The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-23
AL THE LATEST STYLES AND NEWEST FABRICS.


in the fall, swan to Baltimore, where he
was concealed for some time by his
friends, until, finally, after much diff
Guilty he escaped to Richmond. Here he
was received with great cordiality by Gov.
Letcher, who at once gave him a commits
sion of captain in the Virginia forces, and
Gen. Winder, the military commandment Of
Richmond, soon afterward appointed him
Assistant Provost Marshal of Richmond
and gave him command of the confederate
prisons.
Well do the people of Richmond Of that
day remember him in his tight-htting suit
of black trousers, buckled at the knees;
his black stockings and black loose shirt,
relieved only by white collar, with his
long, black whiskers flowing in the wind,
riding at full gallop on his black horse
along our streets, with his large, magni-
ficent black dog Nero following at his
heels.
short history of this dog will not be
out of place or undressing. Since the
war have seen many accounts published
in our papers about him, all of which, in
some particulars, were incorrect. / heard
during the war from the Hon. James
Lyons and Mayor Joseph Mayo the history
of Nero, and 1 will give it as it was re-
lated to me by them:
Some time in 1859 or 1860 he was brought
to Richmond, puppy by the captain of a
Bavarian vessel which landed at Rock
etts. The captain gave the puppy to Mr..
Alien of the firm of Ginter & Allen. Mr..
Allen gave him to Mr. James Lyons. Mr.
Lyons allowed Joe Mayo, the mayor of the
city, to take him and keep him in the city
jail as sort of guard, because he was too
large and ferocious looking to be permit
ted to go at large. When Capt. Alexander
came to Richmond he saw Nero in the city
jail, and was greatly struck at his size and
beauty. He persuaded Mr.. Mayo, with Mr..
Lyons consent, to allow him to take Nero
to Castle Thunder, and there he remained
until the close of the war. He was of the
breed known as the Bavarian boar hound
dogs used for hunting the wild boar in
Bavaria and in the interminable forests
of Germany
The wild boar is one of the strongest
and most courageous of animals, and
does not fear even the terrible tiger. In
India sportsmen have come across bears
and tigers dead, the latter bearing the
marks of the boars terrible tusks. When
aroused and brought to bay the eyes Of
the wild boar look savage and glow like
red-hot charcoal Their strength is suf-
ficient to rush beneath a horses belly
and bear him and the rider on his back
sheer off his legs. and sometimes their
tusks are seven inches long.
1t was to hunt such game as this that
Nero's noble progenitors were used and
truly he was a noble specimen of his
lordly race He weighed 1S2 pounds, and
was we'll able TO enter the combat with
such foe. Visitors at the castle were
amazed at him, and their spontaneous ex-
carnations at sight of him would be;
Goodness! What splendid dog!" He
was permitted to run about the castle as
he pleased and was a great favorite with
the prisoners. Ordinarily he was good ma.
tured, playful, and docile, but when an
gered or provoked he was terrible look
ing and dangerous. i have seen Capt. AL
exander whip him with a. horsewhip, and
at the same time have a cooked revolver
in his other hand, which occasionally he
would fire over his head, and then he
appeared the very impersonation Of fe-
rocity subdued by the win of man. After
the city fell into the hands of the federal
troops and Castle Thunder was vacated
Nero took up his abode with Mr. Stephen
Childrey, who had been commissary of
the prison, and while there had generally
had him fed. Some time in the summer
Of 1866 some Yankees took the dog and
carried him through the northern states
and exhibited him as show to the peo-
pie. Flaming advertisements were posted
about him. He was said 10 be the dog
which was kept at Libby prison 10 eat
Yankee prisoners, and his qualities. dis
position and immense size were set forth