The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-03-04

or night, Charlie was always present,
marching up and down in front of the
line with all the Importance OF q
drill sergeant. Parade over, Char
lie would head the relief in its
march round the beats and then
went ON tour of inspection,
walking for awhile with this or
that specially favored policeman.
Charlie was also known as the white
Sergeant" and on state occasions,
when the attendance of the greater
part Of the division was required, a
scrgcant's armlet was buckled around
his neck, and he appeared to be very
proud of the decoration. At the Vic
toria Cross presentation in Hyde Park
thirty-five hundred of the police were
on the ground. Charlie had been de-
tanned at the station, having been nc
cidentally shut in a room. AS soon as
he was set free he made for the park,
working his way through the immense
crowd, and took his place at the head
Of his own division. Previous to leav-
ing the station his armlct had been
buclled on, and as he sat, stiff and
erect as an old soldier. in front of the
long line of constables the queen, as
she passed along the park, noticed the
dog and smiled After performing his
duties faithfully as sergeant for nearly
eight years, Charlie died in front of the
mess room fire.
The patient submission of dogs to
surgical treatment is well known. Mr..
George Fleming, veterinary surgeon OF
the Second Life guards, operated on a
fine pointer, having a. large, hard,
fibrous tumor of the breast. with deep
and far reaching roots. During the OPP
Grafton the animal displayed an amount
of patience that would have been cred
table to human being Even during
the most painful part of the proceed
ing. that of inserting the sutures, the
dog never flinched. Tho same resigna-
ton was displayed when the time for
dressing the wound came round. and
he would place himself in position for
the surgeon.
The frontier of France abounds in
smugglers and the resources of the
contraband traders are called into ac-
tivity. They have trained packs of
dogs to carry prohibited goods across
the line. The dogs are kept without
food many hours; they are then beaten
and laden with goods, and are started
on their travels as soon as it is dark.
When they reach the abodes of
their masters they are well treat
ed, and receive q good meal
According to the accounts of the
French custom house. on an average
fifty thousand of the dog smugglers are
destroyed annually, on which account
fifty thousand francs, as premiums,
were paid to the customs officials.
The intelligence, bravery and endur-
ance of dogs have been attested in all
ages and countries, and their fitness
and value for military purposes has
passed beyond the experimental point.
In the event of an European war they
will be found operating In large num-
'btpss with the various arms Of the serv-
ice, and they have received training as
auxiliary sentinels; as scouts on the
march, OH reconnaissance, and patrol
duties; as dispatch carriers, on the
march, in camp, and in action; as
auxiliary ammunition carriers, on the
march and in action; as searchers for
the wounded and killed after an en-
gagement, and for lookouts on men of
war of all descriptions.
In support of the value of dogs cover
ing the duties in connection with mill
tary operations, great many reasons
might be advanced that have not been
touched upon; but the average military
man who has given the subject any
thought or study will scarcely deny
the fact that trained dogs for the art
of war can be made as useful as tho
skilled hunting pack to the sportsmen.
H. d. Smith.