Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-11
'SAGACITY OF DOGS
MAJOR STILES TELLS OF TWO OF
HIS GREATEST PETS.
4 VERT DESPERATE EBCOU TER.
II Was the Foundation OF an Inhis-
soluble Fricndshfp-The Effect of
Old Age-What nm Animals SYM
patty Accomplished.

In the course Of my life I have MADE
several unsuccessful attempts at securing
a satisfactory canine companion. but the
success came to me unsought for. though
not unfousht for. and presented about
as strong a contrast to Governor as one
animal could have done to another OF the
same species. He was a thoroughbred
black and tan terrier, the very ideal OF
his class--small. 1.-THE. muscular, nervous,
aggressive, pugnacious. In general IN
telligence and sympathy he was lower and
narrower than any other OF my four
great dogs; but, perhaps, from this very
cause his love and attachment for me
were peculiarly intense. His greatest ex-
hibiton OF appreciation and gratitude
was connected with the occurrence which
resulted in his determined choice Of me
as his master.
1t was not long after the war, and
shortly after l came TO the bar, while
L was practicing law with Richard II.
Christian, elder brother Of Edward,
Frank, and Andrew Christian, now
prominent IN the community, that some
one presented my partner with a beauti-
ful terrier puppy, who began to follow
him down TO the office. and. almost as
soon. to follow me In my daily round
at the courts. Dick did not get him q
medal. i expostulated and predicted trou-
Bile, and Dick promised; until at last, as
the puppy and / left the office one fine
spring morning l expressed a strong pre-
sentiment of difficulty. and Dick said he
would get the medal that day He never
had a chance TO get IT,
ENCOUNTER WITH DOG-CATCHERS
The pup and l had scarcely reached
Bank street, when the wild yels of the
scare-crow scouts, who In those days
used to preccde the dog-catchers' wagon,
announced that victim was I'm sight, and
a moment later the rsgamutfin crew had
surrounded me and little Frank" as the
puppy was called. We were ct the corner
Of Tenth and Bank. / tried TO parley,
tried TO pick up the little fellow, tried TO
get him across the street and into the
Square, but in vain he thought l was
playing with him. and refused to be
caught or managed.
The negroes with their nets were upon
US. l offered to redeem the dog BY pay
ing the penalty, but they refused, and
x.
nets over him, and then the blood got
fairly into my head and l sailed In,
kicking off the nets, kicking the shins
OF the negroes; upsetting them and cuff
hng the boys. The crowd was in wild
ecstr mot only a dog chase, but
squa-~, stand-up -and-knockdown fight.
1t was too much fun all at once.
OVERCOME BY ODDS.
I hau toIf,
lous story, but a couple OF mounted police
men, three or four negro METERS, and say
10 rapscallions Qor they gathered fast)
were not enough force to capture that
puppy L bolted through the crowd I'D
Bank street toward Gerot's, the pup close
at my heels, and We both got inside
Gerot's door, which / managed to close
and hold against the mob without. Suf-
fee II to say, little Frank ran out the
Main-street way, and / ultimately came
out at the Bank-street door, in charge
of the police.
l declined 10 be dragged to jail. Henry
ochott and his German turner's who
knew me we'll as a fellow-gymnast, poured
down in their shirt-sleeves from the room
over his saloon. now Reuger's, where they
had been singing-good, stalwart fellows
all--and offered TO take rle away from
the police, but L begged them to be quiet
and only TO help me stand upon my
rights; that 1 had a right TO be bailed
and would not be jailed, but was willing
10 go before a justice for instant trial
Old Rutherglen and his bankrupt retain
ers streamed out of their Offices, corner
Tenth and Bank, now the Times build
ing stiles K Christian had a good prac-
tice in the bankrupt COURT. and offered
to go my bail in any amount, and it was
finally settled, after a good deal OF hest
tation on the part of the police, that |
should be allowed to go before a justice,
We had a good tramp TO find one, Mr..
Charles Workman. Mr.. Favier, and others
being out, and | marched, hair dishevelled.
hat awry, and clothes torn, but still n
freeman. at the head of a gang rs mot
ley as old FalstaTs company. away down
Franklin street. below the Exchange, TO
Squire Murphy's grocery.
The trial was very amusing, but / have
no time TO go into that Enough, that
| made much reputation with the I'M
washed as a dandy fighter, man OF
muscle and of pluck. and had saved the
pup, who, as it turned out, had gone
straight to my fathers house, where ne
had been but a few times before, ana
had never before stayed; and there he
remained. L mean unqualihedly 10 as
sert that ne never thereafter recognized
Mr.. Christians, nor any other house thah
mine as his home, nor Mr.. CHRISTIAN nor
any other man than me as MS master
When Dick heard it all he apologzed:
but then lie laughed till he cried, declaring
he had rather have witnessed the fray
man anv other scrimmage on record. and
~ course he gave me the pup, which lat
,sr was quite Az act OF supererogation,
as the pup had already and most effectu-
alv given himself TO me. My friends,
the reporters. we're very good; | begged
or and no Richmond paper as | remem-
her published an account OF the matte.
IN A LEGAL ATMOSPHERIC.
There Is not much more TO tell Oh
ut,le Frank. save his beauty. his auda-
cious courage, his devotion TO me. ana
his wonderful nose. he used 10 dc-
company me 10 lawyers offices ana 10
court and once shocked the proprletles
| ~ the evening hour at the Law Library
| urbere t,yo or three CT the appellate
| Judges were at work, by desperate anu
unheralded attack upon another dog, VINO
presumed to be there asleep uhuer
| table. He was particularly iona oil the
| chancery Court, knowing Judge fH%-
hugh well. from my frequent caiis at ms
| home office. aud I'm the courtroom used
10 run I'D on the platform by nm, inc
| ola Judge scratching the little ioiiow
back with the toe OF his boot whiIs nc
read his opiaon, Frank mean "hlie
facing the bar with blissfui grins. On
ono OF these occasions, some irreVereht
| legal wit dubbed him the vice-chaheei-
lor" -. -,
In those days I was In the habit OF
| s,u5vfnr down stairs very late at night
| Frank slept on a pallet by the side OF my
| ' F...1a nnrer raflre TILL / did.