The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-03-29
Fatally Mangted by a Bulldog.

A heartrending calamity has over
taken the family of Mr.. 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 a
telegram from the Walnut Hills Station
to the officers at Hammond Street, but
did not know the nature of the summens
until within square or two of his
house.
Mr.. Boote has for some months past
had what he considered valuable
English bulldog, in which he took
considerable pride. The dog was not
considered 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
sonnet lines was very good-natured. Mr..
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
ithin the limits of the dogs chain,
when he flew at her, and seized her by
the throat, pressed her to the earth, and
commenced tearing her tender flesh in
the most terrible manner. The poor
title 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 Godl My childp'
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 Officer
John Thomas, whose residence adjoins
that of Mr.. Boote, was providentially at
home eating his dinner, and VIXEN 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 neighbor's yard, with
his pistol drawn and cooked. 81 prayed
to God," said Officer Thomas to our re-
porter, "that might not hit the child
when I fred, for the dogs mouth was or
her throat, and I feared might miss
my aim. The dog was literally eating
the little girls flesh" His prayer wa:
answered. The bullet struck fair in the
ferocious animals forehead, and he re.
leased his hold long enough for Mr.
Thomas to seize the child and hand her
to her mother. But in his dying throes
the dog returned to the attack, ant
caught Mrs. Boote by the hand, which
was terribly lacerated by his sharp teeth
OhSCi AhOihao enoh PiCPaiCu W hiS
again, but the brute released Mrs
Boote's hand and sprang at him. Th'
force of the dogs onslaught, which wa
directed at Mr.. Thomas's throat, bu
fortunately fell short, was enough t.
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 carrie'
into the house and medical aid sum
moned. Everything possible was don
to relieve the little sufferer, but tn
physicians were of opinion that tn
wounds would prove fatal. She Dor
her terrible suferings likealittle heroine
and preserved her consciousness all tn
time. At midnight we received wor
that she was dying, and would soon b
beyond the reach of suffering.