St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-05
A Physicians Experience in Dark
Cellar.

syringe, went off at once to see about it.
Arriving at the house, l stated my business
and was handed over to the pot boy to be
conducted to the dog, which could hear
bowling every few seconds. There being
no yard to the house, they had chained the
dog down in the cellar to staple in the
wall. E's very bad case, Sir" said my
guide, IAN, I'll be glad when it's all over;
for, although he was a great pet with us
all, an that fond of the kids you never see,
it's awful to see i'm not know any of US,
but when we goes near i'm to have i'm
come a-fying at us. Think ell suffer
much? There e goes! ear Jim. All day
long e owls like that"
| assured him it would soon be over with
out much pain, and descending some steps
we passed through room in the basement
that was dimly Lit by small and grimy
window. Cases of wines and spirits We're
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 passed into another
room; this was lighted only by small win
shone through the new open door. Hes
in there" said the pot boy, pointing to
another door in the wall opposite.
room. Ipushed the door open, and i'm
mediately heard the rattle of a chain and
THE HoARSE HALF HOWL,
half growl OF the poor beast, whose eyes I
could see against the far wall cleaning
through the dark. Window there was
none.
why on earth didn't you bring light?"
I asked, angrily; you don't suppose can
noison him i'm the dark2o
Thought l 'ad a MATCH" said the boy,
fumbling in his pockets; there's gas jet
inside the door,"
had no matches, so 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, fancying
the light through the doorway annoyed and
distressed him, pushed it to with my
hand. The boy was some time gone Il
found afterward he had been to ask his
mistress if she would like to have last
look at the old dog, and sat there think
ing 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, as he moved uneaSily about,
| wondering, dare say, what was my errand
there. Then the movement ceased for a
time, or, partly absorbed in my thoughts,
l failed to notice it. The next minute |
started, feeling something rub against my
leg. Looking down l saw two glaring
eyes just at my knee. The dog was loose,
the staple having worked its way out Of the
damp and yielding mortar.
For second or two I nearly lost con-
seriousness. My heart seemed to stand
still; but by ali effort kept from going of
into a faint. shall never forget the next
few minutes as long as live. 1 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 l was.
Then he rested his nose on my knees and
looked straight up into my face. 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 A HORRIBLE DEATH TOO.
Nerving myself. sat perfectly still, cal
culating as well as l could my chances OF
escape Presently the dog put first 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 ex-
plore my face. / shut my eyes, and felt his
nose pass several times across my face,
covering it with saliva. Yet l dared not
move. 1 expected every instant he would
seize me; the very beating of my heart
might disturb and annoy him; and 1 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 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 l
made dash at the door, swung it open, and,
banging it to behind me, sank, more dead
than alive, on case near the wall. See
ing my state, the man brought me quickly
a nip of brandy, and l pulled myself to-
gether. ALL this time the dog was growl-
ing furiously on the other side of the door,
and tearing at it in his mad endeavOr to get
at us. Steadying myself as well as I
could, placed the light on pile of cases
and, filling my syringe with acid, opened
the door about two inches. As l expected
the Infatuated beast rushed at the opening
and as he did so discharged the contents
of the syringe into his open mouth. In a
| few seconds all was over. When l went
I'D stairs found my trousers, vest, coat,
hands, and face covered with the saliva
from his mouth. felt sick and faint, and
loOked-so the people said-white as a
oboSt. in fact T could hardly stand