The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-07

Another Dog, . Frenchman and . Hickory
Stick.

Washington Letter.
In the campaign of 1880 one of the stories
started about General Hancock was that of his
attempt to swindle a Frenchman out of a dog.
The General in q moment Of leisure told the cir
cnmstances of that funny incident to a fellow
officer, who afterward wrote them out The
original manuscript, as prepared at that time,
having been given to the Tribune correspondent,
the authentic account is now published:
In 1860. when a captain in the army, Mr.. Han
cock was stationed at Los Angeles. Cal. He
hved opposite Georges Round house. the great
feature or which was a cabbage-stalk sixteen
Feet nlgn, with a cabbage at every point. This
was on the outskirts of the town. He had had
an Irish setter puppy which he highly valued, it
having been the habit of his life to keep so many
that, after short intervals. he forgot the names
of some of them. One day this dog was missed.
Nothing could be heard of him, except that a
Mexican, passing by with cart drawn by a bull
ock, had tied the dog to the tail of the cart and
led him away Four months afterward
Captain Hancock was in his office on the
plaza, second story of the house. when
looking out of the door he saw q gentleman
turning rapidly down an alley, followed by a
dog which he recognized at once as his. He i'm
mediately picked up a hickory stick, started
down the stairs and. following as rapidly as pos
sib!e went in pursuit, overhaulingt the gentleman
five or six hundred yards away. 1T was a very
hot day, anG the atmosphere of that climate in,
the sun was something as remarkable as the
GOODNESS of the air in the shade.) He was a good
deal blown" when he came up to the gentleman,
but Immediately accosted him by saying:
MY dear sir, you have my dog"
The French gentleman said:
No, sir, it is my dog. i raised that dog at the
Monte, twelve miles away"
Captain Hancock replied:
II brought that dog. six months ago, overland
from Missouri
1t was the fashion in those days for persons to
carry arms, and in such a crisis as this it was
likely that there would be a resort to them to set
tie such delicate questions of assertion. Captain
Hancock called the dog Rover probably he spoke
in a tone of military command), and the dog,
wagging its tail, advanced. and the Captain said:
Don't you see it is my dog, and he knows
mefr
But the Frenchman called the dog by another
name and it went back to the Frenchman, wag-
ging its tail again. This was depressing upon
the Captain. who then said:
You know DR.. Griffin, a man of the highest
honor in the city. He is my physician and
friend. He visits my house almost daily, and
the dog has been in the habit of visiting his
house. ! propose that we 90 to his house and
let him decide between u.s."
This was three-quarters of a mile distant, and
the Frenchman, under protest, finally agreed to
the proposal, and after a long, and tedious, and
dusty walk through the sun, they reached the
Doctors honse, where they met him in the pres
ence of his family. Captain Hancock related the
case, and that Rover had recognized him., and
asked DR.. Griffin whether it was his dog or not.
DR.. Griffin was a man of high honor, but he al
ways stood by his friends under all circum-
stances, believed they were right, and never
went back on them. Shutting down his dark
eyes, the black eyebrows frowning over his fase,
ne said:
"Of course, Hancock. that's your dog. know
we'll" &
with an air of great unhappiness. Captain Han
cock, finding that he was still dissatisfied, said:
My dear sir, / live but six hundred yards
away" Ut was the same hot and dusty road. no
submit the matter to Mrs. Hancock. who has a
perfect memory of features, and / would like to
have her opinion"
The gentleman, still angry and protesting, but
DESTROYS of submitting the matter gracefully and
amicably, assented, and just as they were pass
ing out of DR.. Grifin's door, Mrs. Griffin whis-
pered to the Captain:
'Marmelita" Ia native California ~servant)
says that is not your dog"
But having tho support of DR.. Griffin he waved
his hand and said:
"Iknow that is my dog"
Butt it afterward left an unpleasant impression,
as he found there was a truthful division in the
house of his best friend. After the weary and
silent tramp to the Captains house under this
torrid sun. they were ushered into Captain Han
cocks parlor. Mrs. Hancock was called for, but
at that hour-noon--felt annoyed at receiving
strangers; but the Captain, in the exhiliration of
nnQlng MS Qog, ana the triumph or having q DE-
cision from Mrs. Hancock, whose word the
Frenchman would not dispute. sent the message
that he had found his dog, and wished her to
recognize him. She reluctantly presented her.
self, and on appearing and looking at the dog
manifested a very cold demeanor. The Captain
related the circumstances. and the fact that the
dog had recognized him on hearing his name
called, and asked her if she knew him as the lost
Rover. She looked at him and replied:
That's not your dog, Captain, and your dog
1000
thinking of some of your numerous dogs. Yours
was named Hal"
The Frenchman became very indignant,
shrugged his shoulders, said 20 mon Dieu!" and
refused all offers of reconciliation. Captain
Hancock apologized for the trouble he had i'm
posed. but the gentleman, feeling that he had
been coerced, and among his friends there would
be an appearance of yielding to a pressure be-
cause of the hickory stick. only after a long in
acceptance of the Captains hospitality.