The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-06-17
A Famous Goose.

AL ihboI tSbtnB TellC Is preserved IN n
glass case in the Coldstream guards
orderly-room at Whitehall. It Consists
OF the head and neck of goose, around
which is golden collar with the in
scription: " Jacob-2d battalion Cold
stream guards" Beneath it are the
words: "Died on duty"
In 1888 rebellion broke out in our
canadian possessions, and two bat.
tallons OF the guards were sent tbithcr
to assist in quelling it. the battalion
already mentioned being one of them.
both corps occupied the citadel of Que
pee, and in their turn supplied the
guards which were ordered to be
mounted in different parts of the town
and neighborhood. Near one of these
guards was q farm-yard which had suf-
.ered much from the ravages of foxes
animals hat were at that period great
pest to the colonists; and as the farm in
question had been suspected of being the
meeting place of the rebels, chain of
sentries was placed around it.
One day the sentry whose duty it was
TO watch the entrance to the farm had
ms attention attracted by an unusual
noise, and on looking toward the spot
whence 1t proceeded, he beheld fine
goose fleeing toward him closely pur-
sued by fox. His first impulse was to
have a shot at the latter; but this
would have alarmed the guard, and
brought condign punishment on him
sell fol, giving a falls, alarm. He was
compelled, therefore, to remain q silent
spectator of the scene, while every step
brought the reynard nearer to his prey.
In the height of its despair, the poor
bird ran its head and neck between the
legs OF the soldier in its frantic en-
deavor to reach the refuge which the
sentry-boX could afford; and at the
same moment the willy fox made q
desperate grab at the goose; but too
late, for ere he could get feather be-
tween his teeth, the ready bayonet of
the sentinel had passed through his
BODY. The poor goose, by way of
sDoWlng its gratitude to its preserver,
rubbed its head against his legs, and
MADE other equally curious demonstra-
tlons of joy; nor could it ever be pre-
vailed upon to quit the post, 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
las regimental pet to England.
Ihe' most remarkable thing in con-
nection with the story is that the goose
IN turn actually saved its preserver's
lie. Whether the former knew that
the sentry was the same man or not,
must of course forever remain a prob
lem; but it so happened that he was on
tnat particular post about two months
Mterward when desperate attempt was
maze to surprise and kill the unwary
sentinel: 1t was winter time, and al
though it was bright moonlight night,
tne moon was hidden ever and aron by
the scudding clouds which seemed TO
DreSap0 onnrnanhfno. T..
these moments of darkness a sharp OBJ
server might have noticed the shadows
OF several men who, unobserved by the
somewhat drowsy sentinel, were en-
oeaVoring stealthily to approach the
post where he stood. Suddenly he
heard, or thought he heard, a strange
rustllng sound, and bringing his mus.
kett to his shoulder, he shouted loudly:
Who goes therep" Not sound, save
the echo o! his own voice in the distance,
ana the signing of the winter wind
among the branches of The trees which
STOOD In the deserted tarm-yard, re-
sponded to the challenge.
>, several minutes elapsed, during which
Ine soldler marched up and down his
lonely beat followed by the devoted
goose, until, dreaming his alarm unwar-
ranted. he again "stood at ease" before
the sentry-hox. This was the enemy's
opportunity, and they were not long in
endeavoring to profit by it. Closer and
closer they stole up toward the post, the
thick snow which lay on the ground
completely deadening the sound of their
footsteps. But just as two OF their
number, one on each side of the sentry.
box, were. preparing with uplifted
knife to spring upon the unsuspectiny
man, The bird made a grand effort, rosr
suddenly on its wings, and swept round
the sentry-box with tremendous force,
mapping its wings right in the faces ol
the would-be assassins. They were as
founded and rushed blindly forward :;
but the sentry, fully aroused to his dan
ger, bayoneted one and shot the other
as he was running away. Meanwhile
The other cnnspirators approached to the
assistance OF their colleagues; but the
bird repeated its tactics, and enabled
the sentry to keep them ut bay until the
guard whom the firing of his musket
had alarmed-came upon the scene and
made them flee for their lives.
When this incident became known
poor old Jacob was the hero of the gar
rlson; and the officers subscribed for
and purchased the golden collar hich
his death.
Va ehS .'il ~ ui Vi tiic ItSllQtnG In Lon
don the bird resumed its old duties with
the sentlnels posted at the barrack gates
and 1t was exceedingly amusing T.,
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 ieathered hero
was well fed and cared for, and a circu.
lar bath filled with water was ALWAYS at
its disposal. Children were its es.ecial
tavorites, as they used to bring the crea-
ture all kinds of food, but Jacob would
never tolerate any liberties except when.
IN military parlance, he Was " standing
easy" For many years Jacob seemed
to bear charmed life, but he was at
length run over by van. Every effort
which kindness and skill could Suggest
was made to save this extraordinary
bird; but it was of no avail. and he
died like true English soldier. at the
post OF duty, after sentry. 90 " of no
less than twelve years. .-CRaan6crs' jour
nal. '0"'-
The Colorado Rush.