The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-20
SHEEP DOGS VALUABLE.

ShEEf DOGS VALUABLE.
Brussels.-There is always sometime.
weird and mysterious in walking in an
unknown region at night, even if it han
pen to be beautiful starlight evening in
late spring. and as two belated travellers
wendell their way along a winding road
which seemed to afford a promise of
eventually landing them over the edge of
the world. they experienced an eeri SEN
saton, heightened by the effect of the
twinkling lights of Brussels. which
seemed to by lying far away below Pres
emily they found themselves in an ap-
parentiy wild, park-like piece of ground
All was STILL The air was fragrant with
early flowers and peace reigned supreme
Suddenly a rustlng sound was heard in
a group of trees and bushes close at hand.
then a scuffle. followed by the shrin
sound of a policeman's horn, and, almost
before one realized what was taking
place, huge black dog came bounding
into view, and an exciting scene began
The policeman. the thief and the dog
appeared to be irretrievably mixed
growls. commands and curses rent the
air. First one figure and then another
came dimly into sight. and then silence
once again. The dog had done his duty:
the thief was lying helpless on the
ground. carefully guarded by his canine
master, and the policeman was rather
ruefully looking at his disarranged gar
ments
At a word of command transforma-
ton took place; the thief rose. the dog
fell to heel. and the men came smiling
forward. with the genial courtesy so prev
alent among the Belgians of all classes. to
ask what the onlookers thought of the
affair 1t was simply the usual nightly
practice of the Saint-Gilles police with
their celebrated dogs.
Barely three years ago NJ. c. Coene.
the chief police officer Of the district. was
m,icn distressed at the terrible state in
which his men often arrived at the sta
ton after a tussle with burglars and
other evil characters who chose the dark
hours Of the night for committing their
nefarious deeds. He was a great con-
noisseur of dogs and had made par
ticular study of the Belgian sheep dos
1t occurred to NJ Coene that II these
dogs could look after and protect animals
so effectively. they should render the
same service with respect to human be-
fngs. No sooner was the idea conceived
that he determined To carry il out Of pos
sibIe The proper authorities were APP
preached and a kennel was started This
is situated in the grounds Of NJ Coene S
charming villa on the border Of the for
est There is room for dozen dogs
though they are trained to hunt down
10 rff y1-h
scale walls. enter empty houses OF those
in process Of b1ilcing. and 70 obey their
masters implicitly
So well has the training succeeded that
th. dogs when out on their nightly rounds
will rush TO their masters aid on the horn
being sounded. and no matter what other
people may he about. viii Immediately
make for the man with whom the police
men Is struggling A. mis- command they
fercelv attack him and eventually sec-
coed in throwing him - the ground cy
cleveriv catching him under the knee As
long a. the man lies quiet the dog keegs
so also. but the moment ne stlrs OF at
ternp,s 10 run away the animal s ~ HIN
at once.
Tbav are taught 20 obey their master
IN notice uniform but the moment n
changes Il 10 civil attire. even = i =
merely the removal q the helmet Or css-
s,,.,ts for a bowler o. cap. The animal
-lr attack him rs fercely as b formerly
aid the man in civil costume. and wee
p,aft5s any individual So treated. Z
mos; protective. and Al the sane tiEne
t,,-ra-s u,uzzIs wcre net place securely
on the dogs head These dogs cost the
commune about three thousand francs 2.
year hut the decrease II crime since they
have become guardians * ihe pace =
49, -a-rarks t.e-Ncx Tors Herald