The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-06-20


my wife. II was now % dark that I
could not see very clearly; but I mo-
ticed something white on the farther
bank Of the canal little higher up.
I rushed up the towing path, and, now
thoroughly alarmed, called out,
Eleanor, are you there?" To my
great relief she answered. "Yes; here
I am, over on this side. Come over
here If you can The canal is quite
shallow"
I waded across-the water coming
nearly up to my neck-and found my
wife lying on the canal bank, dripping
with water. In the water near by
fioated the dead body of Bruce.
Eleanor was terribly white and faint:
80, without further question, picked
her up. Half carrying her, assisted
her along the canal to the nearest
bridge, and SO we found our 80.
home
We arrived about nine o'clock. and
I was relieved to find my wife not
much the worse after all. A hot bath
and a good dinner soon put us both
to rights. 1t was only after dinner
that asked her what had occurred
that caused her TO be in the CON-
dition in which I discovered her on
the canal bank, and how Bruce had
been drowned.
The following is her startling ac-
count of what happened:
"When you had gone I found my.
self pretty lonely; but I managed to
amuse myself fairly well, pottering
about the garden in the morning and
in arranging flowers and SO on after
lunch.
"After tea really needed some ex.
ercise. Thinking stroll along the
towing path of the canal would be
nice, as it would be sure to be dry
there, set of, taking Bruce with me,
fancying he would like some exercise,
too. was not sure that he would fol-
low me, but he did 30, though in
rather a shrinking sort Of way, be-
cause, as I imagined. was carrying q
dog-whip. as you advised. While go.
ing through the wood I kept care.
full eye on him, but though We dis
turbed two or three rabbits, he never
looked at them.
1--WE were near the canal when the
idea struck me suddenly. that Bruce
was eyeing me very curiously. SO I
stopped and locked at him, when he
glared and showed his teeth.
A~N
It wise not to show any sign Of fear.
I walked on till I got to the towing
path. just thea I heard q savage
growl behind me. Turning round, I
saw Bruce, with all his hsckles up.
coming at me, growing and showing
his teeth. / I cracked the whip to In.
timidate him, and said, Down, sir!'
a. sternly as I could; but he dashed
straight 1t me and snapped at my
legs. Fortunately he only caught
hold Of my skirt and tore IL before I
beat him Of. a. -'-'t q. ~ Wlft
II was terribly frightened by this
time, and screamed ont, but nobody
was within sight or hearing. Bruce
attacked me again, and again beat
him on with the whip; but I felt this
could not last long. Then II occurred
to me that II could get across the
canal he might not follow me. I
slipped quickly down the bank into
the water. which knew was not very
deep, and started to wade across to
the other side. Bruce dashed in after
me, and again tried to bite me; but
he was at disadvantage in the water,
and could now beat him of easily.
"Then he retired to the bank, and
stood there watching me and growl.
ing. I now tried to 60 en- across the
canal. It was deeper than expected,
and dared not go where tho water
reached much above my waist. was
feeling terribly cold and miserable.
and was very much afraid l should
faint
"Bruce evidently thought was es-
Gaping, and came in after me again.
Then a happy thought struck me.
Why not try to drown him" AS he
came at me this time, instead Of
hitting him with the whip waited
till he was quite close, and then
caught hold Of his collar and forced
his head under the water. The collar
slipped round, and he struggled 80
much and scratched my arm so with
his claws that had to let 90. Then
he scrambled ashore and again sat
watching me and growing.
IT could not stand in the canal for
ever, SO summoned up my courage
to 60 on across. Bruce was up again,
and dashed at me more furiously
than ever. Again caught him by
the collar, but this time seized hold
Of some Of the skin on the back of his
neck as well, and exerting all my
strength, forced his head under the
water and held it there. He struggled
so frantically that I was afraid I
should never be able to hold him;
but gradually his struggles became
weaker, and knew he was drowning.
II was not going to run any moro
risks, so I held on until I was quite
sure he must be dead, as he made no
NM