Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-06

SPANISH WAR DOGS EAGER &c FIGHT.
dans looked with fear and reverence. The
West Indian avagcs had not only never
seen animals so large but the fact that
both dogs and horses performed tasks and
obcycd masters filled tho natives with re-
spectful sElazement. Their interest in
these new bsutes was soon, however, turn
ed to tie-sstation and disinay when tho
horses,iron shed hoofs struck down women
and children ard the dogs were employed
in battle. so fe-ocious and effective wore
these canihe warriors as taught by their
Christian masters that in Cuba enc dog
was more feared than leo armed men.
1t is on record that the first massacre of
the inhabitants Of Haiti Was precipitatctl
by bloodhound, which Spanish soldier
in wantor cruelty encouraged to attack a
group of peaceful natives who were load
ing ship. Terrified and cnragcd by the
unexpected onslaught of the dog, the de-
fenselcss, naked slvagcs fed into the hills,
returned to take their revenge and were
slaughtered by their white conqueror5,
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
arnor as protection against the arrows
and spears OF the enemy anG to either
butt down the Indians or hop up and fas-
ten their powerful fangs in the unclad
stomach of the poorly equipped natives.
On the continent the native warriors
were sort of armor made of paddetl cot
ton cloth. Through this the dogs could
rot set their teeth, but they could spring
easily as high rs . warriors throat, run
i'll among tic rHcn ard by b,tting vigor-
ousiy CAUSE thC!I 10 fall, or, more horrible
still, they were encouraged to prowl over
the battlc!icldS and tear to pieces any
wrctchod wounded Indian who showed the
least sign OF life
There wero many among these brute
lighters who rose by dint of hard service
high in the Spanish ranks and the names
and deeds of some of them core DOM to
us in history. In tho island OF s;;.r. Juan,
now Porto Rico, was u remarkable dog,
SO large that he went by the uame of Ber-
cerrilloc (littlo calf. This renowned man
eater destroyed the lives of so many In
dams that he was promoted to q military
grade, receiving prOportionate share Of
prize money ana spoiis.
Hc was dreaded by the natives and re-
carried by them as creature possessing
human intelligence. Even the Spanish re-
corders of the time give him high credit,
saying that ten men with Bercerrillo were
worth 100 men without After long
life Of fighting he persisted on the battle
field like grim old warrior -fe
1t is told of Bcrcerriilo that he easily
comprchended all that was said to him
and the value Of any object. On ono occa-
sion when the governor of San Juan wish
ell to send "a written message he gave it
into the hands of an Indian woman to de-
liver Unfortunately her way led past a
church where a group of Spanish soldiers
were lounging, waiting for mass to begin.
Bercerrillo YVES with them, and in a spirit
OF idle brutality they proposed to set the
dog on the woman. Bercerrillo needed but
small encouragement. He rushed at the
poor creature, who fell on her knees, the
governor S message in her hand, crying:
My lord dog, thy servant is sent with
this TO the Christian lords down yonder.
See, here it is Do NE no harm, dog, my
lord
Shifting at her graciously, the sagacious
creature let her pass unframed.
Lobo was another dog who struck fear.
mingled with admiration. to the hearts of
the Mexicans, and his end was the most
tragic perhaps that ever befell one of his
race. Overcome by successful Diplomacy.
Lobo was at last yielded by his owner to
Mexican prince, and so hated and dreaded
was ne by this ruler and his people that
they sacrificed him as tremendously and
WIN as great reJoicings as though he had
been the bloodthirsty invader Cortes HIM
Cxaff n. y