The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20
"BOOTS'S' TRICK on THE cor.
Smart East Side Dog Comes Near Losing His
Life as the Outcome OF PIayfuIncss.

Boots" is the name Of n small fox terrier
that made his appearance on South street near
Corlcars Hook Park about four years ago. He
was the pet of everybody in the neighbor-
hood. the children especially. II was not long
before Mike O"Toolc, n strapping longshore-
man. saw that Boots was a bright dog and he
undertook 10 train him 10 do tricks.
During his spare moments O'Toole would
take Boots out on Corlears street dock
and instruct him. Boots had been under the
tuition Of O'Toole for six months and he could
do some amusing acting OToole's friends
often urged him TO have Boots perform in a
museum.
Nearly every dav nj dinner hour when the
loncshoremen were resting Boots would go
down 10 the dock and amuse them. Boots
never liked policemen and every time one would
approach he would bark and growl. One Of tho
tricks OToole taught hin was to lie down on
the dock, apparently in a sound slumber. and
pay no attention 10 any efforts that were made
10 rouse him. But when O'Toole would give
the word Here comes the cops" Boots would
jump mp and scoot around the corner. Another
trick was 10 dive into the river from the string
piece Of the dock head first.
The best trick performed by Boots occurred
one afternoon last week when the tempera-
ture was extremely high. Boots was running
about the Corlcars street dock and froIicking
with some children when suddenly he began
to froth AT the mouth and TO run about in a
circle, The children became frightened and
ran away.
Policeman Pat Null gan. who was ratrolling
his post on South street. was sent for and when
he arrived there were several longshor.nru
standing about the dog. vino was now living
stretched OUT on his back. Some one in the
crowd suggested that the proper thlnr TO do
was for III" policeman Ia shoot Boote, Things
looked serious fer Boots now and Just ih.n
OIoole happened Ia come along and make
n protest saving that the dog would br all right
let nlone; He also added that Boots was
however. decided that Boots was really mad.
and that il was necessary 10 shoot him. Null
lignn has the reputation Of kinung all mud dogs
with the first bullet and he was never known
Ia use two shots on one dog. Mulllgan took
his pistol from his pocket and ordered the
spectators 10 stand back The first shot failed
too, failing To reach the mark, MullIgan w;
Just about To fire another bail at the animal,
bn! inst then o'IooIe exclaimed in a low voice
Boots jumped M and ran a. fast as his feet
could carry him 10 the end Of the pier and
tump"d into n" water. The policeman was
INK ~ his hand ready 10 shoot. When he looked
over the end Of The dock Boots wasnOt in sight.
Null gan thought Boots was drowned and
went naCt la patrol his post. Everybody was
discussing the sudden death Of Boots when
O"Ioole was seen walking down toward the
end Of the pier where several lOngshOremen
were standing O"roCle walked 10 the edge
Of the dock and looking down toward the water
he called ont Boots" Boots" 4 splashing
Of water was heard underneath tho dock and
suddenly Boots was seen swimming toward a
coal barge which was anchored To the dock
above. Everybody was surprised and all de-
clared II was one Of the best tricks Boots ever
performed.