New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-13
AN INVINCIBLE DOG.
Some Of Her Remarkable Fights
scith Wild Beasts.


outing True. / had known mere pups of her
Kind 70 playfully tussc and bite each other until
exhausted with their rude sport. Then they would
withdraw TO a shady spot. and good humoredly lick
the blood from one another's wounds. I had also
known older dogs. when set upon an unrUly pig or
seInl-"ild boar. 20 take the animal by the ear and
Keep their hold. In spite Of the swnes most frantic
efforts 10 escape. until the ear was severed. 1 had
hearG. TOO how my grandfather's bulldog. when set
upon an unruly steer hefer would freeze to the
brutos tail and with powerful twist and yank
or his head sever the tail from the body. Thus he
detailed most OF grandfathers herd before he lost
his position as shepherd dog with these and similar
glimpses OF bulldog nature ] had been accustomed
TO measure that animals pertinacity until I was
made familiar with the record Of OLD Flora
Old Flora was the property OF an uncle Of mine
and venture homellCr specimen OF the canine
kind never happened. The markings peculiar 70 her
variety considerably exaggerated; disproportion-
etely large head with curious ears powerful square
Jaws and great bagEinE chops: neck; lion
shaped body. besplattered by nature with yellow
and dirty white patches. short. sturdy limbs lastly
tail with a slight upward tendency-that is Old
Flora.
Those scars you about her nose bring to
mind a close encounter with wolf
1T CHANGED one day that Horace. her master. and
certain friend were excavatiuE a wolf den.
few moments shovolling in the loose soil had carried
the work about two feet below the surface. Then
the two hunters paused TO rest Old Flora
began nosing about the den. The scent was intoxi
eating. Into the orifice she plunged; in. in she
squeezed until only her tail visible. Nothing
but its waggng ana lashing gave news to the
battle raging below.
AT last the men became impatient The shovel
was piled around the dogs body until strong arms
extracted her her head dripping with blood Further
excavation revealed large female wolf with skull
crushed and head half masticated.
'One accustomed to wolves and their ways is
aware OF the terrible ferocity Of female wolf with
cubs when thus put 70 hay in her den With jaws
wide open. displaying wicked fangs, she closes the
narrow entrance 10 her den. That which dares
enter must brave the certain snap Of those Jaws
and fght her face 10 face. But that is what Old
Flora did and she won.
Flora later had another adventure with wolf
more interesting perhaps than this. A neighbor OF
her master. at this time a resident Of Central Min
nesota. had been troubled by large gray wolf
This beast bold enough to 90 what his kind
seldom venture unless pressed by hunger In broad
daylight. at such hour Of the day his appetite
prompted would sally audacously into the
farmers ward, attacking his fowls and young stock
Many plump puIlet and feecy lamb were sacrificed
70 the within of his taste.
1T CHANGED one day that old Flora had accom-
panied her master on a visit to the farmer. The
two sat the versnda discussing crops. with
Old Flora doing quietly by. when the wolf boldly
entered the yard on maraudlng tour.
At sight or scent Of the wolf the dog sprang TO
her feet every hair along her spinal ridge and
ivories exposed. while deep cultural grumhInEs be
tokened trouble for the wolf. a word from her
master and with ominous growl she challenged
the intruder.
surprised By the dogs sudden advance the wolf
hastily vi hdrew 10 tne omen field. when apparently
he repaiued his courage halted and faced about
poised in his most dramatic attitude OF defiance
But had he known what was wiser for him ne
would have changed his scenery without argument
FOR he not 10 do battle with common cur OF
the reighb0rhood now
With nenacing MEN, old Flora Fauntered out 20
meet him. Then followed some cautious manpuvring
and lively skirmish. attended by much Erowl-
ing and crashing of teeth. before the dog secured
her fatal grip upon her opponent But secure 1t she
did. Her powerful maNulse AZ length were locked
about the VOLTS right forward foot-a steel trap
could have held 81 frmer.
over and over In wild somersaults rolled and
tumbled dog and wolf. FIRST under and then the
other both enveloped In a cloud Of dust and dried
grass tGr a distance or thlrIy r9t , Iiey Ig,,-
ana EroHled ana STRUGGLED. Wheil the VOL COM
petely exhausted by the Iugging Of so heavy clog
zone day old Flora followed the heels Of her
master and his friend as they stroie1 across a
inirudcrs The old dog hurled herself straight az
forces met in a storm Of ugly beastly sounds and
those terrible CANNES soon found their fatal hold
in the sensitive nose Of the bull
such a contest OF beasty strength and blood
and carnage now ensued as would have inspired
the ancient Roman 10 widest cheers. But the
only two spectators looked on in blank Amusement
vi ma yin u1 clouds OF dust and sod believing
az sS.t,,7.Ns, he month Forward he rushed
dragging the dog in mad attempts 10 trample Upon
from side 10 side in complete semlcrcles. the
doE was hq b many Tines The bu fsirly dashed
his sides with the dog lie executed az The tricks
ana ~ he bulls strength began to vane
when. with q rush and a powerful toss OF MS head,
skywsrd alightng impronged upon the bulls cruel
iravey she sustained it. stin clingng to The nose
OF the bull. Not until the men rushed IN win
ci,,t,s aud tanned old Flora upon the head did she
consent loosen her grip Thankiul TO escaPie e
,ie oe', e-nnnJ Completely exhausted though life
SIN cIu6q tenaciously 10 her mutilated form
! .r--- .N~aa long
and drink were carried 70 her At the end OF this
time she came forth hef wouIuS Az ~ e~r1er
though IL was some uIne yer oelQle lS -ol ~.
strength entirely returned. but she again 6iF5"
strong and yet TO fight the unique il not ''e
he! sstsT then lived in the north OF Iowa
me eGaL s,na had NOT vet entirely disappeared
Dave and Nelse. two residents o. me ptdct !.lu
, afove the settlement The entrance pene-
rated the bank just at the waters edge, ana vas
o,,i,. iavga enough to admit the body OF man IN a
c-esspirq position. But the day the river froze
over the discoveries determined 10 explore 'he
was one late frosty day IN autumn that the
80 vas found to be a chamber in the rock. With
lighted candle in one hang ana evrsT
which IN its first rose and then opened lnto
| a damn chamber with about the dimensions OF =
cottage bedroom Through assure III 'i 1870
"a bls side candle cast beams INTO a turI,lt5
and stiI larger chaIn6er. BP ~ GaoS s9rTound
ings before they 1T upon a palr OF EtpN 'l5
Li.sr WITH a desperate struggle and an eN-
Cismation ne backed pell nell out from his mar
row ,ss quickly told OF what he had seen. The
country Yet wild. and II was Just possnlff II
ine il vas decided that one should stay and guard
the entrance. while the othei SNATCH Da'A 10 Wv"
Several other parties who owned dghting ca
! IL the afternoon the men set out, q jolly party
| specializing on the several merits o. their Tow
/ morley array. these dogs-bulldogs bird dogs