Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-03
GEN. HANCoCNs LOST DOG.
Another Dog. Frenchman and Kick
DRY Stick.


DRY Stick.
From the Re1 York Tribune.
WASHINGTON March LIN the campaign
Of 1880 oneof the stories started about Gen.
Hancock was that Of his attempt to swindle
Frenchman out of dog. The General IN a
moment OF leisure told the circumstances OF
that funny incident to a fellow officer, who
sfterwsrd 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 1850, when Captain in the army, Mr..
Hancock was stationed at Los Angeles, Cal.
He lived opposite Georges Round House, the
great feature OF which was a cabbage stalk
sixteen feet high, with cabbage aJ every
point. This was on the outskirts OF the town.
lie had had an Irish setter puppy which ne
highly valued, 1t having been the habit or his
life 10 keep so many that after short intervals
he forgot the names of some of them. one
day this dog was missed. Nothing could De
heard Of him except that Mexican, passlng0 by
with a cart drawn by a bullock, had tied the
dog to the tail of the cart and led him away.
Four months afterward Capt. Hancock was
in his Office on the plaza. second story OF the
house, when, looking out OF the door, ne saw
a gentleman turning rapidly down an alley,
followed by a dog which be recognized at
once as his, He Immediately picked up
hickory stick. started down the stairs, and,
following as rapidly as possible, went in pur-
suit, overhauling the gent eman nye or SIX
hundred yards away. 1t was a very not DAY,
and the atmosphere of that climate in the sun
was something as remark able as the GOODNESS
Of the air in the shade. He was good deal
elbow when he came up 10 the gentleman,
but Immediately accosted him by saying;
My dear sir, you have my dog"
The French gentleman said:
mo. sir, it is my dog. ! raised that dog at
the Monte twelve miles away"
Captain Hancock rep led:
II brought that dog, six months ago, over
land from Missouri. +"
IL 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 resort
TO them TO settle such delicate questions Of as
sertion. plain Hancock called the dog RO-
yer probably he spoke in a tone of military
command). and the dog. wagging its tail, ad-
vanced and the captain said:
Don't you see 1t Is my cog and he knows
me?"
But the Frenekman called the dog by anOth-
er name and 1t went back to the Frenchman,
wsgging its tail again. This was depressing
upon the captain, who then said:
You know DR.. Griffin, 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 go TO his house and
let him decide between u.s."
This WIS 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 house. where they met
him in presence of his family. Capt. Hancock
related the case and that Rover had recOg
nlzed him, and asked DR.. Griffin whether II
was his dog or not. DR.. Griffin was man OF
high honor, but he always stood by his friends
und ali circumstances, believed they were
right, and never went back on them. Shut
ting down his dark eyes. the black eyebrows
frOwnlng over his face, he said:
"Of course, Hancock, that's your dog. /
know him we'll"
The French gentleman shrugged his shout
ders with an air of great unhappiness. Capt.
aaHH1 Il re ffaaH
said:
my dear sir, live but 900 yards away"
Ut was the same hot and dusty road, no pave
ments). Il wish you would go down and sub
nit the matter to Mrs. Hancock, who has
perfect memory of features, and / would like
to have her opinion"
The gentleman, still angry and protesting,
but DESTROYS of submitting the matter grace
fully and amicably. assented, and just as they
were passing out OF DR.. Griffi IS door, Mrs.
Griffin whisper to the Captain:
MAR nelita." IA native California servantJ
"says that is not your dog"
But having the support Of DR.. Griffin, he
waved his hand and said:
81 know that is my dog"
But it atterward lett an unpleasant inn
preston, as he found there was truthful dI-
vision in the house Of his best friend After
the weary and silent tramp to the Captains
house under this torrid sun. they were ush
cred into Can't. Hancock 5 pa Tor, Mrs. Han
cock was called for. but at that hour. noon,
felt annoyed at receiving strangers: but the
Captain, in the eXhilaration of finding his
dog, and the triumph of having a decision
from Mrs. Hancock, whose word the French
mBn would not dispute. sent the message that
h had found his Jog aud wished her 70 recOg
nize him. She reluctantly presented herself.
and on appearing and looking at the dog
manifested a very cold demeanJr. The Cap
tain 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 was not named Rover, aud you evidently
are thinking OF some of YOUR other numerous
dogs. Yours was named Hal"
Tue Frenchm8n became very indignant.
shrugged his shoulders. said 20 mon Dieum
and refused all offers of reconciliation. Capt.
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 q
pressure because of the hickory stick, only
after a long interval acceded to a burial of
the Ratchet aud an acceptance of the Cap
tame hospitality.