The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-02
No. 1 ,973

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seem to connect themselves with its an
Xiety. Reviewing very briefly the allu-
sions to this superstition III times gone
by, we find it referred to by Pausanian,
who relates how. before the destruction
of the Messenians, the dogs set up a
tiercer bowling than they We're wont to
do; and Virgil, speaking of the Roman
misfortunes in the Pharsalic war, says:
Obscmnique canes, importunaque volu-
cres, Sigma dabant.
Capitolinus narrates, too, how the dogs
by their bowling presaged the death of
Maximinus. At the present day this
widely known omen is found in every
part of almost every country. Thus, in
Germany, dog bowling before a house
portends a death or a fire. If it howls
along the highway, this is considered in
Nestphilia as a certain token that a
funeral will soon pass by that way. The
same notion exists in Denmark. No
slight CONSERVATION was caused at Worth
ing, England, a few years ago, by New
foundland dog, the property of clergy
man in the neighborhood lying down on
the steps Of house and bowling pteous-
ly, refusing to be driven away. As soon
as it was known that young lady, an
invalid, had died there, so much excite
ment took place that the occurrence
reached the owner of the dog, who came
to Worthing to inquire into the truth of
it. Unfortunately, however, for the low.
ers of and believers in the marvellous, it
turned out that the dog had accidentally
been separated from his master late in
the evening, and had been seen running
here and there in search of him, and
bowling at the door of the stable where
he put up his horse, and other places
which he often visited in Worthing. 1t
happened, also, that his master had been
in the habit of visiting the particular
house where the young lady had died,
which at once accounted for the apparent
mystery. In the same way, indeed,
ton might easily be cleared up, if only
properly investigated at the time.
Very nearly allied to the superstition
which recognizes death omen in the
bowling of dog is that of the spectral
hounds which are said to be occasionally
heard and seen in different parts of Eng
land and Wales. They are generally invis-
ible; but their fearful yelping as it is
heard passing swiftly through the air,
the blood hound. They are supposed to
be "evil spirits hunting the souls of the
dead, or, by their diabolical yelping, to
betoken the speedy death of some per-
son." In the North they are called ''the
Gabriel Hounds Wordsworth, aIlud-
ing to one form of this superstition, evil
IDENTIFY connects it with the German
legend of the White Huntsman.
1t is related that few years ago, when
a child was burned to death at Sheffield,
the neighbors Immediately called to mind
how the Gabriel Hounds had passed
above the house not long before. A per
son was hastily summoned one night to
the sick bed of relative whose illness
had suddenly assumed an alarming char
acter. AS he sets out he heard the wild
sound of the creatures above his head;
they accompanied him the whole way,
about mile, then paused, and yelped
loudly over the house. He entered it,
and found that the patient had just
breathed her last.
In Lancashire these spectre hounds are
locally termed Gabriel Ratchets," and
are supposed to foretell death OF misfor-
tune to all who hear their sound. An old
writer has curious note on the subject.
He says: Sat Wednesday,, in Stafford
shire, the golfers going to their pits early
in the morning hear the noise of Il pack
of hounds in the sir, to which they give
the name of Gabricls Hounds, though
the more sober and judicious take them
only to be wild geese making this noise
in their flight We have here the solu-
ton Of this popular superstition, for it is
well ascertained fact that these spectre
hounds are no other than numerous flocks
of wild geese, or other large migratory
birds. Mr. Yarrell, the well known Or
nithologist, says that the species here
alluded to is the goose, A"ser segetum of
authors. They are frequently very noisy
when on the wing during the night, and
the sound has been compared to that of
pack of hounds in full cry.
In Wales these spectre hounds are con-
sidered an omen of death, are termed
D,rn .lnnyn, or Dogs of Hell. They are
said to howl through the air with a voice
frightfully disproportionate to their size;
and one peculiarly belonging to them is
that the nearer they approach any one,
the less loud their voice sounds, whereas
the farther off they are, the louder is
their cry. They are in themselves harm
less and have never been known to COM
nit any mischief. According to one
tradition they are the hell hounds which
hunt through the air the soul of the
wicked man as soon as it quits the body,
IL trace of the -tryan mythology already
alluded to.
There is notion prevalent in many
places that whenever Il calamity is at
in, localities Iylnra onai
dent or evil deed may have occurred, a
spectral dog appears. This is described
as often larger than Newfoundland,
| being shaggy and black, with large ears
and tail. Its form, however, is SO de-
| cided and it's look and movements are SO
| thoroughly natural. that many. we are
| Informed, have often mistaken it for 4
real dog. Thus in Lancashire this spec
| tire dog bears the name of ''Trash, OF
':Striker.' The former name is given
to it from the peculiar noise made by its
feet when passing along, resembling that
| of a heavy shoe in miry road. The lat
ter term is in illusion to the sound of its
voice when heard by those persons who
are unable to see the appearance itself.
1t does not haunt particular spots, but
makes itself visible to wan people of the
approaching death of some relative or
friend. Should any one be SO courageous
as to follow this strange apparition, it
retreats with its eyes fronting the pur-
surer and vanishes upon the slightest
momentary inattention.
Another belief, not at all uncommon,