The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-17
Died ON Duty.

An interchangeable is preserved In a glass
case in the Coldstrcam Guards orderly-room
a. Whitehall, London. 1t hangs in q very
appropriate place namely, between the
old colors which that famous CORPS carried
on the field of Waterloo, and consists of
the head and neck of goose around which
is golden collar with the inscription :
'Jacob-Second Battalion ColtlsLrcam
Guards" Beneath it arc the words,
'tDicd on Duty" Very few men now
serving in the regiment are convcrsant
with the history of this devoted specimen
Of the fcathered tribe, who, having once
volunteered to serve the state in the capa-
city Of sentry, never deserted his post
until the great commander, Death relieved
him from duty. In 1888 rebellion broke
out in Canada, and two battalions of the
guards were sent thither to assist in qncll-
ing it, the battalion already mentioned be-
ing one of them. Both corps occupied the
citadel of Quebec, and in their turn sup
piled the guards which were ordered to be
mounted in different parts of the town and
ncighborhood. Near one of these guards
was farm yard which had suffered much
from the ravagcs Of foXcs-animals that
were at that period a great pest to the
colonists-and as the farm in question had
been suspected of being the meeting place
of tho rebels, chain ofsentries was placed
around 1t. One day the sentry, whose
duty it was to watch the entrance of the
farm, had his attention attracted by an un-
usual noise, and on looking toward the
spot whence it proceeded he beheld a fine
goose fleeing toward him, closely pursued
by fox. His first impulse was to have
shot at the latter, but this would have
alarmed the guard and brought condign
punishment on himself for giving false
alarm He was compelled, therefore, to
remain silent spectator of the scene, while
every step brought the rcynard nearer to
his prey. In the height of its despair the
poor bird ran lts head and neck between
the legs of the poor soldier in its frantic
endcavor to reach the refuge which the
sentry-boX could afford, and at the same
moment the willy fox made desperate
grab at the goose, but too late, for ere he
could get Il feather between his teeth, the
ready bayonet of the sentinel had passed
through his body. The poor goose, by way
of showing its gratitude to It's prcserver,
rubbed its head against his legs and made
other equally curions demonstrations Of 10y;
nor could it ever be prevailed upon to quit
the spot, but walked up and down day
after day with each successive sentry that
was placed there until the battalion left
Canada, when the goose WAS brought away
with 1t rs regimcDtial pet to England.
The most remarkable thing in connection
with the story is that the goose in turn
actually saved its prcserver's life. Whether
the former knew that the sc ntry was the
same man or not must of course forever re-
main problem but it 80 happened that he
was on that particular post again about two
months afterward, wien desperate at
tempt was made to surprise and kill the un-
wary scntinl 1t was winter time, and,
although it was bright moonlight night,
the moon was hidden ever and anon by Che
scudding clouds, which seemed to presago
al approaching storm. In these moments
OF darkness sharp observer might have
noticed the shadows of several mon who,
unobservcd by the somewhat drOwsy sen
tincl, were cndeavoring stealthily to ap-
proach the post where he stood. Suddenly
he heard, or thought he heard, strange
rustling sound, and, 1nging his muskct to
his shoulder, he shouted loudly: "Who goes
thcre?" Not a sound save the echo of his
own voice i'll the distance, and tho signing
of the winter wind among the branches of
the trees which stood in the deserted farm
yard, responded to the challenge. Several
minutes elapsed, during which the soldier
marched up and down his lonely beat
followed by the devoted goose, until,
deeming his alarm unwarrantcd, he again
"stood at case" before the sentry. box.
This was the cncmy's opportunity, and the
rcbels were not long III cndcavoring to
profit by it. Closer and closer they stole
up toward the post. the thick snow which
lay on the ground completely dcadcnng
the sound of their footsteps. But Just as
two OF their number, one on each side of
the scnlry-box, were preparing with up
lifted knife to spring upon the unsuspect-
ing man, the bird made grand effort, rose
suddenly on its wings, and swept around
tho scntry-box with tremendous force,
Tapping its wings right in the faccs Of the
would-bc assassins. They were astoundcd
and rushed blindly forward, but the sentry,
fully aroused to his danger, bayonctcd one
and shot at the other rs he was running
away. Meanwhile, tho other conspirators
approached to the assistance Of their col
leagues; but the bird repeated its tactics
and enabled tho sentry to keep them at bay
until the guard-whom the firing of his
muskct had alarmcd--camc upon the scene
and made them flee for their lives. When
tins incident became known poor old Jacob
was the hero Of the garrison, and the
officers subscribed for and purchased the
golden collar which the bird a(tcrward
wore until the day of his death. Jacob
bore we'll the discomforts Of the voyage to
England on board ship which was noted
for it's rickety condition, and which was
within an ace of being lost in tremendous
storm that overlook her. On the arrival
Of the regiment in London the bird resumed
It's old duties with the sentlncls posted at
the barrack gates and it was exceedingly
amusing to watch its movements as it
walked proudly up and down with the
sentry, or stood to attention" beside the
box when the latter was saluting a passing
officer or guard. The foathored hero was
well fed and cared for, and circular bath
filled with water was always at its disposal
Children were its especial favoritcs, as
they used to bring the creature all kinds Of
food; but Jacob would never tolerate any
liberties, except when in military parlanco,
he was standing easy" For many years
Jacob seemed to bear charmed life; but
he was at length run over by a van in the