River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-25
Star Route Dorsey.


The Calico mining district boasts
the possession OF the most remarkable
dog heard from up to this date. lie
is a Scotch collie dog, known as
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 -Js0uto Dorsey ,, ~ tho
boys call the dog, is the property of
the brothers Stacy, who own store
at the mines and another at Calico.
There is no postoifice 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 a week for news of the outside
world. Blu: every day, as the stage
from Daggett drives up to Stacy 5
store at Calico, Dorsey is on hand,
waiting for his mail-pouch TO be filled.
and as soon as it is strapped On his
back off he goes along the rocky trail
to Bismarck, at gait which brings
the mail there twenty mi1ules after
the stage stops at Calico. Dorsey, as
he arrives ut Bismarck, goes straight
to Stary's store, and until the pouch
is taken off will allow no one but his
master to come near him. When the
mail is removed he goes off to have a
time with the Bismarck dogs and en-
10Y himself, only returning to the store
at meal time. He 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 Il maui
! Il
but Dorsey is wonderful dog, and the
more he is watched the more wonder
full the things found out about him.
There are three trails between the
mine and Calico, and Dorsey makes il
a rule never to take the same one twice
running, though one is much better
than the others. The miners say that
| Dorsey fears an ambuscade, but what
ever his reason 1t is a Weli-defned one,
for once. when he used a trail he had
taken the dav before, he was observed
to hesitate in doubt whether to retrace
his steps or not, and finally to make Il
break across fes rfully rough country
to the other trail When Dorsey has
the mail he will low no one to touch
him. and will run from any dog in the
camp: but woe be to the dog that an
! noys Dorsey on duty, for Dorsey, when
relieved from his load, will surely get
even, and ho 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
HIM till he gets his letters. If no let
tiers 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 female
canine friend at Calico. he had a
rival, who took advantage OF DoPsey's
absence to ingratiate himself with
Dorsey'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 for the nrsi time since
| he had been on the route. His hated
rival, secure in Dorsey's supposed
| absence, was making the most of his
| time, when Dorsey appeared on the
scene and literally tore his cars off.
| The miners at Bismarck have had Dor
sey photographed. and have presented
| HIM with a soft leather pouch, which
| goes over his back like saddle, and
| is very convenient for the dog to car
nv. Dorsey's weight in gold would
not buy him from his rough, kind
friends. San francisco Post.