Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-24
KILLED BY A MASTIFF.
The Peculiar Sport of a New Jer-
 sey Farmers Dog.
uo Kills Sheep by the Score and Makes an Attack on His Masters Niece-Tho Girls Life Saved by Her Extra
 ordinary Goodness.

SAo hnls Sheep by the Score and Makes
 an Attack on His Masters Niece-Tho
 Girls Life Saved by Her Extra
 ordinary Goodness.
 Fl. c. Bentnick, wealthy farmer, de.
 votes himself to raising sheep ten miles
 from Railway, N. J., writes correspondent
 of the Chicago Tribune, and he. spares
 neither expense nor trouble to improve the
 flock which is his hobby. Last fall MT.
 Bentnlck imported several English prize
 sheep, for which he paid fabuloas sum.
 One morning not long ago tho sheep-herder,
 named George Golf, came to Mr. Bentnick
 and said that two of tho finest animals had
 been killed. They had evidently been picked
 out of the flock and their threats cut from
 ear to ear. It seemed impossible that dog
 should have slaughtered the animals, as tho
 wounds were as clean as though made by a
 razor and there were no signs of any mu-
 hlation. The next night two more of Mr.
 Bentnlck's flock were killed After that
 Mr. Bcntnick hired two watchmen to patrol
 his farm buildings, which are on one side of the Railway river, while his house is on the other, but nothing happened The next morning, however, the news came that a farmer, fifteen miles from Mr. Bentnlck's, had lost two valuable sheep during the night. Since then not Q night has passed without some farmer having one or two sheep killed
 One day recently Mir. Bentnick was obliged to go to Morris County to attend a sale. He wished to drive across tho coun- try and decided to start in his wagon at four o'clock in tho morning. His niece, Miss Grace Bentnick, nineteen years old. was asked to prepare an early breakfast, and also to see that the hired man was up early enough to get the horses ready. Fear ing that if she went to bed she would oversleeep herself she determined to pass the night in the kitchen, where there was an old-fashioned clock which sounded the hours almost as loud as a church bell She was not afraid, as she had for companion an immense Siberian mastiff who was locked in the kitchen every night. Miss Grace was in the habit of feeding the dog and it always showed great attach ment for her. After the family had gone to bed the girl sat for some time at the table reading, while the dog stretched him. self near the fire and apparently went to sleep. When she was tired of reading she moved to the fire and seated herself on the floor, leaned her head on the dogs tawny back and must have gone to sleep in that position.
 She was aroused by feeling the dog gent 1y move. She half-opened her eyes, and what she saw aroused her to full conscious ness. In some mysterious way the dog seemed to have changed. His eyes were shining like two coals of fire and were look ing at her with an expression of almost hu- man hate. The skin was drawn back from the teeth, showing immense fangs, and his whole body was trembling with fury. Miss Behtnick's first impulse was to spring to her feet and rush from the room, but at her first movement the dog growled so savage ly that she fell back on the floor. Through her half-closed eyes she watched every of tho great beast at her side. Slowly he rose to his feet, and, with the soft tread of a cat, walked all around her. He put his great head so close to her face that she could feel his hot breath, Then, evidently thinking her asleep, he stole to- wards small window which looked into the garden.
 Overcome by curiosity Miss Bentnick rose to her feet. With one bound the dog was at her side again, and was on the point of sprlnging at her throat when she sank into 3 chair at the table and closed her eyes, waiting to feel the dogs teeth in her throat and afraid to call for help. After a mo- ment or two of frightful agony she partially spened her eyes. Tho dog was standing in front of her, with the ex- precision of man-eating tiger on it's face. Mss Grace had self-control enough to feign sleep, and by doing so saved her life
 After awhile the dog seemed convinced 'ne was asleep. He slowly approached the window again, looking back at every sten. It was an eld-fashionod eae, which o7acned With latch. When in front of it he raised himself on his hind legs and with ono paw gently raised tho bolt and tho window came l 'pen. Then he returned and took one more | survey of Miss Bentnick. As she was still 1 notlonless he sprang through the window | md disappeared.
 Overcome by fright Miss Grace must have alhted. She was brought to herself by | he sound of 2 fall in the room. Beforo she l ould move 2 heavy weight was pressed | 'galnst her, and she felt something wet in l lef race. Inc breeze from the open win | low had extinguished tho lamp, and there | vas only a dim light from the fire. Through Ter half-closed lids she could, however. see nat the dog was standing with a paw on ach of her shoulders looking into her face. 'he could also feel that his coat was moist nQ something wet was dripping on the | ront Of her dress from tho animals Jaws.
 After awhile the dog left her and quietly tretched himself near the fire place. When he thought him asleep she made a spring or the kitchen door, and just as she passed through the dog sprang after her. With all er strength she held the door and screamed oA AOiP. III d AoueuG DOCQ MT. Bentnlck l nd the hired men rushed to her assistance. nd sue explained what had happened. ,uickly arming himself Mr. Bentnick en- cred the kitchen. He was surprised to nd the window closed and the dog quietly esting in the corner MT. Bentnlck at first bought his niece must have been dreaming. ut the front of her dress was covered with lood apd there were little pools of water bout the kitchen floor. On examination be dog was found to be thoroughly wet, as hough he had just come out of the river,
 When the hired man went to harness the orses he found that two more sheep had cen killed. The Siberian was the despoiler the herd. Although Mir. Bentnick had aid several hundred dollars for his dog. he etermined to shoot him. As he was lead lg him from the house Miss Grace came rom back room: With one bound the dog Prang at her, but before he reached her all from MT. Bentnick's pistol passed trough his heart, killing him instantly.
 Miss, Grace said that she would not pass trough such night again for ten times le reward she received for detecting the leep-killer.
 Setting a Turkeys Leg.
 Last summer Mrs. James Mcconnell. of adiz, O., had brood of fine young turkeys