The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-10-29
A FAITHFUL FRIEND.
Farmer George Mertz Disembow-
eled by a Mad Bull
saved from Instant Death by HE Dog
Which Rushed Ia the Rescue and. TAX
tng III. Buli by TIA. Nose. Held Him
Until His Master was Rescued.

ST. LOUIS. oct. 2i-The most no
marketable devotion of a dog 10 his mas.
ter. and most desperate fight on record
OF dog To save the life of his mas
ter George Merit took place at Anthem.
81. Louis county.
Mertz and two of his hired men were
endeavoring Tuesday to yoke "A bull
which was not used To work aud re-
sisted the restraints of harness.
The bull was hard to catch, but was
finally penned in "A corner OF the pas
turc where the men thought they had
him at disadvantage. The heavy
yoke was near at hand and Mertz WIS
most active in laying hold OF the big
beast to fasten it around its neck.
A hired man lifted the yoke To the
bulls neck, when the unruly beast
gave sudden toss of the head To
throw it OFF. and then lunge for
liberty.
With bowed neck and swing of the
head. he struck at Merit. who stood
nearest, and the sharp tipped horn
ripped through the clothing into til.
flesh and tore a cash in Mertz' aldo
men "a he was lifted from his feet and
thrown like piaything fully ten feet
backward To the ground.
With blood dripping from the horn
the bull, believing with rage, dashed
at his PROSTATE victim and bored him
almost into the earth, as the great
weight of the mad beast drove the
horns again into the already torn and
bloody body.
I Merit Newfoundland dog, which was
his constant companion. and hat
closely followed his footsteps as he
chased the bull over the pasture. saw
that his master was being killed, and
with bravery born of devotion jumped
to his rescue.
He fastened his teeth in the BULL
throat aud tore through the thick hide
in herculean effort to drag the mon
ster off mis- victim.
So determined and vicious was the
dogs assault that the bull. in pain.
turned from the helpless man To the
animal that had thrown itself into the
breach. The dog only loosened one
hold. 10 catch better one, despite the
bulls frantic efforts 10 gore and paw
him.
The Newfoundland seemed we'll
aware that the most effective way a
dog can put the strongest. maddest
bull or cow at its mercy is TO plant its
teeth in the nostrils of the bovine. and
from the throat the dog snapped and
grab bed at the bulls nose, regardless
of the deadly effort of horn aud hoof
to crush him. Once the dog gained
the vital hold. the bull. in distress. had
to follow, as the plucky Newfoundland
held grimly ON. though tossed and
jerlxed ABOUT in the air like a rag.
As the dogs effective attack forced
rushed 10 his side and bore him out of
reach Of further danger.
The physician who was called thinks
Mertz was fatally hurt. His bowels
protruded from the frightful wound
made by the bulls horns.
The dog only released his grip upon
the bull when his master was well out
of the way.
After Mertz had been taken into his
house and doctor was ministering To
his suffering, the big Newfoundland.
his shaggy face and head saturated
and soaked with the bulls blood. came
whining into the wounded mans room
and sympa theti cally walked up TO the
bed, and looked into his masters pain
drawn face.
Mertz was in great agony-dying it
was thought-but with grateful effor;
he reached out his hand and stroked
the brave and faithful dogs blood
stained head.