The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-02-21
When Donald
Turned
CunnibuI
Ohm BEcKERMAN has been on.

Ohm BECKERMAN has been ont
IL of those who go down to the sea
in ships since he was able to b
of assistance to his father, fisherman
near Arverne, L. I. He has been known
as truthful man since he reached his
majority, and at the age when boys
are excused for exaggerating trifiing
incidents into marvellous adventures
what he had to say was believed.
His character being vouched for and
his testimony being corroborated by
other fishermen and tradesmeh who
spend their winters where the winds
wall q mourning over the departed
summertime and the waves rage since
there are no fair bathers to buffet and
caress, the story of John Beckerman
is to be believed.
AT almost every seashore resort
ne began, "at the end of the summer
season the place swarms with dogs
that'have been forgotten or purposely
deserted. There is q custom in most
OF these places where the people live
through the winter on the profits
gathered in the summertime, for the
town seiectmen, councilmen, elders.
aldermen, or whatever you choose to
call them, to select day when their
feliow-townsmen are warned to chain
their CANNES and to keep the younger
children within doors.
reasoned meat is scattered at the
various corners, and the next day
there is a fine crop of dead dogs.
Among the many dogs that were
ieit mere at the end of this season was
2 splendid collie, beautiful fellow.
out unfortunately a decided enemy of
mine. He had no use for me, because
ms little mistress, a golden-haired
little girl, had taken great fancy to
me. lou see, wasn't fishing, there
being more money in teaching the
summer visitors how to swim. Among
my other pupils was the little mistress
OF the collie. His jealousy was some
thing fearful. He would show his
teeth on my approach, and would have
let me feel them If Miss Margaret had,
not watched him closely.
Early in September she went with
an uncle to visit her aunt at Long
Branch. The child begged to take her
dog with her, but was told that her
mother would look out for him. and.
as she was to be gone for only a few
days, 1t seemed all right to the little
one. The next day her mother was
summoned by cablegram. She could
not find Donald, and was in a great
hurry. She gave the head bellboy $50
to care for the dog until she could send
for him.
The bellboy appropriated the
money for his own uses and the dog
ran wild. At first after the Summer
people had gone he ate out of the gar
bage barrels. tried to make friends
with him and to feed him, but he
would show his teeth in a way 1 did |
not like. He seemed to believe that I |
was responsible for the disappearance
Of his little mistress, and would 20
down to where the waves rolled at the
very spot where used to take Mar
yaret in bathing. There he would sit
md wall for the little girl. Then he
suddenly disappeared. 1 had other
things to bother me and / forgot the
log.
I'VE were gathered in my shanty ON
stormy night telling stories. when
Jim Decker, coast guard on duty.
old me that he had seen ON the beach
wild beast which he believed to be :
volt. He spoke of the popularity Of
vild animal shows in New York. and
expressed the opinion that in some wav
he beast aad escaped and found it,
vay to the sand dunes between Ar.
erne and Edgemere. He had seen the
nimsl In that locality. Il
Before he went on duty he bor.
owed my pistol. In the other davs
hat followed other strange things
appened. The starving population Of
orsaken dogs disappeared. They had
rown very bold. and would steal fish ,
hat were temporarily unguarded ,
'hen we urloaded our catch. We were
Tue hnfiQE ae so .s>.