The weekly clarion., 1880-07-07
NUMBER q
A Famous Goose.

An interesting relic is preserved in a glass
case in the Cold,tream Guards orderly room
at Whitehall Il consists Of the head and
neck of 3 goose. around which Is a golden
Collar with the inscription "Jacob-Secoud
Division Of Col1>.ream Guards Beneath
it are the words Died on duty"
In 1888 rebellion broke ont in our Cana
dian possessions, and TWO battalions of the
guards were sent thither 10 assist in quellinE
II, the battalion already mentioned being
one of them. Both corps occupied the eta
del of Quebec and in their turn supplied
the guards which were ordered 10 be mount
ed in different parts of the town and neigh
b0rhood. Near one of these guards was a
farmyard which had suffered much from
the ravages of foxes-animals that were AT
that period great pest to the colonists; and.
as the farm in question had been suspected
OF being the meeting place o. the rebels.
chain OF sentrles was placed around It, One
day the sentry whose duty il was to watch
the entrance 10 the farm had his attention
attracted by an unsual noise and on look
ing toward the spot whence II proceeded,
ne beheld fine goose fleeing toward him,
closely pursued by fox. His first impulse
was to have a shot at the latter, but this
would have alarmed the guard and brought
condlgn punishment on himself for giving a
false alarm. He was compelled, therefore,
10 remaia a silent spectator of the scene.
while every step brought the reynard nearer
to his prey, In the height OF despair,
the poor bird ran its neck and head between
the legs OF the soldier in its frantic eudeav-
or to reach the refuge which the sentry-boX
could afford aud at the same moment the
willy fox made desperate grab at the goose
but too late, for ere he could get feather
between his teeth the ready bayouet of the
sentinel had passed through his body The
poor goose, by way of showing it, graft
tude to its preserver, rubbed its head against
his legs and made other equally demonstra
tions ofjoy. Nor could it ever be prevailed
upon to quit the post, but walked up and
down day after day with each successive
sentry that was placed there until the bat
talon left Canada, when the goose was /.
brought away with it, as a regimental pet to
England.
HOW THE GOOSE SAVED A MANS LIFE. .
The most remarkable thing in connection
with the story is that the goose in turn &C
tually saved its preseryer's life. Whether .
the former knew that the sentry was the .
same man or not must, of course, forever re-
main a problem; but it so happened that
ne was on that particular post about two
months atterward, when desperate attempt
was made To surprise and kin the unwarv
1t was winter time, and, although
was hidden ever and anon by the scudding
clouds which seemed to presage an approach
ing storm.
In these moments of darkness sharp oh
server might have noticed the shadows of
several men, who, unobserved by the some
what drowsy sentinel, were endeavorihg
to approach the post where he
TODD. Suddenly he heard, or thought he
leard, a strange rUstling sound, and bring +
he al-.4 l. IL.
Who goes there ?" Not a sound save the
cho OF his own voice in the distance. and
he signing OF the winter wind among the ,
ranches of the trees which stood in the de- :
arted farm yard, responded to the challenge. {
Several minutes elapsed, during which
be soldier marched mp and down his lonely
eat, followed by the devoted goose, until j
eeming his alarm unwarranted, he again b
stood at ease before the sentry box. This s
as the enemy's opportunity, and the rebels t
ere not long in endeavoring to profit by it. C
loser and closer they stole up toward the v
ost, the thick snow which lay on the h
round completely deadening the sound Of T.
lelr footsteps. But just as two Of their e
lumber, one on each side Of the sentry, were a
repairing with uplItted knife to spring upon n
le unsuSpecting man, the bird made a G.
rand effort, rose suddenly on its wings. and Il
yept round the sentry box with tremen-
Dus force, tapping it's wings right ia the
ce of the would be assassins They were
and rushed biindly forward but
lie sentry, fully aroused to his Danger, bayo- c.
eted one and shot the other as he was d
inning away. Meanwhile the other o
approached to the assistance of
leir colleagues, but the bird repeated his g,
cites, and enabled the sentry to keep them "
bay until the guard-whom the firing Of -
IS musket had alaTmed-came upon the :,
enc and made them flee for their lives -
When this incident became known, poor
d Jacob was the hero of the garrison, and ii
e officers subscribed for and purchased al
e golden collar which the bird afterward V,
ore until the day Of has death Il,
On the arrival of the regiment in Lon
N, the bird resumed its old duties with
e sentinels posted at the barrack gates :. -.
I'd it was exceedingly amusing 10 watch !,
) movements as il walked proudly up and a,
'wn with the sentry, or stood to "atten- j"
IN" beside the box when the latter was
luting a passing officer or guard. The Al
ithered hero was we'll fed and cared for, dr
d a circular bath filled with water was th
ways at his disposal Children were h,
especial fayorites, as they used to th
ing the creature all kinds of food but
cob would never tolerate any Iiber- r,
: except when, in military parlance, he r.
IS standing easy" For many years =
cob seemed to bear a charmed life, but he "
Is at length run aver by a van. Every ~
ort which kindness and skill could sug-
81 was made To save this extraordinary
I'd, but it was of no avail, and he died, tr
e a true English soldier, at the post Of ar
ty, after a 'sentry-go" of no less than by
elye years. II