The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-29
Fatally Mangled by a Bulldog.

Says the Cincinnati Gazette of March
20: A heartreEding calamity has over
taken the family of Mr.. Daniel Boote,
bookkeeper at the corner of Third and
Walnut Streets, whose residence is on
Gilbert Avenue, two doors above Sycas
more Street, Walnut Hills. About 1
O'Clock yesterday he was summoned
from his place of business by tele-
gram from Walnut Hills Station to tie
officers at Hammond Street, but did
not know the nature of the summons
until within 50 lare of his house.
Mr.. Boote has for some months past
had what ne considered a valuable En-
glish bulldog, in which he took con-
siderable pride. The dog was not CON
sidered safe to run at large, and, there
fore, was kept chained in the yard back
of the house. He was sometimes cross
to members of the family, but had new
er attempted to bite any of them, and
sometimes was very good-natured. Mr..
Boote's little daughter, only 8 years Of
age, was in the habit of feeding this
dog, which yesterday proved himself
to be one of the most savage of mon
sters. 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, Selling 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 liter
ally torn to the bone on the entire left
side of her face, and mangled most hor-
ribly. --.
All this the agonize1 mother saw
from the kitchen window. She ran
into the yard screaming "My Godi
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 fortunately evaded
him. Police Office John Thomas,
whose residence adjoins that of Mr.
Boote, was providentially at home eat
ing 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 ighbor's yard, with his pisto
drawn and cooked. 81 prayed tC
God," said Officer Thomas to our re
porter, "that might not hit the child
when L fired, for the dogs mouth was
On her throat, and feared l might
miss my aim. The dog was literally
eating the little girls flesh" His pray
er was answered. The bullet struck
fair in the ferocious animals forehead,
and he released his hold long enough
for Mr.. Thomas to seize the child and
hand her to her mother. But in his dy'
ing throes, the dog returned to the at
tack, and caught Mrs. Boote by the
hand, which was terribly lacerated by
lis sharp teeth. Officer Thomas then
prepared to fire agar, but the brute
released Mrs. Boote's hand and sprang
at him. The force of the dogs on
slaught, which was directed at Mr..
Thomas's throat, but fortunately fell
short, was enough to knock the officer
against the grape-arbor, and before the
attack could be renewed, the dog fell
dead from his wounds.
The terribly mangled child was car
ried into the house, and medical aid
summoned. Every thing possible was
done to relieve the little sufferer, but
the physicians were of opinion that the
wounds would prove fatal. She bore
the terrible suffering like a little hero
inc, and preserved her consciousness
all the time. At midnight we received
word that she was dying, and would
soon be beyond the reach of suffering.