The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-17
FEAT OF a MODERN GOOSE.
Saved the Life of British Sentry
and Wore Il Golden Collar.


A goose made its first appearance near
Quebec over fifty years ago, when some
British troops had been sent out to nut
down rebellion of the colonies A GER
tain farm in the neighborhood, suspected
of being resort for the insurgents, was
surrounded by sentries placed at some
distance apart, and one day the sentry
whose post was near the gate of the
farm heard a singular noise A fine.
plump goose soon appeared on a run.
making directly for the spot where the
soldier stood, and close behind in pursuit
came a hungry fox.
The sentry's first impulse was to shoot
the thevish animal and rescue the goose.
but since the noise of the report would
have brought out the guard on a false
alarm he was obliged TO deny himself
this satisfaction
The fox was gaining on his intended
prey, when the goose in a frantic at
tempt to reach the sentry box, ran his
head and neck between the soldiers legs
just as the pursuer was on the point of
Selling it. Fortunately, the guard could
use his bayonct without making dis
turbance and he did this to such good
advantage that the pursuit was soon END
ed.
The rescued goose, evidently animated
by the liveliest gratitude, rubbed its head
against its deliverer's legs and performed
various other Joyful and kitten-llke ant
les. Then, deliberately taking % its res
idence at the garrison post, ii walked
up and down with the sentry while he
was on duty, and thus accompanied eacn
successive sentry who appeared to patrol
that beat.
About two months later the goose ac-
"a l1r
friend in a very remarkable way The
soldier was again on duty at the same
place. and on a moonlight night when
the moon was frequently obscured by
passing clouds, the enemy had formed a
plan 10 surprise and kill him. His feath-
cred devotee was beside him, as usual
while he paced his lonely beat, chauene,
ing at every sound, and then standing
al ease" before his sentry box. The goose
always stood at ease, too, and IL made
very comical picture
But some undesirable spectators.-at
least Of the soldiers movements-were
stealing cautiously toward the place. I'M
der cover OF the frequent clouds and
line of stunted pine trees. Nearer and
nearer to the post they crawled. till one of
them, with upiifled knife, was about to
spring on the unsuspecting man.
Then il was that the watchful goose
covered itself with glory by rising unex-
pectedly from the ground and Tapping It's
wings in the faces of the would-be assas-
sins. They rushed blindly forward; but.the
sentry succeeded in shooting one of the
party and bayonetng another, while the
goose continued TO worry and confuse the
remainder until they fed for their lives.
The brave bird was at once adopted by
the regiment, under the name of Jacob"
and decorated with a gold collar on
which his name was engraved in apDre-
citation of his services. Ever after, during
his life Of twelve years he did sentry duty
at home and abroad for he was taken TO
England a. the close of the war in
Canada and greatly lamented there when
he died. His epitdph reads: Died on
Duty" and no human sentinel could nave
been more faithful than poor old Jacob.
As 1t may occur 10 some readers who
have not made a study of the interesting
and almost human ways of many animals
20 doubt the truth Of so remarkable a
story, they are referred to the gold collar.
with Jacobs name and exploit engraved
on IL, which may sim be seen at the head
quarters Of the Horse Guards in London.