Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
FAITHFUL AFTER DEATH.
A Spectral Dog Seeks 20 Discover His
Masters Grave.-When Grave
yards Yawn.
Dallas Has Mystery That Only the
Psychological Society Can
FatliOm.

FathOm.
From Dallas Texas Correspondent or the Phila-
delphia Times.
The greatest excitement prevails among
| the residents Cf the north end of San Jacin-
| to street, of this place. over the phantom,
or what is said to be such, of a large
white dog, and which between midnight
| and l o'clock has been repeatedly seen of
late in that portion of the city. Many of
the most respectful citizens of the neigh
borhood confess that they are completely
at a loss to understand the appearance.
| which several Of them have witnessed.
Il am not in the least believer in SUI
pernatural occurrences, and am reluctant
to admit that this is anything of the sort.
but there is something extrmely unpleas-
ant III this thing. | have seen it myself.
and | will have to admit | don't know
what it is" said Major R9dcote. of the
Dallas City Sewer Works, yesterday.
II hal been detained down town until
quite late, y he continued, land fonnd on
starting home that the street cars had
stopped running, so | walked down
Masten street and had just turned into San
Jacinto, whenI heard the rapid trotting
OF dog on the pavement behind me- 1t
was very distinct and unmistakable. and |
could hear the animal painting, so, think
ing he was close upon me, and with
wholesome fear of perhaps being bitten,
steppe to one side, just IN time to see
large white dog pass me.
The animals head was dropping as if
he was worn out with running and follow
ing some trail, though weary unto death.
and he limped in his LETT hind leg.
However, he seemed to move as swiftly
and with as little exertion as a shadow.
| think It was this singular disparity be-
tween his exhausted appearance and the
ease with which he seemed to get over the
ground that made me fancy there was
something's could not define what.
was wrong with him. After passing me
he kept In advance about ten feet for the
next three squares, though without once
altering the hanging position of his head
or ceaslng for moment his peculiar fit
ting movement.
when he reached Rose avenue, though,
he paused, and throwing up his head.
gave vent to howl, the like of which |
never heard In my life. 1t was almost
human in its note of despair and sorrow.
and thrilled me with an indescribabIe and
even unwarrantable horror and dread. Il
say unwarrantable, for, after all, it was
the howl of a dog to me. | was looking
at the creature as it gave this terrible
cry, and am willing to swear that it did
not run off or escape into the yard near
by, only as | looked at it, trembling in
spite of myself, it was as suddenly and
completely gone as a flash of Lightning
that has split the sky and vanished [ was
staring foolishly about me, trying to puz-
zle out where that dog had gone to- l.
examined the spot where | seen him last.
but not hair of him could find tell
you, | feel uncomfortable every time
think of how the thing disappeared while
my eyes were fixed on it, and it within
ten feet of me, and the electric light burn
ing brightly within fifty feet of Us both.
] have up to that time never heard of the
dog being seen by anyone else, but since
then | have learned of half a dozen who
have seen him.
A few nights ago John Banridge, re-
spectacle truck gardener, living a short dis
lance out of town. was thrown from his
wagon by his horse running away, it hay
ing been frightened by the phantom dog.
cambridge says the animal crossed the
street just as he drove down it and that
the horse screamed out as it came upon the
dog and tried to wheel about, whereup0n
he used his whip and the horse run away.
The horse was covered with cold sweat and
had never been known to run away before
It has evidently not recovered from its
fright yet, for it resists all attempts to
harness it and keeps up continuous
whimpering if left alone.
A number of gentlemen resolved yester-
day to solve the mystery, if possible, and
with due warning to passers-by last night
stretched roll Of barbed wire across the
pavement, and, armed with revolvers. took
up their several positions along the route
usually followed by the animal It lacked
some minutes Of midnight when Captain
Lilden called, Here he is, and the white
dog was seen trotting down the pavement,
though Mr.. Pinge, who was within four
feet of the spot where he was first seen.
declared the dog had not passed him. 1t
was then observed that the phantom left
behind it trail which was distinctly Wis
ible on the stones of the pavement. It
was usually In a thin stream, but occasion
ally widened into a pool.
Mr. Blake dabbled his fingers in one of
these, and went to the electric light and
examined it, when he exclaimed: "Why,
it is blood. The things bleeding to
death" He also wet handkerchief in
the fluid. which Dr. Bluetle this morning
examined under his microscope, pronounc-
ing the stains to be those of fresh blood.
In the meantime the dog kept on its way
in spite of all endeavo1s to attract its at
tentlon or to stop it.
Major Redcote declares that he saw an
arrow sticking out of its neck, and that it
was from this wound that the blood was
flowing: one or two of the watchers made
an attempt to head it off, but were sunni
ed into insensibility as the phantom APP
preached and passed, They describe the
sensation produced by the dogs proximity
as something like plunging into an cleo
trio bath, which seemed to paralyze every
faculty.
1t was with absorbing interest that the
arrival was watched nearing the barb
wire barrier, With was its final test.
Louis Garner stood close to the post which
supported the wire, the other end of which
was attached to the fence, and he says the
phantom passed through as if it had
been spun OF moon beams, then continu-
ing its way until, reaching the corner Of
Ross avenue, it made its customary pause.
and with its sorrowful. prolonged howl,
which is said to be heard only with a
!