Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-19
miscellaneous.
A BURGLARS DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH
MAsTIFF WATCHDOG.

1t is customary of late for canine saga
city to be illustrated at the footlights as it
has been for years in the highly spiced
literature of youth, but rarely does tale or
tragic situation supply more dramatic &C
ton or more heroic actor than real life did
the other night in this city. There is
cosey little house at No.465 West Twenty
first street, which for some time has been
occupied by Mrs. A. j. Manson and
daughter Both are ladies Of culture and
refinement, given to study and artistic oc-
equations and. living alone as they did,
with only a couple Of domestics in the
house, they found a guard and protector
10 their dog-.RexD Rex" is thorough
bred English rDastiff, two years old. lie
has great. sinewy body, covered with
short brown hair. and his teeth are fitted
for making fearful havoc. He is greatly
attached 10 his mistress, and is ever on
the alert for any harm that may threaten
her.a watchfulness which week ago was
Of great avail.
The residence Of Mrs. Manson, facing
the grounds of the Theological Seminary,
adjpins a house with a second story bal
conv. An expert climber could readily
ltdtl urI anu DS thC usO VI ~
there is reason TO believe burglar or per-
haps couple made an entrance into the
house on the morning of the 4th inst. 1t
was about half past three O'Clock. Mrs.
Manson was sleeping in her bedchamber
on the top floor, where the rooms Of her
daughter and the servant girls are also
located. The weather was close, and
through the open doors the watchdog,
ha
growled deeply, and moved across her
room this morning, Mrs. Manson was
aroused. Rex was upright and listening.
Again came his low, sullen growl. and
she presently heard him slipping down
the stairs.
Unmindful of mischief she was compos-
ing herself to rest when dreadful scream
of agony came up from the room beneath,
and the lady in a furry hurried out to the
hallway and down the stairs She first
believed one OF the servants had gone
down and been startled by the dog, but as
she reached the end of the flight figure
appeared at the door of the second floor
front room, which speedily showed her
the trne state Of affairs, A man was there.
a stranger. with uncovered head and
frightened face. The gaslight burning
dimly in the hallway showed IA close
cropped head fixed on thick neck, with
horid mustached face. Over a
graylsh shirt was black cutaway coat,
and he wore dark pantaloOns. Evidently
surprised by the dog in pillaging the
place he had turned to flee. when the grip
of the mastiff upon his hand evoked that
cry of pain. The member was bleeding
now. The door knob he let go was red.
In a twnkling he had reached the stairs
and was descending. But Rex" as cum
ming as he, was at his heels, and gather
ing up for bound he drove his great
tawny body against the burglars should
ers.
The man went down as if struck by
club and rolled head over heels to the
bottom, where he lay moment dazed,
with the mastiff's body on his breast and
teeth in his flesh. The fall had stunned
him. but he was quickly recalled to con-
seriousness and in dreadful way. Rex"
had seized him by the jaw. The feet
armed with sharp nails tore his face.
The canine fangs reached the bone. Mrs.
Manson. bravely following the fugitive.
heard that dreadful crunching and her
woman's heart was sickened.
Don't Rex she cried; DON'T
The enraged mastiff, mindful of his
mistress voice, drew back, and the hap
less burglar, who had been desperately
fighting with his fists and uttering fearful
moans made use of his chance. With
an oath he struggled to his feet and sprang
down the basement stairs with the mas
tiff after him. The kitchen is at the back
with the washtubs on one side and Il door
at the end opening on the yard. He had
reached the latter. but the dog tearing at
him again compelled him to put his back
against it and fight with might and MAN,
Mrs. Manson found him so when she en-
tered. 1t was dark down stairs, but the
gray or early dawn enabled her to see
both the contestants. Without moments
hesitation the stout hearted lady advanced,
bnt the fugitive. cowardlv in his pain
and evaporation. sprng at her and dealt
her a couple of blows in quick succession.
The scoundrel's fist drove her head back,
and the second time it struck her full in
the chest and knocked her, bruised and
halt-stunned, to the floor. A third blow
was coming, when Rex, who had to dash
around the table to get at the man, grip
ed him by the arm. He turned away
with cry, shot back the bolt and vanish
ed through the door into the yard. Miss
Manson. coming down stairs then after her
mother, found the lady still upon the floor,
with her eyes upturned and barely con-
scious. She aroused her. and after Sc
curing the door they went up stairs. Mrs.
Manson's studio, where the dog had
made the first attack was tOpsy-turvy.
The window was half opened where the
burglar had tried to get; out but on the
floor were blood drops. which had fallen
from the hand the mastiff had griped.
In an inner room was spread in a sheet.
ready for removal. the "swag" of the
night-various sealskin robes. some sets
of furs. an eight hundred dollar shawl,
various pieces of silverware. with eighteen
linen sheets and the dresses of the SER
wants. The whole was valued at several