Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-21
TWO RAILROAD DOGS.
Ebrewd John and Faithful Rocks
The Latter Dies Hcro's Death.
From the CAjcago Hsrald.

The Latter Dies Ecro's Death.
From the CAicago Hsrald.
said Col. Bond, of South Water street ::
fused 10 have railroad dog named
Jobp. who was q regular curiosity. He
had great love tor railroads and cars,
and whenever anything went wrong with
nim be started straight for the Illinois
rentral depot, probably to get consolation
rom the train men, who always made a
preat pet of him. One day John Watson
and we're getting ready to go off on a
bnnt. Old John was standing around
looking on with glee and wsgging his tail.
watson asked me il l indended to take
John alorg, and l replied no-that he
would have to stay at home this time.
nd Johns tail instantly dropped between
mis- legs, and be hung around almost with
tears in his eyes watching the guns and
things as they were loaded into q wagon
At the front door. When we were ready
70 start old John was nowhere to be
found. thought that he had gone off and
laid down in some place to pOut it out.
We got en- board the train and he an our
Journey, not thinking OF old John. When
the train stopped at Aurora | went tor
yard to see how my doQs were getting
along in the baggage car. Imagine my
surprise when [ found old John there with
tine Others looking at me as To2uIsh as
YOU please out OF the corner of his eye
You see. be knew that we were going to
lake a train, and started off to the only
aapot he knew anything about, and got
aboard the first train he came to. 1t hap
pened to be our train. The baggageman
said that when John first arrived he
slunk into corner OF the car behind a
trunk and refused to come out and be com
forted When | went into the car with
nv other dogs he lay low and never made
bis presence known TO me till we had got
10 far away from Chicago that l couldn't
send him back"
"Some years ago." said the engineer, 81
was running along one day, near Joliet,
when saw fine big black dog fast un-
der an old farm gate by the side or the
rack. He had evidently tried to jump
pver the gate, and, the hinges being
broken, IL had fallen on MIN. He could
rot get out, and was bowling so pitifully
mat stopped my engine and went to his
assistance. He was so grateful that be
licked my hand and wanted to follow me
into the cab. | wanted to take him With
me, but didn't dare. After that the dog,
whom and my fireman named Rocks,
,sed to sit beside the track and wag his
all when we went by. He got so he could
ell IUH BuRIHc do ldl as Nv Cputu SSt IL VI
,ear my whistle. A few months later we
we're running along there. behind time,
md going very fast: 1t was Just at day.
break, and was a little surprised TO see
Rocks on the track ahead Of us. He was
lcting strangely. He barked furiously
ind bowled and reared upon bis hind feet.
When we came ur little closer to him
he started and ran a ways on the track,
Ind then turned and sat up and howled
lgan. He did this two or three times,
antil my fireman and thought sure he
was mad. Finally Rocks fingered too
ong on the track and was struck by the
pilot and drawn under the wheels.
ieard him howl so agOnizingly as he went
lnder that | Immediately shut of steam
md stopped the tram. My fireman went
back to see what bad become of Rocks.
but be had been all mashed to pieces. My
fireman and l were about ready to cry as
we started up again, but imagine our
ImaZement when, on turning a curve a
it, lie way ahead. we saw an obstruction
IN the track, so placed that it would
surely have derailed our train had we
struck it at full speed. AS it was we
we're hardly in motion, and easily stop.
ped before reaching the DANGER. All that
could ever be learned about the obstruc-
ton was that probably some person hav-
ing spite against the road had placed it
there.D