The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-02-22
THEMAJOR AND HIS DOGS.


The first case is one which occurred at
a fashionable watering place on the east
coast of Ireland, some twenty years ago,
and exhibits the remarkable sagacity dis
played by dog in carrying 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 evening
breezes waited in from the sea. Among
the frequenters of this fashionable resort
was a gentleman of some position, 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 crowded with prom.
enaders, his master delighted to put this
animal through a series of aquatic per
fOrmances for the entertainment of the
assembled spectators. Amusement be-
ing at a premium on the coast, these
nightly performances grew into some
thing like an institution, and the brave
" Captain" such was his name
speedily became a universal fayorite on
the jetty. 1t happened, however, that
among the new arrivals on the coast
there came a certain major in her males
tvs army, accompanied by two bulldogs
of unusual size and strength, and of
great value but, value in bulldog be-
in ginversely proportionate to its beauty, |
the appearance of the major and his |
dogs excited no very enthusiastic pleasure !
among the 2thetic strollers on the jetty. !
On the first night on which the major |
presented himself, nothing unusual oc-
Cured and Captain dived and swan as
before. But on the second evening the
brave cid favorite was walking quietly
behind his master down the jetty, when,
rs 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 rs to render his great size
utterly useless for his defense. 4 vio-
ent struggle ensued, but the bulldog
,ame off the victor, for he stuck to his
oe like leech, and could only be forced
% release his hold by the insertion of
oar Of iron between his teeth. The in
lignation of the by-standers against the
major was, of course, very great and its
erv0r was not a little increased when
hey saw the poor Captain vending his
way homewNrd, bleeding, and bearing all
he marks of defeat. Some two or three
venings after this occurrence, when ,
Captain again made his appearance on
he jetty, he looked quite crestallen, ,
.ore his tail between his legs, and stuck
loosely to the heels of his master. That
vening passed away quietly, and the
ext, and the next, and so on for about t
week-Captain still bearing the aspect 8
f mourning. But one evening about I
light or ten days after the above en- f
ounter, as the major was marching in |
is usual POmPous manner along the '
,tty, accompanied by his dog,something Q
ttracted his attention in the water, and, c
alking to the very edge of the jetty, he 9
God for moment looking down into b
le sea. Scarcely had the two bulldogs Il
lken up their stand beside their master a
hen Captain, siezing the opportunity t
II which he had 50 long looked, rushed t
his former conqueror, and, catching t
i'm by the back of the neck, jumped of K
le jetty, with his foe in his a
outh, down some twenty feet