The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-02-04
WO,tderf'uL Sngacuy 0fn Dog

a correspondent Of the Tribune tells a
touching story Of dog that saved human
lives b. the -acriice Of biz own. Here j.
the narrative. and II l. tory Of wondef!u,
aninal sagacity.
4 large Newfoundland dog named Uec! =
belonging 10 the -. Elmo Hotel IN the Oh
town Of Eldred. Pa, was known through.
out the northern oil field for il strength
aud intelligence. The porter of the hotc' =,
-maRi man .,ef, fn hstIe f99i8 bssek 81
the Office The dog slept IN the Office
On ! hnrsdaY night last the porter was
drunk when be went 10 led, and soor
fell into heavy sleep. Some tine il
the night he was awakened by. the loud
barking 81 Heck, who was JumFif.
frantically on the pouer's BID and
sciziHg tic pillow with bis teeth
/ he still drunken and drowsey portei
tiled 10 make the dog q away, bnl
the animal persisted IN his efforts, END
it finally dawned on the mind II the
porter that the house was On fire
His room Was full Of smoke, and he
conld hear the cracking Of the flames.
He sprang from bed, but Was still SO
drunk that he fell TO the floor The
faithful dog at once seized him by the
coat collar, the porter not having re-
moved his clothing on going to bed,
and dragged him out Of the room and
half way to the outer door ofthe office,
when the man succeeded in getting to
his feet. and unlocking the door. stag
gered into the street. The fire was
rapidly spreading over the building
and the hotel was tlied with guest.
not Que Of whom had bee aroused.
! he dog no sooner saw that his helpless,
friend vas safe than he dashed back
into tie house, aid ran barking loudly
up stairs. He fist stopped at tie
door OF bis masters room. where lie
howled and scratched at the door IN
til the inmate was made aware OF the
danger, and hurried ont Of the house.
as there was no time to lose. ] he
dog gave tic alarm at every door, and
down stares to the outer door, each
one OF these, however. being stranger
in the house, which fact the dog seem
ed to understand in looking out for
their safety
All about the house seemed to have
lost their heads in the excitement and
it is said that the hotel dog alone
preserved complete control Of himself.
In and out OF the burning building he
kept continually bsrkiI G, plotting son e
half dressed man or woman down stairs,
only TO at once return in search OF
others. Once lady with child in
her arms tripped on the stairs while
hurrying out, and fell to the bottom.
The child was thrown on the floor Of
the hall some distance away. The
woman reealned her feet, and staggered
in dazed way out OF the door, leaving
the child il the midst Of the smoke
that was pouring from the Office door.
The brave dog saw The mshap, and
jumping in through the smoke. which
was becoming almost impossible. and
Selling the child by It's night-dress.
carried it safely out. The mother Of
the child on being restored by the air
first became aware that the child was
not with her, and, crying out wildly
that Anna was burning up in the
house," made a dash for the building
as if to rush through the flames TO seek
her child. Heck had already brou , hi
the little one out. but had not yet res
tored it to its mother. The dog sIw
the frantic rush of the mother toward