Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-12-10
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
UNCLE SANS PET POSTDOG.
How the Collie of Calico Carries the Mail
of the Miners Day by Day.

How the Collie of Calico Carries the Mail
of the Miners Day by Day.
"If all the mail service was as prompt
ly and faithfully performed as is the dog
route between Calico and Bismarck there
would be nothing left to complain Of"
remarked Postoffice Inspector 7. F.
Tracy to Chronicle reporter yesterday.
DOG route? Do you mean that a dog
carries the mails there?" asked the re-
porter.
Certainly. Did you never hear of
the dog Dorsey No. Well, Dorsey is
the regular mail-carrier between the post
office at Calico, San Bernardino county,
and the Bismarck mining camp, three or
four miles over the mountains. Calico
is stage station and has postotfice, but
Bismarck is neither, and, as the three or
four miles between them are the kind of
miles peculiar to mining districts, it was
a great inconvenience for the Bismarck
miners to get their letters. Dorsey is a
black and white collie, with intelligent
eyes, shaggy coat and pointed nose. One
day the postmaster wanted to get word
to his brother up at Bismarck. He did
not want to make the trip himself and no
one else offered to make it for him. 1t
suddenly occurred TO him to try Dorsey.
A letter was conspicuously tied around
the dogs neck, his nose was pointed
toward Bismarck, and he was told to git.
He trotted off a little way, and then turn
ed around inquiringly, but was met with
volley of stones thrown by some small
boys anxious to teach Dorsey's young
idea how to shoot. The collie took the
advice and trotted off in business-like
manner.
"'The next day he came back with an
answering letter tied around his neck,
and showed signs of having been well
treated at the other end of the route. The
experiment was repeated, each time sue
cessfully, and each time Dorsey assumed
an air of greater dignity. The news of
his success was, of course, the talk of
both camps, and the postmaster received
many requests from miners at Bismarck
W ocuu tuclT lctIcTo ONtT luc ncAJ lillc
Dorsey made trip The result was that
pretty soon Dorsey had more letters to
carry than could be conveniently fasten-
ed to him. The miners then ordered a
handsome little mail bag made and fitted
to the dogs shoulders. The bag is fast
ened by two straps, one around his chest
and one under his body just back Of his
fore legs. When the mail bag was fin
ished and supplied with the regulation
brass lock Dorsey was formally installed
as mail.carrier between the two points.
every day, just about the time the
stage is due, Dorsey wakes up from his
nap, stretches himself and walks into the
postofficc. When the stage has arrived
and the Bismarck letters have been put
into Dorsey's mail bag, the postmaster
says, the mail is ready, and Dorsey sob
erly walks up to have the bag fastened
on. Then he starts off on a little trail,
which he has worn for himself over the
hills. If he meets a stranger he makes q
long detour, for he knows he is engaged
on important business and he don't want
to run any risk OF having trouble. He
stays in Bismarck over night and returns
with the mail the next day in time for
the outgoing stage. He has never missed
connection, lost letter or been behind
time. San Francisco Chronicle.