The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-28
DOG SWAN WITH THE MAILS.
But the FaithfuI Nevvfoun diana Gag
steF Perished at Last In the
Line of duty.

There are about 20 dwelling houses,
blacksmith shop and a small store
on the east side of Long Pond. It is a
Maine settlement OF woodsmen, farm
ers and bear hunters. The nearest post
office is at East Buclsport, half mile
across the pond, but more than three
miles by the road. For so years the res
idents have carried their. mails to and
from the distant posting places, using
lp many years of time to keep in touch
with the outside world. In 1898, when
Shafter and Sampson were pounding
away at the south side of Cuba the cit
lzens could stand their isolation no
longer, and sent petition to Senator
Hale, asking for post Office and re-
questing that it be named Santiago.
The demand was granted so quickly
that everybody wished he had though
Of such plan rs years before and be-
gan to count the hours and horse shoes
that had been worn out going after
mails and bringing them home, says
the New York Sun.
No sooner was an Office established
than every resident Of Santiago had an
idea that he was the proper person to
carry the mails. The second assistant
postmaster general received dozen
letters from Santiago by every mail.
Petitions poured in, filing the mail
bags and thereby increasing the earn
ings of the fortunate man who should
get the coveted place. Santiago is four
miles distant from Dedham, from
which place it is only two miles. to
Georges Corner, on the line of the Bar
Harbor railroad. On the south side,
however, it is but three miles from
East Bucksport, where railroad con-
meets with Bangor. The northern
route was the longer distance, but the
time required was less, owing to the
nearness of the mail cars. Here was a
question that puzzled the Washington
officials. An inspector was sent down,
who made a report, after which sur
veyor was sent to measure the two
routes in order to find their exact
length,
Meantime John Hubbard, of Santa
go, had been carrying the daily mail
to East Bucksport, crossing on the ice
in the winter and making wide de-
tour around the pond during warm
weather. An aged Newfoundland dog,
who had earned retirement in a bear
fight years before, was Hubbard's at
tendant on every trip. The dog was in
the habit of following the mail wagon
down in the forenoon, and then, if the
day proved warm, he would swim back
home, allowing Hubbard to go his
roundabout course alone. Hubbard
noted the action of the dog and came
to the conclusion that he could make
some profit by cultivating the habit.
He was making two trapsa day, which
was a waste of good time, when he
could make the dog perform one trip
alone and thus have the whole after
noon left for hunting bears. The next
morning he forgot to feed the dog be-
fore starting out. On arriving at East
Bueksporth he took the postmaster aside
and confided his plan for carrying the
mails by dog power.
Here is water-tight bag" said
Hubbard. "Fl chain up the dog before
I go home. want you to keep him
fast until the mail comes up from
Bucksport. Don't feed him or 90 near
him, As soon as the mail gets in, tie
the bag to his neck and let him go. I'll
warrant he'll get the mail to Santiago
ahead of time
Hubbard's idea worked splendidly all
rsrr 4 I. ~
mail was distributed inside of half an
hour, while it had always taken Hub
bard more than an hour to go around
the pond. He was saving time and
money and giving perfect satisfac-
ton. Along in the middle of October
there came q day that was cold, so that
shell ice formed on the pond. Later the
wind grew to gale. When the stage
came in there was big bundle of mail
for Santiago, consisting of political
documents for the voters and score
or so of official reports from Wash
ington. The mail route fight at San
tiago had made the place famous. Post
master Hewey tied the heavy mass to
the dogs neck with many misgivings.
4NlCA AC ASA LuISC llukS III liz Sd uSdXGS
to the animal and cut it loose.
That night the neighbors waited un-
til nine o'clock for the arrival of the
mail, which was due two hours earlier.
Then Hubbard harnessed his horse and
drove furiously to East Bucksport to
look up his dog. He did not return un-
til nearly midnight. Patrons of the.
Santiago post office knew what hap
pened as soon as they looked at Hub
bard's face. The dog had attempted
to swim the pond earring heavy load.
in the face of rough water and high
wind, and had been drowned while in
performance of it's duty. They dragged
the pond two days before the body was
found. The mail was unframed. They
buried the dog under a big apple tree.
Looking backward.
by George" said the big man with
the heavy dark mustache, who had
just got back from Australia, s'how
time flies. just Think / used to be