The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-13
DOGS SHOWED
INTELLIGENCE.
sAGACITY OF THE BEASTS In
CRITICAL INSTANCES.
How an Anaconda, Canine Collected a
Ton of Coal that His Careless Mas
ter Is Said to Have Lost In the
snow-A Story that Called for
Business at the Bar.
Anaconda Standard.

was WhiStling like a lot of demons
A regular blizzard was raging: and
the few who were regulars on the late
shift at the ''Dutchman's" were in no
hurry to make the start homeWard.
The "tonsil varnish" had been dipped
into at intervals and stories had been
going the round Of the small circle
near the stove. Naturally enough
there came a lull. Bill McGuigan had
just concluded a short yarn and the
laughter which greeted it had died
out. The beer store clerk" as John
Jahreis styled him, was leaning on
the bar, his chin resting in his hands
and his languid gaze directed toward
the stormy night without
Suddenly the door opened. All
could hear the squeak and all looked
toward the screen at the end of the
bar to see who was coming in. Every
man was wondering who could have
business in such a storm and at such
an hour. The next instant the door
slammed, to be opened again and then
slammed second time There was
not time to figure on anything in par
ticular. The conduct Of the door was
explained by the presence Of two
leisrrely from behind the screen and
up to the stove. One not familiar
with the Dutchman's would have
supposed from the perfectly at home,
air of the CANNES that they belonged
there. The dogs shook themselves in
business-like fashion and then
stretched out on the floor.
We'll, TIL be bowed" said the man
behind the bar. Where do you sup
pose they came from? Both have
licenses" he continued, as he noted
the metal tag on the collar of each
dog:
G,,;xy oh fox u
turn out two such dogs on such a
night. May belong to some drunken
sheepherder, o:,alost him, and after
wandering around until they were
nearly frozen, bumped against this
saloon and thought they would take
a chance on finding their master here.
Just goes to show how sagacious a
sense than man. That sheep
herder may have been in here early
in the night. Chances are he was,
and those dogs were able to follow
the scent back ' here. Wonderful
what noses dogs have. Now look at
| the shapes of hese heads, and par
ticularly the Noses.
and finally a discussion arose as to
which had the better shaped head, the
| LleWe11yn or theiIrish setter. After
| the question had been settled in fa-
| vor of the latter. the. conversation
turned to dogs in general, and finally
Bob erik recalled an incident which
| he said was worth relating.
Speaking Of dogs noses" began
Bob, 81 was out hunting with a party
some years ago and with that party
was the greatest dog, + ever saw. The
| breed makes no difference. We were
| travelling with@ouas<outft in a wagon.
It was showing to beat the band and
| ~ =, ~ I>,.,
We had proceeded some distance
when one Of the party discovered he
had lost a valuable pair of field
glasses. He wanted to turn back and
look for them, and that made us
pretty sore, as we knew that he would
have small chance, practically none
Of finding them in. the snow. He in
sisted, however, and we were about
to reluctantly give ia, when the driver
our guide, and the owner of the dog
I refer to, asked what was wrong, and
we told him. dobrbIG 4, IS
"'Oh, that's talE1sFright,' said the
driver. The dog will get them re
ferring to the field glasses. Then he
|patted his dog on the head and talked
to him as he would,sto a human.
'Jim, he said, we've lost some
thing. Go backoand get it, and Jim
jumped from the seat beside his mas
ter and started back on the run thru
the heavy snow; We watched the
poor brute until a bend in the road
hid him from view, and then we al
began to figure ON what chance the
dog would have finding the glasses
We were about an hour getting tc
the place we had decided on for oul
first nights camp, and just as we were
Of a hill along came the dog, and
would you believe it, he had those
glasses in his mouth. What do yoI
; think Of that for a dogs nose, Ell 2
''That certainly is wonderful" cam,
from three or four, and then Bill Nc
Guigan added, Eyes, it is wonderful
but it can't compare with an expe
rience can tell off,
| Lets have it, came in chorus
and then McGulgan slipped his no
Scotch and started in.
IT knew a fellow who was a. drive:
for big coal firm. The firm had {
contract with the county for fuel a
the poofhouse This fellow was on.
Of the six drivers who hauled the coal
.. It was a long drive out there ant
hard on horses, SO that they haulet
, the coal a ton at a time. This partic
ular driver Of whom I am talking. hat
! a dog, a miserable looking cur bu
: he thought the world Of him. Yo1
), never saw the driver on his coal car
that the dog was not with him.
con one Of the trips to the poor
house with coal the driver happene
to look back at his load when abou
. half way on his journey, and to hi
!, CONSERVATION saw that he had los
his tai1gate and that he had bee
$ dropping his ton of coal bit by hi
! along the road. There was, snow OF
\ the ground and the dropping Goa
: made no noise: You can imagine hoy
4 almost any driver would feel when h
: saw he had lost a ton of coal. /
: never faxed this fellow, tho. He jus
, turned to the dog and says, 'ToWsel
e I've lost something; go back and &c
It, He continued on to the poorhouse
f and when he got there, by gracious
: there was the dog with the ton Q
: coal"
8 There was a brief interval Of silence
: everybody being speech-struck, an
It then all roared. erik looked sheep
$ ish. He could scarcely utter a SOUND
e Finally he recovered himself and said
Bill, you had me interested, and
n thought you were going to wind up b
s saying the dog found the tail gait
e but when you sprang that ton of tos
e on me it was all off. I'll buy all RICH
: but I think you are cruel to me. M
> story was true.
Q so was mine,'''' said McGuigal
Q with a laugh, and they drank.