The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-03-28
The Super-Sense of Animals.

When engaged in locating railway
in New Brunswick Mr.. James Cadman,
civil engineer, was compelled one
night by a severe snow-StOrm to take
refuge in a small farmhouse. The
farmer owned two dogs-one an old
Newfoundland and the other a collie.
In due time the farmer and his family
went to bed, the Newfoundland stretch
ed himself out by the chimney corner.
and Mr.. Cadman and the men with
him rolled themselves in their blankets
on the floor in front of the fire.
The door of the house was closed by
wooden latch and fastened by bar
placed across it Mr.. Cadman and his
men were just falling asleep when
they heard the latch of the door raised.
They did not get up Immediately, and
in short time the latch was tried
again.
They waited a few minutes, and
then Mr.. Cadman rose, uufastened the
door, and looked out. Seeing nothing
he returned to bis blankets, but did
not replace the bar across the door,
Two or three minutes later the latch
was tried third time. This time the
door opened and the collie walked in.
He pushed the door quite back, walked
straight to the Newfoundland, and app
peared to make some kind of whis-
pered communication to him. Mr..
Cadman lay still and watched. The
old dog rose and followed the other
out of the house. Both presently re-
turned driving before them a valuable
ram belonging to the farmer that had
become separated from the rest of the
flock, and was in danger of perishing
in the storm. Now, how did the collie
impart to the other dog a knowledge
of the situation unless through some
super-sense unknown to us?
told Mr.. Cadman of another in
stance of canine sagacity that had
come to my own knowledge. Where l
boarded many years ago was an old
dog. quite too old to be of any service.
This dog would never leave the house
or yard with any person except my
wife, but when ever she went out he
was certain to follow her. One day
slH started to visit a friend living
about a mile away. 1t was early
spring, and there had been a freshet,
but the water had partially subsidized
and the stream had slightly frozen
over again. My wife attempted to
cross little brook, the bridge across
which was overfowed, on the thin ice
The old dog placed himself in front of
her, and by vigorous barking-a thing
unusual with him-and even by taking
hold of her dress, tried to prevent her
from risking herself on the ice.
He did, indeed, prevent her from
crossing at that point, but she thought
she might crawl safely along by hold
ing on to fence that crossed the
brook a little further up. In conse-
quence she broke through and got a
good wetting, simply through disre-
gard of the repeated warnings of her
guardian, who really seemed to have a
better appreciation of the strength of
the ice than she had He would 90 on
himself without hesitation, but objected
to letting her try it.
Sometime afterward this dogs mas
ter remarked in his hearing that he
was growing so feeble and helpless
that it would really be necessary to
kill him. The poor creature, altogeth-
er contrary to his usual habits. left the
house and went away some distance
into the woods quite alone. A few
days afterward he was found lying
dead under the largest tree in the vicin-
ity-FOreS and Stream