Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-03-19
REMARKABLE DOGS.


stances known OF animals acting nonesb-
ly when the slightest promptings Of in
stinct would have shown that it was
more polite to act otherwise. Self
denial and seIf-sacrifce have been fre-
quently needed of animals, and in the
hour Of temptation they have not stic-
cumbed. Quite recently the Canadian
papers reported an anecdote Of canine
fidelity which, had it been told Of Ro-
man soldier or Hindu nurse, would
have been bruited throughout the civil
lied world as an instance of humanity's
supremest devotion to duty. The story
as told to us is, when nearing Montreal,
the engine driver of train saw great
dog standing on the track and barking
furiously. The driver blew his whistle,
yet the hound did not bulge, but crouch
ing low was struck by the locomotive
and killed. Some pieces Of white mus
lin on the engine attracted the drivers
notice; he stopped the train and went
back. Beside the dead dog was dead
child, which, it is supposed, had wan
dered on to the track and had gone to
sleep. The poor, watchful guardian had
given its signal for the train to stop, but,
unheeded, had died at its post, victim
to duty.
This is no solitary specimen of canine
integrity. The author of "Salad for the
Social" tells Of dog whose master de-
posted bag in one ofthe narrow streets
of Southampton, and left his dog to
guard it, with strict injunctions not to
leave it. The faithful creature was SO
stanch in the fulillment of duty, that,
rather than forsake its trust, it actually
allowed heavy cart to drive over it and
crush it to death.
1t is not merely momentary impulse or
ignorance Of the effects Of this stead
fastness-as some may imagine-that
prompts animals to act thus faithfully.
There are numerous cases on record to
prove that they will sustain hunger, en-
dure pain and fatigue. and Withstand
temptation at the dictates of duty as gal
lantly as any human being. Youatt is
the authority for the following remarka-
bic instance Of canine integrity:
An officer returning from a days
shooting deposited his spoil in a certain
room, in the custody of his dogs. He
locked the door, put the key in his pock-
ct and departed. Soon aftcrward he
was called away upon urgent business,
and during his absence Of several days
forgot all about his big game and dogs.
When be returned home he fastened to
his room and there found both dogs
dead Of hunger. Not only had they
refraired from touching the game, but
they had also kept quiet, having nei her
barked nor cried, evidently fearing to
betray the trust they deemed their mas
ter had confided to them.
In his interesting "African Travels, !"
LIE valiant details how he missed his
favorite setter. After fruitless search
and the repeated firing of his gun to
guide the animal, he sent an attendant
back by the way they had travelled to
try and discover the lost favorite.
About two leagues back the dog was
found keeping guard over chair and a
basket which had been dropped unper-
ceiged from the wagon. But for this
fortunate discovery the dog must have
perished by hunger or from beasts Of
prey.
In Taylor's General Character Of the
Dog" is given an account Of one these
faithful animals which daily carried to
laborer in the Portsmouth dockyard his
dinner. Trusty, as the dog was rightly
named, had to take the basket contain
ing his masters midday meal upward of
a mile, SO that he had frequently to rest
on the journey. He was very careful as
to where he deposited his load, and
would not allow anyone to come near it.
When he reached the dock gates he
often had to wait until they were opened
for the admission or egress of anyone,
but the instant he could effect an en-
trance he ran in with his charge and car
ried it to his master, who, after he had
partaken Of his dinner, re-delivered the
empty basket to his faithful servitor to
carry home again. !
In his ESSAY on INSTINCT" Hancock
tells of dog belonging to Glasgow
tap-room keeper that was accustomed to
carry its masters breakfast to him in.
tin can between its teeth. When the
family removed the dog changed his
route and never went wrong. It could
not be induced to accept a favor when
on its masters errands, and carefully
avoided any Of its own species. This
incorruptibIc servant, which, by the
way, understood Gaelic as well as Eng
lish, often carried home meat to the
weight Of half stone, but never at
tempted to touch it. Dogs, indeed,
rarely attempt to touch food belonging
to their owners. One very remarkable
instance is recorded by Jessie of dog
that accompanied its mistress when re-
turning from market with basket of
provisions.
They were overwhelmed by snow
storm, and not discovered for three days;
the woman was found to be dead, but
the dog, which was lying BY her side,
was alive. The honest creature, how
ever, had not touched the eatables in his
mistress basket, but, as neighboring vii
layers remembered, when too late, had