Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1900-06-06
DEATH OF PUNCH HOOVER.
An Intelligent Canine, Well known
Throughout Arizona, Dies At
Jerome
fCommunicated.l

Communicated
/ Punch is dead; Punch. the noblest
specimen of the canine race that
ever a man owned. Faithful to de-
gree beyond human comprehensive;
and affectionate to a degree seldom at
tanned by woman-God's noblest crea-
ton. His whole life was spent in serv-
/ ing his master J. B. Hoover and such
was his love for that master he would
have laid down his life for him at any
moment. had necessity demanded or
the opportunity been presented. Al
/ though only n common yellow dog"
as Mr.. Hoover affectionately termed
/ him. he was intelligent almost beyond
belief: every word spoken to him by
his master was understood. and every
word spoken by that master was law
TO poor faithful Punch Did Mr..
Hoover but whisper Il command. ever
50 Softely. into his ear. he understood
perfectly and FASTENED to obey. Was
ever child so obedient? l doubt it.
Punch was born of aristocratic par
ents at Whipple barracks October 81.
1856. and consequently would have
been IA years old had he lived until
next October
Shortly after the birth of the pup.
Mr. Hoover acquired possession Of him.
and since that time until his DEATH
which occurred at $50 a m. Monday,
May %. 1900, at the family residence,
they have been inseparabIe compan-
ions No sum of money man could
have offered would have tempted Mr.
Hoover TO part with Punch. He was
offered his pick from Il bunch of fifty
fine horses NJ one time for the dog
but ScornfulIy told the man making
the offer that the whole bunch would
not buy him. doubt of W y Clark's
millions would have been sufficient to
cause Mr.. Hoover TO turn traitor TO his
feelings so far as TO cause him TO part
with his four-footed companion
Punch was remarkable for the al
most human knowledge he displayed in
the performance of tricks. Everyone
in Prescott viii remember seeing Il
crowd of three or four hundred people
assembled on the side walk watching
Mr.. Hoover and Punch playing ban
together: most of the residents VIII
even remember being one of that crowd
watching the game. They will also re
member hearing Mr.. Hoover tell Punch
20 go and battle at the end Of the
game. and of watching the wonderful
log make bee line for Granite creek
and plunge in. where he would re-
main until his master went to the cor
ner by Hotel Burke and lnotioued TO
him with his hat
Punch performed one trick that we
doubt there is another dog in the world
could duplicate. Mr. Hoover would
show the dog some object. place it en-
the ground and tell him he was goine
10 leave it there He would then 20
home distance Of mile or more
leaving the object where he had placed
it After week had gone by he would
tell Punch TO 20 and get the article.
naming it. without motioning his hand.
and the dog would bound of with a
knowing bark and soon return with the
article Was ever Il dog rs intelligent
as Punch: Emphatically. no. such
was Mr.. Hoover's faith in his dog he
offered to bet 500 he could send him
from Jerome to Prescott to get 4 ball
and bring it to him. No one cared to
take the bet. as they all knew Punch
As hunter and retriever Punch had
few equals Often Mr. Hoover and
Jake Marks drove out in buggy from
Phenix shooting doves. and they never
had to get out of their rig Punch
would get the birds and put them
in the buggy. Being Il cross between a
pug and an Irish setter. Punch was a
great water dog, and many is the duck
he has brought out of the Salt and ella
rivers for his master Punch as a
note carrier and errand runner was
/ invaluable The people of Phenix.
/ Prescott and Congress will remember
seeing Punch trotting along with
note i'll his mouth, and returning with
/ a package for his master His memory
never failed him. After being in Je-
rome year without taking a trip to
] Prescott Mr.. Hoover once went over
there taking Punch along. of course.
While there Ben BeIcher offered to bet
/ him Punch would not 90 across the
street and sit upon the steps on the
court yard fence-a trick the dog often
performed while Mr. Hoover lived in
/ Prescott. Mr. Hoover took the bet
and STOPPING down whispered in the
dogs ear: Go and sit on the steps. ."
Punch obeyed without hesitation. al
thought it had been a year since he had
heard that command
As the years rolled by the affection
between the dog and his master deep
ened and they We're never separated
Punch grew older and older until he
began to decline. but his regards for
The hand that had always cared for
him only grew stronger. Two years
ago. fourth Of July. Mr.. Hoover threw
4 large fire cracker into the street and
FhoughtlessIy told Punch to get it Just
Is he was upon it the fire cracker ex-
nloded knocking the obedient animal
Senseless Mr. Hoover teaderly car
riad him inside tho bouSa whore Ia
vas revived. but his hearing was per
manently affected He gradually de
clined until he quit ever following his
master down town lut would be con
tented around the house. He was
greatly attached to Mrs. Hoover. whom
his master married about two years
ago He would never accept food from
anyone bur Mr.. Hoover, and lately
\