The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-18

The New York Herald of Thursday


The New York Herald Of Thursday
says: Visitors who called at the
great dog pound at the foot of Six
teenth street. East river. in q spirit Of
comedy must have come away with
something at least of the impress Of
The spirit of tragedy. Nearly 1000
dogs were awaiting their doom
that of drowning-at five O'Clock this
morning. The pound is a low CORFU
gated iron building, painted red, a.
bout $50 feet long and about 40 feet
wide. At the end furthest from the
door is the Office of the Poundkeeper,
Mr.. John McMahon. The building
was erected ia such a hurry that there
has not been time to paint and var
nish the strongly braced rail 10 front
Of his desk. Between this room and
the river is the great keep for the
dogs. Here are $50 kennels or pens.
Each box was intended for the re-
ception of a single dog, but so great
has been the catch since Monday that
some of these contained six or seven
or e-en eight dogs. The air of the
room was sitting. Many of the dogs
had broken loose and were roaming
about the aisles between the kennels.
All are supposed to be chained up
when first received. On Tuesday
night two of tie chained dogs sprang
over the rail of their enclosure, and
on account of the shortness of the
chains were strangled to death. An
officer called it committing suicide.
There was something almost human
10 the cry which necessarily rang out.
The ciicer said, in effect, that the dogs
seemed % understand that a dreadful
fate was at hand for them. Every
second, every particle Of a second
came that terrible mingled yelp, and
whine, and cry. Il could be heard
for quite a long way of. 1t was al
most like the call of men for help.
None Of the dogs. so far as known.
were afflicted with rabies, but the
great wonder was that the whole
pack had not gone mad. Outside the
building was a crowd of men and wo-
men intensely interested in the fate of
the dogs. Even a middle-aged wom-
al was observed reaching up and
~elins;ng to the window sill in order
t o get a pcep at them.
Every here and there we're peeping
eyes put to the cracks III TIE fence tc.
tween the building and The dock to
get a sight Of the heavy iron crate. by
means of which the dogs are to be
submerged and drowned this morning
IL is about eight { ct long and four
fee: wide and high, and will accom-
modate from fifty to one hundred dogs,
according TO size. 1t is arranged TO
be hoisted by windlass by mar pow
err, aud then swung over the deck and
down into the river. Most of the
dogs are Of the common mongrel breed,
and could be put down under tie
head Of "cur." Very few, indeed,
showed any traces OF "blood, " aud yet
many persons, more especially wom-
en-, were on hand yesterday to re-
deem thcir pets, although the redeem
ing of the most worthless cost 80.
The policemen WHO had frequently to
enter the room said that there was
not one dog among tie whole collec-
ton for which be would give FIVE
cents. Still their deep mouthed dis
tress would have moved even a heart
less kindly disposed than that of Mr..
Bereh. The bodies of the dogs after
they are drowned will be taken to
Barren Island. Some Of there skins
will be used for mats, and some of
the unfortuaates 1t may not be very
romantic to say twill be "tried up"
and may enter into the composition
of some of our most highly commend
ed toilet soaps.