Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-02
Hanson and His Dog.
Blind Tramp dHis Faithful COmpan- fon-Singular Result of a Snake Bite.H
 From the Cincinnati Gazettel

Blind Ira mp 8 n d His Faithful Compan- fon-singular Result of a Snake Bite.H From the Cincinnati Gazette.l
 Yesterday afternoon a Gazette reporter | sauntered into the Hammond street station in quest of an item. He found the slate was empty, so far as anything of newsy nature was concerned, and he was about to depart | for fresh pastures when Sergt. Cain casually remarked that there was old man down in l the lodging-room who was quite character | in his way, as he was totally blind, and had l just arrived from Arkansas, having as his only companion an intelligent dog, who, in his
 dumb but almost human way; is guide to his blind master in his journeyings. His curiosity being aroused the reporter follow ed the sergeant down the stairway and into the large room where tramps are accustom- ed to repose themselves after the fatigues of the day are over. There were two men in the room, 8 rough looking individual, whose appearance at once bespoke his occu- pation or rather, lack of the same. The other, although his clothes were somewhat
 worn and shabby was worthy of a second glance He was a man apparently about fifty years of age, and possibly older, as his hair and beardwere entirely gray. He was seated by the stove, his head sunk upon his breast, and by his side sat the dog which he prizes so highly On being questioned as to the cause
 of his blindness, he began and told his story,
 as near as can be remembered in the follow
 ing words: "You see" said he, glancing up
 at his visitors Tit happened in this way; five
 years ago, the 10th of last August, was
 down in Edmundson county, Ky, working
 in the timber, log rolling and on the day
 mentioned was working among the logs,
 trying to fasten chain around a log. got
 down on my knees and reached over the log
 when he jumped out and struck me-" ''Who
 struck you ?'' ''Why, a rattlesnake. Intent
 upon my work, did not see him, as he lay
 coiled up in a little bunch of iron-weed just
 ofb ;1o af Ina loo nd
 entered my face just below the left eye. My
 face and head swelled up, and in two hours I
 went blind, and have never seen the light
 from that time. have tried great many
 doctors too see if they could cure me, but
 none of them ever did me any good. At last
 I heard of the Hot Springs, Arkansas, and I
 concluded to go there, and I have just re-
 turned from my second trip" One curious feature of his strange malady, If such 1t can be called is the fact, which he states. that at the same time every year on which the acci- dent happened his face and body swells up and his skin becomes spotted and yellow like that of snake, but by going to the springs he was in hopes that he would escape a re- turn of the swelling which lasted he said about six days. The old man said that his name was John Hanson, and he claimed to be first cousin to Gen. Hanson of Kentucky. The dog, however, must not be forgotten. During the above conversation he had re- clined at his ease by the stove, but at the word he got up, and looking at his blind charge, he waited patiently until the old gen. tleman had secure hold of a strap which was attached to his neck by collar, and then he starteded at measured pace for the door. Arriving at the stairway, the animal ascended and did not look back until he reached the top when he turned round and waited until Mr. Hanson reached the floor. Without further notice he walked out into the street. In going down stairs he went very slow, stopping and looking back at every step, and certainly and mother could not look more carefully after the welfare of child than did the dog after that of his master He was ll-bloodsd English bulldog, which the old man said friend of his had secured for him while on journey to England, and he trained the animal by using it beside his mother when he was travelling about the country.
 Rev. J. Fl. Van Buren, of Trinity church, Seymour, has resigned and will go to Engle- wood, N. J., about the middle of the month. This event is the occasion of universal regret in the town.
 George Smith, Hartford saloon-keeper, was found wandering around the streets last night, crazy. He was taken to the police station. He told the police officer that Italian peanut vendors had stretched wires every where across the street and he feared he would cut his throat with them,