Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-08-23

seen animals 60 large, but the fact that
both dogs and horses performed tasks and
obeyed masters filled the natives with re-
speotful Amusement. Their interest In
these new brutes was soon, however, turn
ed to detestation and dislnay when the
horses iron shod boots struck down women
and children and the dogs were employed
In battle. So ferooious and effective were
these canine warriors a. taught by their
Christian masters that In Cuba one dr.
was more feared than 100 armed men. A "
It is on record that the first massacre Of
the Inhabitants Of Haiti was precipitated
by bloodhound, which Spanish soldier
in wanton cruelty encouraged to attack .
group Of peaceful natives who were load
Ing ship Terrified and enrnged by the
unexpected onslaught OF the. dog, the de-
fenseless, naked savnges fed into the hills.
returned to take their revenge and were
slaughtered by their white conquerors,
who never seemed to know the meaning
Of either justice or mercy.
When taken into engagements, the Span.
iards taught their dogs to wear light
arlnor as protection against the arrows
and spears Of the enemy and to either
butt down the Indians or hop up and fas-
ton their powerful fangs in the unclad
stomach Of the poorly equipped natives.
On the continent the native warriors
wore sort of armor made Of padded cot
ton cloth. Through this the dogs could
not set their teeth, but they could spring
easily as high as o warriors throat, run
In among the men and by buttins vigor-
ously cause them to fall, or, more horrible
still, they were encouraged to prowl over
the battledelds and tear to pieces any
wretched wounded Indian who showed the
least sign Of life.
There were many among these brute
fighters who rose by dint Of hard service
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 Juan,
now Porto Rico, was remarkable dog,
80 large that he went by the name Of Ber-
cerrilloc (little calf. This renowned man
eater destroyed the lives of SO many In
dams that he was promoted to q military
grade, receiving proporttonate share OF
prize money and spOils.
He was dreaded by the natives and re-
garded by them as creature possessing
human Intelligence. Even the Spanish re-
oorders of the time give him high credit,
saying that ton men with Beroerrillo were
worth 100 men without. After a long
life Of fighting he persisted on the battle
field like grim old warrior.
Il 10 told Of Bercerrillo that he easily
oomprehended all that was said to him
and the value of any object. On ono occa-
sion when the governor Of San Juan wish
ed to send . written message no gave 1t
Into the hands of an Indian woman to de-
liver. Unfortunately her way led past .
church where . group Of Spanish soldiers
were Longing, waiting for nass to begin.
BeroerTillo was with them, and in spirit
Of idle brutality they proposed to set the
dog on the woman. Bercerrillo needed but
small encouragement. He rushed at the
Door creature, who fell on her knees, the
governors message In her hand, crying:
my lord dog, thy servant Is sent with
this to the Christian lords down yonder.
See. here 1t IL Do me no harm, dog, my
lord" .....,y+ /,
Shifting at her graciously, the sagacious
creature let her pass unharmed.
Lobo was another dog who struck fear,
mingled with admiration, to the hearts Of
TIE Mexicans, and his end was the most
tragic perhaps that ever befell one Of his
Eaoe. Overcome by successful diplomacy,
Lobo was at last yielded BY his owner to .
Mexican prince, and % hated and dreaded
was he by this ruler and his people that
they sacrificed him - oeremoniously and
with a. great rejoicings as though he had
been the bloodthirsty invader Cortes him.
en. With knife Of obsidian his neck
was severed, his heart cut out, exhibited
10 tho sun and burnt on q stone. His body
vas cast into the city square, nlled with
Indians, who hacked Il into btu, with
shouts OF triumph. !.