The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-03
WILD NEW JERSEY YARN.
This Dog Got Rid of His Rivals in an
Ingenious WAY
From the New York Tribune


blue melton setter, owned bv James
Patterson, who has house at Nutley. n.
I. recently displayed such phenomenal
and fatal ssgacity in disposing of his
canine rivals in the affections of the
household that Mr.. Patterson has sent
him away. The dog is affectionate. NOR
bidlv Jealous, and, as the owners state
rnent would show. of wonderful intelli-
gence, combined with utter lack of moral
Principle. His first rival was a bright
fox terrier. The setter resented the in
trusiOn of this stranger, and showed his
displeas ure in several ways. He repulsed
all attempts at play by the terrier, and
was greatly distressed when any member
of the family noticed or caressed the ter
rier.
The Paterson branch of the Erie rail
road runs through a cut at Nutley a
short distance from Mr. Patterson's
house. There is a grade crossing at Nut
lev avenue. One day. not long after the ar
rival of the fox terrier, the setter sud
denly became friendly with the terrier.
aud the two dogs scampered off along
Nutley avenue, toward the railroad track.
The setter shortly afterward returned
home alone. He seemed to be reiOiced
and frisked about in a way entirely diff
ferent from his detected demeanor since
his rivals appearance. Mr.. Patterson
missed the fox terrier when he got home
in the early afternoon, and started out to
search for him. He was told that The.
dogs dead body lay beside the railroad
track near the crossing. He investigated
the accident, and to his establishment
learned from an eyewitness that the set
ter and terrier were playing together on
the tracks when a passenger train an
preached. and that the setter seized the
terrier and held him on the track until
the engine was close to him and then
bounded to one side, leaving his unfortu-
nate rival to be slaughtered. The story
seemed incredible, but it was told by an
honest laborer, who apparently had no
object in deception When he got home
Mr. Patterson regarded his setter with a
new interest. The guilty dog showed no
remorse, and thereafter he was full of
liveliness and overhowing with affection.
A month afterward friend gave to MIR.
Patterson fine Newfoundland dog, and
he took the animal to Nutley. The ad-
vent of the new stranger had an instan-
taneOus effect on the setter who refused
TO eat and did not touch food for three
days. He gradually recovered his appe-
tite, but his livellneSs was gone and he
moped about the place. Mr.. Patterson
looked at the big size of the new acquisi-
ION, and reflected that if it were true
that the setter had caused the death of
the terrier in the way described, here was
more dogmeat than the setter could han
die. He was mistaken. One day the set
ter made up to the Newfoundland, and
the latter reciprocated the friendly ad-
vances. The two dogs seemed TO be on the
best Of terms for several days. Then the
setter came frisking home one day and a
few hours afterward the family was in
formed that the Newfoundland dog had
been killed on the railroad near the Nut
ley avenue crossing. MIR. Patterson found
that the dog had been struck by the
engine directly on the head, his skull
being fractured. He had apparently faced
the engine. The setter was seen by neigh
bors in the company of the victim imme-
diately before the train passed.
MIR. Patterson told the Tribune CORES
pondent that he was thoroughly convinced
that the setter had put up the Job" on
the Newfoundland, and had caused the
death of both his rivals.
He could not hold the big dog" said
MIR. Patterson, land he must, therefore,
have used some kind of persuasion or
hypnotism to make the big dog stand on
the track and face that engine when it
was approaching. can explain the mys-
terry IN no other way. The dogs in Nutley
DO not play on the railroad tracks, which
are away down in cut, and dogs gener-
ally are too spry to be run over by the
cars TIE first dog was killed six months
ago, and the second followed about two
months ago. l have sent the setter away,
or he might make mincemeat of this fell
low" and Mr.. Patterson patted the head
OF fine St. Bernard which was with him.