The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-01-18
CANINE SAGACITY.
Three Extraordinary Dog Stories.

From Chambers Journal
The first case, illustrating the re-
remarkable and almost human reason
ing powers of dogs, occurred at fash
ionable watering place on the east coast
of lreland,a few years ago, in which was
shown how dog will carry out the die
tates OF the animal passion for revenge
The jetty which stretched along the
small harbor was at that time used as a
promenade by the elite among the So
journers on the coast where, after the
heat of the long summer days, they re-
called themselves with the fresh even
ing breezes waited in from the sea.
Among the frequenters of this fashiona-
BILE resort was a gentleman of some po-
sition, who was the owner of a fine
Newfoundland dog, which inherited the
time-honored possessions of that noble
breed-very great power and facility in
swimming; and, at the period of the
evening when the jetty was most crowd
ed with promenaders, his master de-
lighted to put this animal through a
series of aquatic performances for the
entertainment of the assembled specta-
tors. Amusement being at premium
on the coast, these nightly perform
ances grew into something like an sim
stitution," and the brave "Captain''-
for such was his name-speedily be-
came a universal favorite on the jetty.
1t happened, however, that among the
new arrivals on the coast there came a
certain Major in her Majesty's army,
accompanied by two bulldogs of unus-
ual size and strength, and of great val
ue; but, value in bulldog being in
versely proportionate to its beauty, the
appearance of the Major and his dogs
excited no very enthusiastic pleasure
among the esthetic strollers on the
jetty. On the first night On which the
Major presented himself, nothing I'M
usual occurred; and Captain Owed
and swan as before. But on the Sec
ond evening the brave old favorite was
walking quietly behind his master down
the jetty, when, as they were passing
by the Major and his dogs, one of these
ugly brutes flew at Captain, and caught
him by the neck in such a way as to
render his great size utterly useless for
his defense. A violent struggle ensued,
but the bulldog came off the victor, for
he stuck to his foe like leech, and
could only be forced to release his hold
by the insertion of bar of iron be-
tween his teeth. The indignation of
the by-standers against the Major was,
OF course, very great; and its fervor
was not little increased when they
saw the poor Captain vending his way
homeward, bleeding, and bearing a the
the marks of defeat. Some two or three
evenings after this occurrence, when
Captain again made his appearance on
the jetty, he looked quite crestfallen,
bore his tail between his legs, and stuck
closely to the heels of his master. That
evening passed away quietly, and the
next, and the next, and so on for about
8 week-Captain still bearing the aspect
OF mourning. But one evening aoout
eight or ten days after the above en-.
counter, as the Major was marching in
his usual pompous manner along the
jet'y. accompanied by his dogs, some
thing attracted his attention in the
water, and walking to the very edge OF
the jetty, he stood for a moment look
ing down into the sea. Scarcely had
the two bull dogs taken up their stand
beside their master, when Captain.
se'zing the opportunity for which he
had so long looked, rushed at his former
conquerer. and. catching him by the
back of the neck. jumped eff the jetty.
with his foe in his mouth, down some
twenty feet or pore into the sea Once
in the water. the power Of his enemy
was crippled. while Captain was alto
gether in his own element; and, easily
overcoming ali efforts at resistance, he