Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-03-18
DUTCH NECK'S GOAT SAM.
a Billy Fun of Guile and More
Substantial Things.

a Billy Fun of Guile and Moro
Substantial Things
Timothy Ilillhouse has the most re-
inarkable goat that ever grew chin
whiskers, says n Dutch Neck, New J.r-
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 left
lying about loose. Sans courag. il
about rs great as his appetite, and he
goes into any kind Of a row unhesitat-
ingiy If he sees anything to eat at the
other end OF IL.
sam Is ~ years old. lie first came
into notorieiy eigh, years ago. when he
eornered burglar, and kept him cor
nered until Hillhouse and a hired man
took the man in. This happened one sum
rn-r night. Iiiilhouse had lived on the
farm that he owns a good many years.
aud never had been troubled with mid
night providers. When he retired on
this particular night he left the window
OF second-siory room open. Near the
window grew a tree. aud up the tree a
thief climbed Ina 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,
who was shopping around the yard
seeking something that would stop the
gnawing in his stomach. cspied the
burglar as he was coming down and
started for him.
The Grst 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
~ 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 wagon house,
and into the angle formed by these
buildings the goat drove the buglar aud
butted him up against the side of the
barn with a force chat made the man
howl like an Indian. Now and then thu
man tAitt W TUG ko1A duts
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. lie found the thief and
handed him over to the constable.
From that time Sans career has been
eyentful and brilliant. One of his mos;
remarkable exploits was the saving OF
MIR. Hillhouse's little daughter from
drowning. Three years ago Carrie Hill.
house. then four years old, started out
one afternoon to join her father aad his
men, who were wosking in a field ahou,
"a quarter of mile from the house. On
the way she was obliged to cross a
bridge over Sutphin's creek, a sluggish
stream that runs between high, steer
banks. Sam went with the girl. She
stopped on the llGidgc to look down into
the water, lost her balance. and fell in
IIillhouse. who was ON load of hay,
headed for the barn, saw his daughter
fall, and, sliding to the ground he ran as
fast as he could toward the bridge. The
goat, without hesitating an instant,
icaped into the water and hooking his
horns into Carries clothes held her
head above the surface.
| Sam struggled heroically with his
burden, and managed to get to the bank
| just as Hillhouse reached the spot. The
goat and the child we're lifted out, and
more delicacies found their way into
Sans stomach that week than he ever
had seen before. Everybody in the
ncighborhood showed the goat some
mark of esteem. and when Sunday came
the preacher in the local church paid
him a high tribute in his sermon. and
in his prayer invoked a blessing on the
head of the faithful animal who, he de-
clared, wHs more courageous and more
intelligent than many men," Sam is
probably the only goat that ever re-
ceived special prayer In a pulpit.
Sans appetite frequently has got him
into trouble and at 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 yaluables that
he 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 neighborhood.
She didn't learn this until the goat had
almost completely devoured a wash lie II
within his reach. On that occasion he
consumed two sheets. a calico dress and
flannel shirt, a table cloth, half a
dozen napkins, pair of boys trousers,
and three cotton stockings. He I'M
doubtedly would have cleaned the line
and devoured the rope had he not been
discovered by Mrs Hillhouse before he
had reached next to the last garment,
for he made brave fight against the
TINT - 1 II g q, :.
sition and tried to get at bosom shirt
and sun bonnet that were still on the
line Thereafter the clothes were hung
so high that Mrs. Hillhouse was obliged
TO use stepladded to reach them, and
Sam satisfied himself with walking
around, now and thea up On his hind
legs and shifting wistfully.
The wide scope of the goats appetite
was not understood even then, but it
was revealed TO Mrs. Hilhouse one day
when she hung q hall mat over the
porch rail to let the wind blow the dust
out Of it. The mat never was seen again.
but Sam was found lying or the porch.
near the spot where 1t had been hung.
with a look of supreme eontentment on