The evening world., 1890-02-07
GUIDES SHEEP TO DEATH.
A Trained Animal, Invaluable In Kan
sas ClV's StOCkyardS.
He Leads Unsuspecting Flocks to
the Inner Slaughter Pen.

A good many years ago. perhaps seven
no one seems quite certain, +" Billy, !" the
most highly priced sheep in Missouri, first
came into prominence, says the Kansas
City journal. Out in the wilds of Colo
RADIO. one Autumn afternoon, =" Billy "
was nippiHR grass along with his mother
and many other sheep. when the shep-
herd, with his dogs. came 10 the flock aud
drove them all a ! eat distance.
At length they came to n railway, and
then they were crowded into cars so close
together that Billy " was being tram.
pied by the grown sheep fully half the
time. Afier several days hard travel.
duripg which time the poor little lamt
was jolted and jostled nearly TO death,
the sheep arrived IN Kansas City.
Soon they were set at liberty In the
great stock.yards here, where even the
old sheep were frightened at the great
number Of cattle and other animals they
saw there. But Billy" had become
quite il--so much 30, indeed. that lac
could not stand.
So Il was when the flock 10 which he
belonged wa purchased by the Armour
Packing Company be wns 80 weak that
he couldn't walk, and the kind hearted
drover picked him up and carried him to
the Dena over by the packing house, and
then he was paced in o box lined with
an old coat. where he had q good rest and
Q quiet sleep.
That was the last he ever saw of the
flock Of sheep he came with, but he was
30 well cared for that he didn't seem
Rorry, and soon he was strong enough to
run about the yard. where he roamed at
VII. Day after day h. and s8ithy,a
Billy" finally learned to understand
some things that "Smithy" would say 70
him In fact. he acknowledged "Smithy"
rs his master from the start and always
obeyed him when he could understand
what he was desired to do.
When his master would go after q drove
of sheep - Billy" would run along. and
couraged the sheep to be less afraid. and
thus they approached slaughter with less
apprehension Of their doom.
After q time he was given q splendid
bell, Of which he was very proud. Then
he grew 30 wise that he could go and lead
a flock Of sheep from the pens to the
slaughter house without the assistance OF
to drive IN strange places, but i" Billy"
could invariably get them to follow him
! wherever he would go.
From the pens the sheep must go
through several alleys, then mp q long
winding shute into the second story OF
the packing establishment. and then
through several dark assage-way TO the
slaughter-house. Before Billy was
trained to lead them along that route the
men found much difficulty in getting the
sheep to 20.
They feared to go into dark places. and
would ALWAYS refuse to cross any wet
| place, no matter how slight, that they
came to. But with Billy " ahead OF
them they feared nothing. They fol-
lowed his lead with the most implicit
confidence in him as q guide. When they
came to the dark passages his bell denoted
the way they were to follow, and they
kept close behind him.
"SmlthyP SAYS that BILLY" has
worked SO hard and faithful that he fears
he cannot stick to his post more than nm
other year. - mean to have him train q
successor this year" his master said to
the Journal reporter, land then Billy
will be allowed to rest for the remainder
of his life as q pensioner. He has saved
us many O chase after wild sheep. For
the duty be performs he Is far more
valuable than o man could be. He is the
wisest and most valuable sheep / ever
aowu