The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-12
MINGLED BYfA BULLDOG.
A Little Girl Five Years Old FataII,
 Injured.

| l Injured.
 A heartrending calamity has over taken the family of Mir. Daniel Boote
 book-keeper, at the corner of Third and
 Walnut streets, whose residence is on Gilbert avenue, two doors above Syca. more street, Walnut Hills. About one o'clock yesterday afternoon he was sum- moned from his place of business by g telegram from the Walnut station to the officers at Hammond street, but did not know the nature of the summons until within square or two of his own house. Mir. Boote has for some months past had what he considered a valuable Eng. fish bulldog, in which he took consid- erable pride. The dog was not con- sidered safe to run at large, and therefore was kept chained in the yard back of his house. He was sometimes cross to members of the family, but had never attempted to bite any of them, and sometimes was very good-natured. Mir. Boote's little daughter, only five years of age, was in the habit of feeding this dog, which yesterday proved himself to be one of the most savage of monsters. After dinner was over the little girl took the remnants of the meal as usual to feed the brute. She had just got within the limits of the dogs chain, when he flew at her, and seizing her by the throat, pressed her to the earth, and commenced tearing her tender flesh in the most terrible manner. The poor little child could not even scream while the ferocious beast was tearing her throat, her cheeks, her nose, her scalp and breast. The flesh was literally torn down to the bone on the entire left side of her face, and mangled most horribly.
 All this the agonized mother saw from the kitchen window. She ran into the yard screaming My God my child !" and was fast advancing on the dog, when he released his hold of the mangled child and flew at the mother, but she fortu- nately evaded him. Police officer John Thomas, whose residence adjoins that of Mir. Boote, was providentially at home eating his dinner, and when he heard Mrs. Boote's screams ran out into the yard. Looking over the fence, he took in the situation at once, and in an instant was in his neighbours yard, with his pis- tol drawn and cooked. q prayed to God" said officer Thomas to our repor- ter, "that I might not hit the child when 1 fired, for the dogs mouth was on her throat, and feared that I might miss my aim. The dog was literally eat ing the little girls fesh." His prayer was answered. The bullet struck fair in the ferocious animals forehead, and he released his hold long enough for Mir Thomas to seize the child and hand her to her mother. But in his dying throes the dog returned to the attack and caught Mrs. Bootc by the hand, which was horribly lacerated by his sharp teeth. Officer Thamas then prepared to fire again, but the brute released Mrs. Bootes hand and sprang at him. The force of the dogs onslaught, which was directed at MT. Thomas throat, but fortunately fell short, was enough to knock the officer against the grape harbor, and before the attack could be renewed the dog fell dead from his wound.
 The terribly mangled child was carried into the house and medical aid sum- moned. Everything possible was done to relive the little sufferer, but the physi- clans were of the opinion that the wounds would prove fatal. She bore her terrible suffsrings like little heroine, and pre- served her consciousness all the time. At midnight we recieved word that she was dying, and would soon be beyond the reach of suffering. = Cincinnati Ga -off