The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-16
DUTCH NECk'S GOAT SAM.
A Billy Full of Guile and More
Substantial Things.

Timothy Hillhouse has the most re
marSablc goat that ever grew chin
WhISkerS, says Il Dutch Neck. New .Jer-
Sey correspondent of the New York
sun The goats name is SAM and his
stomach has had in it. about everything
that in the ordinary run OF life is lett
lying about loose. Sans courage iS
about as great as his appetite, and he
goes into any kind OF a row unhesitat-
iHgly if he sees anything to eat at the
other end of il.
Sam Is II years old. He first came
into notoriety eight years ago, when he
cornered a burglar, and kept him cor
nered until HiIIhouse and a hired man
took the manin. This happened one sum
mer night. Hillhouse had lived on the
farm that ne owns a good many years,
and never had been troubled with mid
night providers. When he retired on
this particular night he left the window
of Il SecOnd-story room open. Near the
window grew a tree. and up the tree a
thief climbed in the night, made his way
through the window, ranSacked the
house, and got safely back to the
ground. But the end was not yet Sam,
seeking something that would stop the
gnawing in his stomach, espied the
burglar as he was coming down and
started for him.
The first knowledge that the man had
of Sans presence was when the goats
head hit him with the force of batter
ing ram from the rear. The fellow was
knocked to his knees, but he was quick
ly on his feet and Sprinting for the gate.
Sam went after him and got between
him and the gate. Seeing that escape
in that direction was impossible, the
man turned and ran toward the barn
Adjoining the barn was a wagon house.
and into the angle formed by these
buildings the goat drove the buglar and
butted him up against the side of the
barn with a force that made the man
howl like an Indian. Now and then the
man tried to sneak around the goat and
get away, but Sam was on the alert and
stopped him. The goat pounded away
until the burglar ached in every joint,
and, concluding that he might better
go to Jail than face the animal any
longer, began to howl at the top of his
voice. The noise woke Hiilhouse, and,
with his hired man, he went out to see
what was up. He found the thief and
handed him over to the constable.
From that time Sans career has been
eventful and brilliant. One of his most
remarkable exploits was the saving of
Mr.. HilIhouse's little daughter from
drowning. Three years ago Carrie Hill
house, then four years old, started out
one afternoon to join hex father and his
men, who were working in a field about
quarter of a mile from the house. On
the way she was obliged to cross n
bridge over Sutphin's creek, a sluggish
stream that runs between high. steep
banks. Sam went with the girl. She
stopped on the bridge to look down into
the water. lost her balance, and fell in.
HillhOuse. who was on a load of hay,
headed for the barn. saw his daughter
fall, and. sliding TO the ground ne ran as
fast as he could toward the bridge The
goat. without hesitating an instant
leapcd into the water and hooking his
horns into Carries clothes held her
head above the surface.
Sam struggled heroicaIly with his
burden. and managed to get to the bank
Just as Hillhouse reached the spot. The
goat and the child were lifted out. and
more delicacieS found their way into
Sans stomach that week than he ever.
had seen before. Everybody in the
neigtborhood showed the goat some
mark of esteem, and when Sunday came
the preacher in the local church Daid
him high tribute in his sermon. and
in his prayer invoked blessing on the
head of the faithful animal who. he de
clared. was more courageous and more
intelligent than many men," Sam is
probably the only goat that ever re-
ceiyed special prayer in pulpit
Sans appetite frequently has got him
into trouble and ut the same time has
increased his value in the eyes of his
owner. who knows that some day. when
the goats thread of life is broken. he
will yield up some of the valuables that
be has swallowed. Years ago Mrs. Hill
house discovered that on wash day the
safety of the clothes she hung out to
dry depended upon their hanging high
when Sam was in the neigh borhood.
She didn't learn this until the goat had
almost completely devoured wash left
within his reach. On that occasion he
consumed two sheets, 4 calico dress and
n flannel shirt, a table cloth. half
dozen napkins, pair of boys trousers,
and three cotton stockings. He un-
doubtedly would have cleaned the line
and deyoured The rope had he not been