The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-15
MANGLED BY A BULLDOG.
A Young womnn's Terrible Struggle Wit
a BloodthirSty Brute.

BlOOdtlIirSty Brute.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. A.-Mangled by
the jaws OF u vicious and worthless dog,
Mary Watts lies between life and death
at her home on Watt street, this city.
Last night the girl, who is 10 years old,
was standing at the door OF her home
talking with her mother and couple of
other women whenshe expressed wish
for drink OF ice water. Mrs. Snyder,
who lived next door, overheard her and
called out for her to come in and get q
drink.
Mrs. Snyder's dog, an unusually large
bull terrier, known 10 be ierocious, was
lying in the front yard. AS Mary came
to the gate and saw the beast she hesi-
tated; then Mrs. Snyder called out,
"Come in, he won't hurt you while in
here" She passed in and had scarcely
closed the gate when the brute sprang
at her like a tiger, seized her shoulder in
his powerful jaws and dragged her to the
earth. The poor girl screamed, seized
the dog by the throat, struggled to her
feet aud shook him of, the soft flesh
yielding TO the hrute's weight and tear
Ing away. Again the beast sprang upon
her, closing his blood.stained faDgs in
her shoulder, and again he bore her to
the ground.
When the dog seized the girl Mrs.
Snyder attempted to coax and beat him
off, the other woman being too frighten-
ed to do anything but scream. The
brute snapped ut his mistress aud she
fled, in her fright closing the gate be-
hind her and thus shutting off Mary's
chance Of escape. The girl fought des-
perately for life. With her flesh torn
from the bones, her clothing ripped
away and her blood streaming over the
dogs jaws, she got to the gate aud
opened it, but fell again and the beast,
seizing her, dragged her about the pave
ment shaking and rending her.
Mr.. Thomas Hayes, n neighbor, heard
the agonized screams and ran up the
alley. By the time hegot there the dog
had dragged the girl fifteen or twenty
feet, and the animal and its victim were
against the gate leading into Mr.. Hayes
yard. The girl was still struggling, but
her strength had gone and in few mo-
ments more the brute would have had
her completely at its mercy. Fortunate
ly Mr.. Hayes lisa powerful and fearless
man. He grasped the animal by the
throat and tried to choke 1t, but this
simply maddened it, and even in the
strong mans clutch ii shook the girl as
though itwould tear her apart,
Using his utmost strength, Mr.. Hays
tried Ia force the animals jaws apart,
and he succeeded in breaking its hold.
Before he could fully master the furious
beast it sprang on the girl again and sies-
ell her by the other shoulder as she
turned in falling. The dog had aimed
to plant his fangs in the girls throat, and
but for the quick hand OF Mr., Hayes
would have succeeded. as the dog
tried to improve It's hold 1t opened its
mouth. PlInging his hand down its
throat Mr.. Hayes gotta grip OF the brute's
tongue aud held it until the nearly dead
girl was picked up and carried into her
home. Then he released the brute,
when, tired with its exertions, it ran TO
its owners yard and was killed.
The girl almost bled 10 death, Tor the
dog had tQrh away veins, arteries and
muscles by mouthfuls. She passed n
restless night, but this morning was
sleeping. Her condition is dangerous,
but there is chance for her life, though
she will carry her wounds to the grave.
The gallant Mr.. Hayea escaped with a
slight wound on tho back OF his hand.