The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-11-28
SPANISH WAR DOGS.
In early Times They Wore Armor
ana Were More Feared Than
Soldiers by Indians.


in the days when Spain was busy with
the conquest of the West Indies and
Cent raj America struck cold terror, 10
the hearts of the Indians. The word
means given to the dogs" or to trans
late it yet more distinctly, it means
death by bloodhounds %S
In Spain magnificent specimens Of
this canine race have always been
bred, and when Columbus set out on his
first voyage a few fine hloodhounds
constituted part Of his fighting equip
meDt. Not knowing with what enc
mics he might have to contend, he took
the hounds along to aid his men, but
Columbus was one Of the few invaders
coming from Spain who treated the
Indians humanely, and not until after
he had gone back to Europe, broken
and disgraeed were the hounds used
to torture the poor savages.
On all the dogs as well as the horses
the Spaniards brought over with them
the Indians looked with fear and rever-
ence. The West Indian savages had not
only never seen animals so large, but
the fact that both dogs and horses per-
formed tasks and obeyed masters filled
the natives with respectful amazement.
Their interest in these new brutes was
soon. however, turned to dismay, when
the horses iron-shod hoofs struck down
women and children and the dogs were
employed in battle. So ferocious and
effective were these canine warriors. as
taught by their Christian masters, that
in Cuba one dog was more feared than
a hundred armed men.
When Cortez took his famous first
expedition into Mexico, fine pack of
bloodhounds was among his most high
ly valued fighters Pizarro also took
hounds into Peru, but on the continent
the native warriors wore n sort of ar
NOR made of padded cotton cloth.
Through this the dogs could not set
their teeth, but. they could spring
easily as high as Il warriors throat,
run in among the men, and, by butting
vigorously. cause them to fall, or, more
horrible still, they were encouraged to
prowl over the battlefeds and tear to
pieces any wretehed wounded Indian
who showed the least sign of life,
There We're many among these brute
fighters who rose, by dint of hard sery-
ice, high in the Spanish ranks, and the
names and deeds of some of them come
down to us in history. In the island Of
San JGan-now Puerto Rico-was re-
markable dog SO large that he went by
the name of Bercerr;llo-little calf.
This renowned man cater destroyed the
lives of so many Indians that he was
promoted to a military grade, receiv-
ing the pay of a sergeant of the horse,
and a proportionate share of prize
money and spoils.
1t is told of Bercerrillo that he easily
comprehended all that was said to him,
and the value of any object. On one oc-
casion, when the governor of San Juan
wished to send written message, he
gave it into the hands of an Indian
woman 10 deliver. Unfortunately her
way led past church, where group
of Spanish soldiers were lounging, wait
ing for mass to begin. Bercerrillo was
with them, and in spirit of idle bru-
tality they proposed to set the dog on
the woman.
Bercerrillo needed but small encour-
agement. He rushed at the poor crea-
ture. who fell on her knees the gov
ernor's message in er-hard, crying:F
MY lord dog. thy servant is sent with