Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-08
FIVE MINUTES WITH A MAD DOG.
From the London st. James Gazstte. ]

Last week received orders to 90 to the
Britannia public house, in Soho, and poison
large retriever belonging to the landlord
My master had seen the dog during his
rounds, and found it in dangerous rabid
state. I filled small bottle with hydro
cyanic acid, and, taking syringe, went of
at once to see about it. Arriving at the
house, stated my business, and was haud
ed over to the pot boy to be conducted to
the dog, which I could hear bowling every
few seconds There being no yard to the
house, they had chained the dog down in
the cellar to q staple in the wall. Descend
ing some steps, we passed through room
in the basement that was dimly lit by a
small and grimy window. Cases of wines
and spirits were ranged against the walls,
and we could hear the tramp of the thickly
shod customers in the bar or taproom just
above our heads. Opening door, we pass
ed into another room; this was lighted only
by small window in the room we had just
left, as it shone through the now open door.
sHes is there" said the pot boy, pointing
to another door in the wall opposite.
Thinking there was window in the
room, I pushed the door open, and immedi-
ately heard the rattle of chain and the
hoarse half howl, half growl of the poor
beast, whose eyes could see against the far
wall cleaning through the dark. Window
there was none.
"Why on earth didn't you bring t. light ?'
asked augrily; "you don't suppose l can
poison him in the dark2"
Thought 'ad a match" said the boy,
fumbling in his pockets; there's q gas jet
just inside the door,"
7 had no matches, so 1 sent him up stairs
to get some, and, awaiting his return, sat
down on an. empty keg near the door,
The dog seemed uneasy, and, tancying
the light through the doorway annoyed and
distressed him. I pushed it to with my hand.
The boy was some time gone Il found after
ward he had been to ask his mistress if she
would like to have last look at tho old
dog), and sat there thinking over the job.
The air of the cellar was close, and the
smell of the wet sawdust on the floor was
most unpleasant Clank went the dogs
chain against the wall or the floor, us he
moved uneasily about, wondering, | dare
cay, what was my errand there. Theu the
movement'ceased for time, or, partly ab-
sorbed in my thoughts, I failed to notice il.
The next minute l started, feeling some
thing rub against my leg. Looking down |
SLY two glaring eyes just at my knee. The
dog was loose, the staple having worked It's
way out of the damp and yielding mortar.
For second or two nearly lost con-
.ciousuess. My heart seemed to stand still
but by an effort kept from going of into Il
faint I shall never forget the next few
minutes as long as live. I was alone in
the dark, with this rabid beast rubbing
about my legs-frst one and. then the
other, as if he were trying to find
out who ! was. Then he rested his nose Gil
my knees and looked straight up into my
face. l sat like statue, knowing that at
the slightest movement he would probably
seize me- and knowing (who better?) that
such bite in his advanced state of disease
was almost certain death, and horrible
death too. Nerving myself, sat perfectly
still, calculating as we'll as | could, my
chances of escape. Presently the dog put
hrst one paw, then the other, on my knee,
and, standing on his hind legs, gently rubbed
his head against my breast, then over my
arms, and then commenced to explore my
face, ! shut my eyes, and felt his nose pass
several times across my face, covering it
with saliva Yet dared not move I ex-
pected every instant he would seize me ::
the very beating of my heart might disturb
and annoy him, and I felt that, come what
might, must fling him off and make dash
for the floor.
Suddenly he ceased rubbing against me,
and appeared to be listening. He could
hear the steps Of the pot boy descending the
ladder. also could hear them, and knew not
whether to call to him or keep silent. The
dog now dropped down to my knees again,
still listening and as the light Of a candle
streamed through the crevices of the badly
fitting door he crept into the far corner
of the cellar, evidently dreading being put
upon the chain again. Then | made
a dash at the door, swung it open, and,
banging it to behind me, sank more dead
than alive on case near the wall. Seeing
NV state the man brought me quickly g
nip of brandy, and pulled myself together.
All this time the dog was growing furious
| " on the other side of the door, and tearing
| at it in his mad endeavor to get at u.s.
Steadying myself as we'll as I could, I placed
the light on pile of cases, and, filling my
syringe with acid, opened the door about
two inches. As I expected, the infuriated
beast rushed at the opening, and as he did sc
/ discharged the contents of the syringe into
his omen mouth. In q few seconds all was
over. When l went up stairs lfound my
trowsers, vest, coat, hands, and face covered
with the saliva FROM his mouth. felt slcE
and faint, and looked-so the people said
white as ghost; in fact, could hardl.
stand.
The dog I had killed was bitten BY tn
mad dog that ran down Piccadilly som
three weeks since, and had only showed
symptoms of madness during the last feV
days. W. PocKLINGToN.