Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-08-21
TERRIBLE TORTURE.
A Graphic and Detailed Report Of the
Death Of John Toelle from Hydro
phObia.
His Desperate struggle With Bis New
foundland Dog--Apparent Recovery
from the Wounds

Hydrophobia! Synonym OF torture,
agony and death. 1t has bafiled the
medical profession for ages, and the
, most eminent physicians and surgeons
of the present day acknowledge death
as its only cure. 1t is the irrevocable,
the irreparable, the irretrievable. 1t
Is the most horrible of suilerings. the
most dreadful of pain, the most dis
tressing of griefs.
The Times of the 4th inst. reported
the death of poor John Toelle. was
with him during most of the time when
he was struggling with death, and
carefully noted the violent explosion
of the disease and the ebbing of life.
Whatever pertaining to the case | did
hot see with my own eyes l have OBJ
tanned by studious examination and
inquiry. For full understanding OF
the case let me narrate in detuii, rom
the bite of the rabid dog.
John Toelle was an honest, indus
tfious and respected man of about 80
gears OF age, of fine habits and traits,
living on twenty acre tract of prop
erty Just east of Kansas City, from
which he derived a support for him
self, wife and children. The family
which the most horrible of deaths in
vaded was an afiectionate and interest
ing one; and these things gid the
death of the father, husband and citi-
zen with a sadness akin to melancholy.
For the pleasure of his children the
father, some three years ago procured
fine Newfoundland dog, the instru-
ment of his death, then but a pup.
The animal was always kind and aflec-
Tomato, and seemed never prouder
than when serving as n pony for his
little masters. Ii was on May that
Mr.. Toelle had
THE DISASTROUS STRUGGLE
with the net of his children. For sew
eral days prior the dog had been
missed from the house for quite while
at a time, and when he returned he
was Indifferent, cross and snappsh.
On one occasion he took the babes
entire hand in his mouth, merely
leaving the print of his teeth but caus-
ing no abrasion of the skin. Again he
seized An elder child by the arm, but
his teeth did not penetrate the skin.
These freaks caused alarm, and the
animal was secured and tied. But Mr..
Toelle accounted tor the sudden saw
ageness of the dog on the theory that
the animal had been killing sheep
, and fresh blood had affected
him. On the morning of the
fatal day the dog freed himself
and was seen jogging slowly across
the field. His victim ordered his en-
ploye to go after the dog, but that
party, whose approximations had been
aroused, refused, and Toclie himself
deserted his work and went IN pursuit
of the rabid animal. | had from his
own lips the details of his adventure.
He passed down into II light piece of
timber out of sight of the neighboring
houses and overlook the dog as the
animal paused ut the edge of a stream
IF flowing water. Toelle walked near
to HIM, and, his fears being now
aroused. though not the least sus-
picious of rabies, he stepped behind 4
large tree, and for short interval was
impressed with the peculiar look and
behavior of the dog The latter turned
from the stream and walked leisurely
toward the tree behind which his mas
ter stood Then Toellc spoke To the
animal in tone of command, and,
not being noticed, took up Il stick and
advanced to where the dog had paused,
when the powerful brute made for his
throat. There was at once a tenacious
closing OF the dogs jaws over the left
hand of the now terrified man, and the
terrible struggle began. After wrench
ing and choking the hand was extri-
Gated, lacerated and bleeding, but in
stantly the other hand was caught and
most fearfully torn before the efforts
to free it were successful. Toelle was
a man OF great strength, which by des-
pcration must have been increased. and
obtaining neck hold on the dog threw
him to the ground. No one mad vet
appeared at the desperate fight. The
man was now on top OF the dog vio-
lently endeavoring to keep him down.
Seconds must have been as minutes,
and l could not learn with any def
niteness how long the battle lasted.
But before the man was exhausted, and
while he was still on the dog, by
chance II neighbor came near, and
comprehending the situation ut once.
ran to his house. procured his gun, and
returning to the scene shot the dog to
death while Toclle still continued to
hold him.
FEARING HYDROPHOBIA
Toelle was now apprehensve of
rabies. He hurried to his house and
gave orders for his horse. HIS work
man, misunderstanding him. himself
took the horse and rode rapidly to
|, town for a physician. The wounded
man went at once to- a neighbor's and
asked for a horse, recountihg his adj
venture and insisting that he wanted
and must have medical aid at once.
This neighbor made light of the mans
fears of hydrophobia and absolutely
refused to loan his horse. Fearful
mistake! Toelle was forced TO remain
at home and await the coming of the
physician. When that gentleman
came, after much delay, he simply
cauterized the wounds of his patient,
and. though being informed fully as
to the changed nature of the dog, his
strange freaks and actions persistonly
assured Toelle and his family that
there was no cause to fear hvdrophobia.
A week passed away and the wounds
were rapidly healing, and at the end
pf two weeks Toelle was as well 40
ever and pursuing his labors as usual.
What was the condition of the mans
mind nowp ] believe from the mo-
ment he had the terrible struggle with
the dog he felt convinced that the an
imal was experiencing rabies. His
friends argued with him at length, en-
deavoring to relieve him of the gnaw-
ing apprehension that possessed him.