The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-29

BITTEN BY A DOG.
Dr. Frank D. Gray Horribly
Torn by Alderman
Writer'S st. Ber-
nard.
cOLORED RESCUER A VICTIM TOO
Two Small Boys Drive the Animal
Off While a Crowd
Looks On.
COLORED RESCUER A VICTIM TOO

-
DR., Frank D. Gray, who is a city
physician, is confined to his bed today
as a consequence of a terrible experience
he had with a st. Bernard dog yesterday
morning. John Denning, a brave colored
man, who went to the Doctors assistance,
is lying in his humble home in lower
York street, his face, neck, arms and legs
s~hockingly lacerated. DR.. Gray's left
arm, from the elbow to the wrist, was
torn and cut. the bones of his left hand
snapped off and crushed to such an ex-
tent that it is. doubtful If he will ever
have the use of the member again. The
dog which is responsible for the con-
dition of the doctor and Denning is owned
by former Alderman Andrew 7. Witter.
Some months ago DIR. Gray moved on
the Heights, leasing his old house. No.
159 Grand street, which is at the corner
of Van Worst street, to Alderman Witter.
Having had an Office in the house many
years the doctor retained the parlor floor
for offices. Yesterday afternoon after
visiting his downtown patients the doctor
returned to his Grand street Office to pre-
pare a couple of prescriptions. 1t was
then shortly after six o'clock.
Running up the front stoop he came
upon the Alderman's servant girl in the
vestibule ~endeavoring to coax a ST.
Bernard puppy, owned by Witter, into
the house. The dog, although only a year
old, is more than three feet high. The
doctor had seen and petted the animal
frequently. Having no fear of It he
seized it by the collar and tried to drag
the animal in the house. The beast
turned ln0n him and In coroo mo- n IN
aged to get the whole of his left hand
In its mouth. The jaws of the powerful
beast closed and the doctor says he heard
the bones of his hand snap and felt the
keen teeth of the dog sink into his flesh.
The screams of the servant and the
agonizing cries of the doctor seemed to
infuriate the animal, as he chung to the
hand with the tenacity of a. bulldog and
shook it viciously. In opening its jaws
to get another hold the doctor extricated
his hand from the dogs mouth, but be-
fore he could move the animal again
sprang upon him, fastening its fangs in
his arm below the elbow. The servant
girl became hysterical and stood in the
hall yelling for Alderman Writer, who
lay up stairs in a precarious condition.
The doctor struggled bravely, but every
time he attempted to wrench his arm
from the jaws of the dog the animal
fastened its teeth more securely, tearing
the flesh ~shockingly and causing the
on the steps. It was at this critical
! juncture that John Denning, a colored
man, who is employed by ex-Alderman
pay around the corner in Van Worst
to his assistance. Denning unhesitatingly
seized the dog by the throat and choked
him until he relaxed his hold upon the
doctors arm. The bouts Of the men and
boys who had collected seemed to madden
the dog and to the horror of everyone it
suddenly sprang at Denning's throat. The
| beasts fangs fastened in the colored
mans coat collar. Denning beat the dog
off.
1t sprang at him a second time and the
weight of it's body sent Denning Keeling
down the steps, the dog on top of him.
Denning fell on his stomach and to pro-
tect his throat he covered his neck with
his arms. The dog set upon him again
and was chewing his arm, wrists and
hands when ten-year-old Tommy sham
rock. of Morris street, who had been sent
to the store with a heavy tin pail, at
tackled the dog. He dented the can and
destroyed its shape by pounding the dog
on the head
Although men looked on from a respect
full distance at the horrible spectacle not
little lad. Shamrock belabored the dog
over the head until it made a move as If
70 Turn upon MN Ihen he fled. The
nog eonslnueo eneWln away at the ex-
9useu 5 9a H. q Jennings pody until IT
snrieks LOT neip were unheeded.
ns5l Sraan fnaIly arrived, however, In
tne peasun 81 Hehry Martlnette, a six
seen-year oio poy OF sussex and Van
sorst Streets ne was armed with q
paae sllch. Re atlacAed the 1nfuriated
peasI ana glVlng II Two terrible blows on
Denning. The dog darted up Grand