The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-14
SPOTS UNFORTUNATE CAPER.
Grief OF the Hunting Dog when He Found
that He Had shot His Master.

HARTFORD Jan. 13.-Henry F. Duboings's og
Spot OF stratford village Is as bright and hand
some bird dog as there Is in Connecticut.
and since that veteran hunter never treats
him harshly. and Spot has no idea there is an
other man in the world but his master. the
pair are like two army chums when they go
into the fields to hunt.
Nevertheless. Spot shot his master Acciden-
tally day or two ago. and Henry Is still In bed
on account OF the mishap with a badly man
gled arm. and confronted with the possibility.
the surgeons say that 1t may be necessary to
amputate it. The accident came to pass in q
remarkable way. The hunter had been
stalking. water fowl on the wide. level
StratfoTd meadows that lie along the mar
gin OF the sound. and late in the, day.
gun against a stone wall, and Topped down on
the hard ground. twenty feet away from IL. TO
pite. and he frOiicked about the fieid. chasing
snowbirds or flying hay needles or his own
shadow with impartial alacrity and zest;
the wall, where the double barrelled gun was
poised. resting on an unstable stone, and then,
eyes. had been watching spots antics with
lazy Indulgence OWNED the possibility OF an
h@ lie shouted sn to him. Chareo Sn and G9 tss
well-trained dog obeTed at once.
But the order came a fraction OF a second too
late Spot had dropped on the ground with
the swit precision OF = maehine. but his fore
paw shot forward and struck the stock Of the
one OF its barrels was discharged. Its charge
II heavy waterfowl snot struck the feshy part
OF Mr.. Dubhlngs's arm Iust above the elbow
No one could have exhibited more cool
ness, however nor more heroic pluck;
In an instant he got upon his feet, Invested
himself Of his heavy coat aud stripped up his
blood soaked shirt sleeve then quietly seated
n portion OF his shirt bandaged his ragged
wound lie did not sven ehide his dog. who
tSp u ce on t6e eahITsrT hs nsed every mean.
TO mitigate the selt-reproachtul grief OF that
animal who. evidently. was almost beside
OF the accident. Without any doubt. spot
realized ut the moment the gun Was dis.
charged the magnitude Of the mischief he had
unhesding!y perpetrated; He Hung him eli
despairlngly on the earth, and bowling and
whining by turns in a lugubrious and waiing
ing AT the frozen clods with his paws; Then
hs got on his feet. and. crouchlng, dragged
masters feet, moaning, In mute. tut pltIfully
eloquent contrition he rubbed his muz-
and nSsii upon Ills lace a hopeless,
lmplorlns. AMI mnurnful glance And then II
hapEened thlt the hunter, touched ~ tho
No. means selfish and instnsAte, forgot his own
mtshap through his sympathy with door spots
distress. 50 on al, tedious tourney back 70
STAFFORD he gave heed rather TO alternating
the dog 8 mental woe than indulging natural
concern on account OF his own phy sical pain:
still Henry did not bsstiT himself, especially
on his homeWarl trip and when he reached
his home he sauntered into the house. toll
lowed closely by the sobeTsi and grisying
spot. as quietly aud with as little concern. aD-
parently. as II nothing unusual had befallen
DR.. Lewis probed and dressed the gaping
wound, spot did though. many times - he
sat by his bedside aud sorTowfully watched tho
surgical operation. After IL was all done.
Well" commented Henry, " it's lucky it's no
worse" The dog. however II outward mani
fsstAtiOns are a trustworthy token ~ what 10
passing within seemed TO feel that the catas-
tIophs could IN no way have been more de-
plorable and that he had com mltted the one
irrevoeabls aud unDaTdonabls sin. Yet there
are people. no doubt. who have an idea that
dogs do not think. do not understand.