Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-06-18
Star-ROute Dorsey,

Tho Calico mining district boasts
the possession of the most remarkable
dog heard from up to this date. lie
is Scotch collie dog, known rs
Dorsey" and he is employed as
special mail carrier over the star route
between the town of Calico and the
mines at Bismarck, some three miles
distant. "Star.Route Dorsey" as the
boys call the dog, is the property of
the brothers Stacy, who own store
at tho mines and another at Calico.
There is no postoilicc at the mine and
no mail service, and were it not for the
intelligence Of Dorsey the fifty odd
miners at Bismarck would have to wait
for n week for news of the outside
world. Bu: every day, as the stage
from Daggett drives up TO Stacy's
store at Calico, Dorsey is on hand,
waiting for his mail-pouch to be filled,
and as soon rs it is strapped on his
back off he goes along tho rocky trail
to Bismarck, at u gait which brings
the mail there twenty minutes after
the stage stops at Calico. Dorsey, as
he arrives at Bismarck, goes straight
to Stacy's store, aud until the pouch
is taken of will ;hlow no one but his
master to come near him. When the
mail is removed he goes of to have a
time with the Bismarck dogs and en-
JOY himself, only returning to the store
at meal time. lie sleeps at Bismarck,
and after breakfast, every day, he gets
the mail for Calico from Stacy and
takes it to Calico. There is nothing
very remarkable about carrying mail.
pouch three miles and back every day;
but Dorsey il wonderful dog, and the
more he is watched the more wonder
ful tho things found out about him,
There are three trails between the
mine and Calico, and Dorsey makes ii
rule never to take the same one twice
running, though one is much better
than the others. The miners say that
Dorsey fears an ambuscadc, but what
ever his reason It is u wcll-dclincd one,
for once, when lie used n trail he had
taken tho day before, he was observed
to hesitate in doubt whether TO rctracc
his steps or not, and finally TO make n
break across n fcarfully rough country
to the other trail. When Dorsey has
the mail he will allow no one to touch
him, and will run from any dog in the
camp; but woe he to the dog that an
noys Dorsey on duty, for Dorsey, when
relieved from his load, will surely get
even, and he Is not afraid of any dog
in the district. The miners all say
that Dorsey can tell time, for he never
has to be called, and just before mail
time will 90 up to Stacy and bother
hlm till he gets his letters. II no let
ters are given to him at The usual hour,
he does not wait around, but goes off
to Calico, where he spends the day. A
couple of weeks ago Dorsey was pay
ing some little attention to u female
canine friend at Calico, He had n
rival, who took advantage of DorSey's
absence to ingratiatc himself with
Dorscy's flame, But it appears that
Dorsey had made calculations for some
thing of the kind, and when the mail
was removed at Bismarck he dashed
back to Calico iOr the nrst time since
he had been on the route. His hated
rival, secure in Dorscy's supposed
absence, was making the most of his
time, when Dorsey appeared on the
scene and literally tore his ears of.
The miners at Bismarck have had Dor.
scy photographed, and have presented
HIM with a soft leather pouch, which
goes over his back like Il saddle, and
is very convenient for the dog to car
ry. Dorsey's weight in gold would
not buy HIM from his rough, kind
friends. San Francesca Post.