The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-20
DOGS AS BAROMETERS.
BUFFALO Cor. New York SUM-

Buffalo Cor. New Y Ork Sun.
Masters of steamers and tow barges
on the lakes have a fondness for dogs,
and on dozens of the boats running be-
tween Lake Erie ports and upper lake
ports dogs are carried. Sailors general
ly show an inclination for pets, but the
dog is something more than a pet on the
lakes. He is valuable member of the
crew. He is considered as trustworthy
as a barometer in giving notice of an
approaching storm. Most of these dogs
are towards in storms. Occasionally
captain finds a dog that is not afraid
of heavy weather and seems to enjoy
the rolling or pitching of the boat but
as a rule dogs are afraid of a gale as
woman passenger, and at the first sign
of a storm hunt for a hiding place.
4 had a dog that was as much like
a woman as it was possible for an ami
NAL to be- said captain who has car
ried a dog with him for nearly a. quar-
ter of a century. He could tell a storm
was coming long before I could notice
it, and often before the barometer
would change. He would come to me
whining and crying, and couldn't keep
him away from my heels. He seemed
to be asking me to put him ashore or to
find a comfortable place for him. I used
to feel sorry for him. he'd carry on SO.
When the storm would strike US he
would be out of sight, and we often
found him hiding under the hunks and
in corners where he could not see any
thing and could not be easily seen. 7
believe if he could have done it he would
have jumped into bed and pulled the
covers over his head.
I'VE were always very careful that
he didn't get hurt in loading or unload
ing, for he was worth a good deal of
money to US. Many a time, when we
had thick fog, I'd hunt for that dog
and keep him near me. He was better
than q chart. He could smell land fur
? Their away than a. man could see it in
fair weather, and all Of US kept a close
watch on him during a fog. If he jump
cd md n 49,
pleased him very much you could be
certain that we We're getting close to
land.
I remember one time we were com
Ing down Lake Superior from Duluth
in a heavy fog. We had had fog all the
way up, and Jackson, that was his
name, was pretty tired of sailing when
we reached Duluth and tried to Jump
US, but we couldn't spare him and he
stayed with us We didn't have as
many lights in those days as we do now
and it was no easy thing to take a boat
from the upper end of Lake Superior to
Sault Ste. Marie in fog that was with
you all the time.
jackson was so Disguised that he lost
all interest in the boat and spent the
time sleeping on deck. When we were
about abreast Whitefsh Point I was
figuring that we We're outside far
enough to be safe, and was not the
jumped up and ran to the rail and put
his paws up as though he expected to
look right over to a. dock.
i saw him and at once gave the en-
gineer the signal to check, and Jack
son barked as though he was immense
~ pleased. I signalled to stop and
yelled to the first mate to get out the
lead. Just then saw a lumber schooner
loom up in the fog, and I'll tell you we
were SO close together when she passed
that I could almost touch her booms.
That dog had smelled that boat sure
as you're born. and if I hadn't checked
there would have been a collision and
then suit, and 1 would have had hard
work to explain why was not sounding
q fog whistle"