The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-27
A NOBLE DOG.
STIRRING STORY OF HIS ENCOUNTER
WITH A BURGLAR.

The New York Herald has a
spirited story of fine English msstif
and his faithful service, in time OF
danger, to his mistress, Mrs. A. J.
Manson, one of two ladies living
otherwise unprotected in an uptown
New York bouse. A few nights
since, Rex, who is allowed to go
freely through the house and into all
the chambers, aroused his mistress
by deep growl az he moved across
the room. Mrs. Manson looked from
her bed and saw Rex upright and
listening. Again came his low, sui
len growi, and she presently heard
him slipping down the stairs.
Unmindful of mischief che was
composing herself to rest when a
dreadful scream OF agony came up
from the room underneath, and the
LADY in q 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 true
state of affairs. A man was there, q
stranger, with uncovered head and
frightened face. The gaslight burn
ing dimly in the hallway sho u close
cropped head fixed on short thick
neck, with a ford mustaohed Ease.
Over a grsyish shirt was a black cut
away coat, and he wore dark pants-
icons. Evidently surprised by the
dog in pillsging the place be had
turned to flee. when the grip of the
mastiff upon his hand evoked that
cry of pain. The member was bleed
ing now. The door knob he let go
was red. In a tWinkling he had
reached the stairs and was descending.
But Rex" as cunning as he was,
was at his heels, and gathering up
for bound he drove his great taWDy
body against the flying burglars
shoulders.
The man went down as il struck by
a club and rolled head over heels to
the bottom, where he lay a moment
dazed, with the msstiff's body on his
breast, and teeth in his flesh. The
fall had stunned him, but he was
quickly called to consciousness and 10
dreadful way. 'Rex" had seized
him by the jaw. The feet armed
with sharp nails tore his face. The
canine fsngs reached the bone. Mrs.
Manson, brRvely following the fugi.
tive, heard that dreadful cruuching
and her Woman's heart was sickened.
DONE Rexl' she called, "doD'tI"
The enraged msstiff, mindful of his
mistress voice, drew back. and the
hapless burglar, who had been des.
perately dgh,jng with his fists and
uttering fearful means, made use OF
his chance. With an oath he strug-
gled to his feet and sprsng down the
basement stairs with the mssti6 after
him. The kitchen is at the back,
with the wsshtubs on the side and
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 aud
fight with might and main. Mrs.
Manson found him so when she en-
;ered. It was dark down Stare, but
the gray of early dawn enabled
her TO see both the contestants.
Without a moments hesitation the
stout hearted lady advanced bat the
fugitive, coWardly ia his pain and
evaporation, sprsug at her and dealt
her a couple OF blows in quick sue.
cession. The scoundrels fist drove
her head back, and the second time
it struck her full on the chest and
knocked her bruised and hali-stunned
to the floor. a third bloV was COM
ing when Rex. who had to dash
around the table to get ct the man,
grabbed him by the arm, He turned
away with a cry, shot back the bolt
and vanished through the door into
the yard. Miss Manson, coming
down then after her mother, found
the lady still upon the floor, with her
eyes upturned and barely conscious.
She aroused her, and after securing
the door they went up stairs. Mrs
Manson's studio, where the dog bad
made the first attack, was tOpsy-turvy.
The window Was half opened where
the burglar had tried to get out, hut
on the floor we're blood drops which
had fallen from the hand the msstifi
had gripped. In an inner room was
spread in q sheet. ready for removal,
the swsg of the night-various seal
skin robes, some sets of turs, an
$500 shawl, various pieces OF silver
ware, with Is linen sheets and the
dresses of the servants. The whole
was valued at several thousand dol.
lars,