Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-16
SPANISH WAR DOGS.
In Early Times they Wore hrmor
ana Were More Feared Than
soldiers by Indians.

Aperreado is q Spanish word, which,
in the days when Spain was busy with
the conquest Of the West Indies and 1
Central America struck cold terror to
the hearts of the Indians. The word
mems "given TO the dogs" OF TO trans
late It yet more distinctly, II means
death by bloodhounds.
In Spain magnificent specimens of
this canine race have always been
bred, and when Columbus set out on his
first voyage a few fine boodhounds
constituted part of his fighting equip
ment. 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 20 Europe, broken
and disgraoed, 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 Ind 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 ycd.masters filed
the natives with respectful anazement.
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
n hundred armed men.
When Cortez took his famous first
expedition into Mexico, a fine pack of
bloodhounds was among his most high
" valued fighters. Piznrro also took
hounds into Peru, but on the continent
the native warriors wore a sort Of mr.
NOR made Of padded cotton cloth.
Through this the dogs could not set
their teeth, but they could spring
easily as high as a 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 battlefelds 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 serv.
ice, high In the Spanish ranks, and IN,
names and deeds of some of them com,
down to us in history. In the island Of
San Juan-now Puerto Rico-was q re-
mnrkable dog, so large that he went 10y
the name of Bercerr.lo-little cali
This renowned man eater destroyed The
lives OF so many Indians that he wnl
promoted to military, grade, receiy
ing the pay of a sergeant of the horse
! and a proportionate share Of priz
money and spolls.
tits told of Bercerrillo that he easil
comprehended all that was said TO him
and the value OF any object. On one oC
/, cason, when the governor OF San Jua
wished TO send n written message, Il
gave II into the hands OF an India
woman TO deliver. Unfortunately h,
way led past n church, where a grou
= of Spanish soldiers we're lounRing. wal
! ing for mass TO begin. Bercerrilo wa
with them, and In spirit OF idle bri
tality they proposed to set the dog o
the woman.
i Borcorrillo needed but small encoul
agement. He rushed at the poor ere,
' ture, who fell on her knees, the go
ernor's message in her hand, crying
MY lord dog, thy servant is sent wit
this TO the Christian lords down yond,
e see, here Il IS. Do me no harm. dot
e my lord"
a Smiling at her, the sagacious cree
e ture let her pass unharmed.-Bssto
@ Herald