ceased, and in a lew seconds afterwards the water
had expired the dog was hauled ia and was found
to be dead.
these experiments was, that after about thirty
five seconds the animal became unconscious OF
any pain, and that three minutes were sufficient
to procure certain death. The Alderman, Of
course, has not yet made up his mind as to how
soon he may be able TO introduce permanently
the destruction OF the cannes by drowning. The
method to be pursued will probably be as iollows:-
huge cage VIII be constructed in which the ami
mails VIII be placed. The cage being taken to the
dock, 1t will, by means OF a derrick, be thrown
into the river and allowed to remain there q
sunicient length or time for death TO ensue to a
surety. The cage can then De hauled back and the
dead dogs deposited on the offal dock preparatory
to being conveyed to Barren Island, as usual.
The experiment tried yesterd ay was intended TO
settle the question to the shortest time which
death can be effected, and Alderman Morris ex-
cess was both the speediest and the least painful
TO the dog. As the pound Is now practically
tai mania, 1t IS Hoped that Alderman Morris win
move quickly in this matter. Yesterday several
mad dogs were shot in the street.
CHILD BITTEN nv Doe