Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-03-23
The super-sense of Animals.

Forest and Stream.
When engaged in locating a rail
way in New Brunswick, Mr.. James
Camden, Il civil engineer, was com
PEELED one night by a very severe
snow storm to take refuge in a small
farm house. The farmer owned two
dogs-0ne an old Newfoundland and
the other collie. In due time the
farmer and his family went to bed,
the Newfoundland stretched himself
out by the chimney corner, and Mr..
Cadman and the man with him roll
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
a bar placed across it. Mr.. Camden
and his man were just falling asleep
when they heard. the latch of the
door raised. They did not get up
Immediately, and in a short time the
latch was tried again.
They waited few minutes, and
then Mr.. Cadman rose, unfastened
the door, and locked out. Seeing
nothing, he returned to his 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
old Newfoundland, and appeared to
make some kind ola whispered COM
munication to him. Mr.. Cadman
lay still and watched. The old dog
rose and followed the other out of the
house. Both presently returned,
driving before them a valuable ram
belonging to the farmer that had be-
come separated from the rest of the
flock, and was in danger of perish
ing 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?
l told Mr.. Cadman of another
instance 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 whenever she
went out he was certain to follow
her. One day she started to visit a
friend living about 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 attempt
ed to cross little brook, the bridge
across which was overlooked, on the
thin ice. The old dog placed him
self in front of her, and by barking
"a thing very unusual with him
and even by taking hold of her dress,
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
holding on to a fence that crossed
the brook a little further up. In con-
sequence she broke through and got
a wetting, simply through disregar d
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
go on himself without hesitation, but
objected to letting her try it.
Some time afterward this dogs
master remarked in his hearing that
he was growing so feeble and helpless
that it would really be necessary to
kill him. The poor creature, although
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
vicinity.