Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23
DOG FOUND HIS SHIP.
Extraordinary SaGacity Manifested
by Canine That Fell Overheard.

From the New Y0Ik Times.
Many years ago l was the second mate
on the ship Carolina of Boston. command
ed by Capt. Stephen Lemist. He had on
board fine, black. shaggy Newfoundland
dog called Neptune. 'Nep' was the pet OF
all hands well as of his master. lie had
the full liberty of the quarter deck and
sometimes awaited himself of il by care
lessly walking about on the traffrail. We
were bound to New orleans and -gere being
towed up the Mississippi in company with
four other vessels. ''Nep" was walking
on the rail. as was his occasional GUS
tom, when he unfortunately lost his bal
ance and fell overheard. 1t was impossi-
BILE to stop without disarranging the tow,
which the captain Of the tug would not
consent to do. So Captain Lemist and the
griefstricken crew were constrained to
leave the dog to his fate. For a while he
swan after the fleet. but finding he could
not keep up with US he struck out for the
western shore of the river. seeing that he
was nearest 10 that side. The only salts
faction that we had was that his life was
in no danger, for We were sure that he
would reach the land. As for ourselves We
mourned that we had forever parted com
pany with our dear shipmate and the cap
tain, as l can see him now. laid his head on
the pinnacle and sobbed like a child. We
were about fifty miles below New Orleans
at the time Of the accident and in a few
hours We're berthed at the levee where we
remained for three days discharging our
cargo. a freight Of cotton and tobacco for
London was engaged and we were towed
up to Lafayette. some three or four miles
above, to take II In, and were berthed the
third outside in tier of vessels the cargo
being carried on planks over the decks of
the others. One morning after we had
been there two days, as We were busYiy
engaged at our work, to our utter astonish-
ment "Nep" walked on board
1t is almost needless to say that cur ioy
equaled his own. Wagging his organ of
recognition, as a dogs tall has so aptly
been termed, and crying In a dogs Ian
guage of delight, he jumped upon every one
OF his old friends, entirely ignoring the
steNedores, whom he did not know, and
then rushed down the companionWay In
search OF the captain. who did not hanpen
TO be on board. Then he came on deck
detected and woebcgone, taking no further
interest in any OF as beyond casting about
his inquiriug looks. / expect to be believed
for am telling the truth. when l say that
the hiG tears stood In his eyes The cap
tain had gone ashore TO his consignee's
office in the city. as the chief mate knew
Come, Nep,' said he, come along Men
understood him readily enough as he
jumped on the stage over the other YES
sells decks and followed him down to the
Office, where he was ciasped in his fond
masters arms. There is not a particle OF
fiction in this pathetic story How Mem
tune found his ship was beyond our ken:
We merely guessed that he had Travelled
hftg miles up The river until he came to
the ferry, crossed over TO New Orleans and
then found his way up TO Lafayette
walked over two tiers Of ships and reached
his old home again.
How did he find Il? He yearned to tell
US, for he knew that ii was in our minds
to ask him But alas he could moi sneak
He was denied the gift that God has given
10 so many human brutes who have i'm
mortal souls. while he. when '1ife's fitful
fever was ended went back to dust whence
all Of Us. came. Bun who knows II this is
true2 Why should dog not be immortal
because. although with two legs more than
a man, he happens Ia have no voice. and
why should all men be immortal because
they can stand up on two legs and make
mere noise than dogs from their mouths?