The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-02-13
trzkD.o,.,s Educated Dog.
THE BEST LIKED INHABITAST OF SCARS
DALE

There are few travellers on the Harlem
Railroad who have not heard of the educa-
ted dog at Scarsdale depot. His name is
Knapp. lie is the property of Mr. George
IVman. the station master. Knapp is q
shepherd dog, about two feet high, and is
covered with n dark-brown shaggy coat OF
fine hair lie was born in the Scotch High
lands nearly years ago In his infancy
knapp was imported ut considerable trou-
bic by a gentleman of Scarsdale, who, be-
ing suddenly called to Europe shortly af-
terward. gave him to Mr.. Ullman. No
. ticing genius aHd intelligence in Knapp;
Mr.. Ullnan began to train him. Now
! Knapp can perform many wonderful feats.
! lie has been taught to assist his master in
the performance of his 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 guild
ing the engineer 10 the stopping place
! Knapp knows an express train from mail
! train, and u mail train from way train
In dav time when an express train ap-
proachcs the station and the track is clear
/ Knapp shows 4 white flag, which signifies
all is well.
/ Not mary days ago Knapp appeared
with the white flag rs an express train
! hove in sight, but seeing two small! chill
dren going down the wagon road ignOr-
ant Of the approach Of any train, he saw
that the children would reach the crossing
simultaneously with the train. Knapp
dropped the white flag and seizing the red
flag in his mouth, he darted toward the
crossing. The engineer saw the red flag
and shut off steam before the animal reach
ed the children. Arrived at the crossing
he stood there and prevented the train
from passing until the children were safe
" over the track, then lie laid the flag
down and the train went on.
On another occasion Knapp sratched
child from in front of a way train just as it
was spOpring at the depot The child's
clothing was torn by the wheels Of the
locomotive, SO narrowly had 1t escaped
death.
Knapp consults the clock every day for
the arrival of the mail trains. 4 few mo-
ments before the mail is dine Knapp stations
himself at the mail rack and when the bag
is thrown from the car he carries it to the
Post Office, aud 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 truts up or down the track, as the
case may be. and flags any train that
heaveS In sight. Knapp always keeps his
position faithfully until called in by sig
mails, just as any other flagman is. Engin-
GERS all know Knapp, and faithfully act
upon his signals. After the departure of
freight trains Knapp often walks down
the track and carefully examines the
switches to see that the brallemen have left
them all right. Satisfied that no blunders
have been made, lie walks back to the de-
pot, and if the clock shows him that he has
a few leisure moments he signifies To his
master desire for = pipe. Mir. Ulman
has taught him to smoke, and he always
keeps knapp's pipe ready for lighting
when he calls for it. The pipe being light
ed the animal sits on a chair and smokes
with as much apparent ease ana comfort
as his master.
Mr. Ullman is good musician. He has
a piano in the ladies room of the depot,
and often performs omit. Knapp has been
taught to sing or whine the tunes which
MIR. Ullman plays. The dog often perches
himself on \ chair besides his master with
his fore feet on the piano frame. and accu-
rately turns the sheets of music with his
tongue. Knapp can waltz dance schot-
tische or polka as well as any one can on
four legs.
OF late some of the mischievous brake
men have thrown snow balls at Knapp Just
as the trains started, or have made ugly
faces or stamped their feet at him. lie
seemingly took no notice of these insults,
but on Monday Que of the brakemen went
into the depot to get a drink of water
When he started out Knapp stood in the
door and would not allow him to move
!Is made movement as though about to
administer a kick, and Knapp opened his
month and uttered a growl, which con-
vinced the brakeman that such a proceed
ing would be dangerous. Knapp kept his
prisoner III the room until the train had
pnne so far that the brakeman couldn't
catch it, and then releasing him, Knapp
walked away as unconCernedly as though
nothing unusual had occurred.
Since that time the bralemen have been
exceedingly civil to Knapp, but he treats
them with lofty indifleTence.-N. !. Sun.
THE MOST REMARKA FEAT OF ALL.
\ correspondent furnishes the following
additional incident to the Sun l have
read the story of Ullman's educated dog,
and can vouch for its truth but his most
remarkable performances are not even re-
fered to in your article. Standing one
day upon the platform at the depot l no
ticed that passenger train had stopped,
and that the engineer had tempora lily left
the engine. At this time the dog Knapp
was standing near, and it was apparent
from his reStlessness that he was not at all
pleased to see the locomotive thus left
alone. AS he was silently contemplating
the scene and wondering in his own mind
what course it would be advisable for him
to pursue under the circumstances, anoth-
eli train came laundering up to the depot
and ran into the rear of the one that had
been left standing without an engineer
Fortunately the force of the collision was
not great, but the jar was sufficient to open
the throttle of the driverless locomotive,
which immediately commenced moving off
at rapid rate. Knapp took in the situa-
tiOn at a glance. His time to act had
come. and, like fash, he sprang for one
of the passing cars, catching the rear
platform of the last one as it rushed by
him. From here I saw him clambering
to the top of the car and dashing wildly
for the locomotive, which he soon reached,
when, seizing the throttle in his teeth he
instantly reversed the engine, stopped she
flying train, and brought it safely back to
the depot Once here. however, he would
not permit the engineer to take his place.
and could not be induced to leave the en-
Ginc until n new driver had been placed
in charge. Think what a terrible catas-
trophe was probably averted by the won