The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-11-18
Tntermcantain news.
BUTTE, MONT.
Great Dane Dog Saves the Life of
Priest,

Rev. F'atHer Van Aiken of St Jo-
seph's church. South Butte. only es-
capped being the victim of two high
waymen at the corner of Colorado and
Silver streets Monday night by having
as q guard his big Great Dane dog
Duke at his side. The reverend gentle
man had been making cali on Rev.
Father De Siere and, or leaving, it be-
ing a fine evening, decided TO walk
home.
When nearing the corner of Colo
RADIO and Silver streets, he noticed two
men a short distance away who, on
seeing him approach held a brief con-
yersation and separated. One of the
thugs got around the corner while the
other stood few feet away up against
a building.
The priests suspicion was at once
aroused and he turned around to see
where his big dog was. Duke was a
short distance in the rear and he called
to him in a low voice. About the same
time q sharp whistle was given from
the man standing against the build
ing. which Father Van AIKEN took as a
signal to the man at the corner to pre-
pare for an attack.
BY this time the dog was at his mas
ter's side and. taking hold Of him by
the collar. he proceeded along As he
app pdCutu lut lll6til. tie priest SdNe
the collar jerk and Duke started to
grow1 and snarl at the would be hold
IN.
This settled the llold-up which might
have occurred. The man at the corner
Rugged the building as close as he could
and stood there like some person bound
10 the place until Father Van AIKEN
was several feet away. A watch on the
men showed that they held a hurried
conversation on the corner and then
started away.
II am firmly of the opinion that those
two men intended to hold me up said
Father Van AIKEN, in talking Of his
experience. land I believe the only
thing that saved me was my dog
Duke" While the priest was talking
the dog was at his side and. taking him
by the collar, he said:
Let me show YOU something" On
being taken by the collar in a certain
way the dog started TO groWl and Snarl
and looked as il he was going TO devour
everything in sight. AS soon as Father
Van AIKEN let go his hold on the collar
the dog ceased growing and started
TO wag his tail
There now, some of YOU men try
and make that dog growl." Several
took hold Of the collar and by every
means endeavored to get Duke to
growl, but to no effect
Rev Father Van AIKEN received the
DOG as a present from priest who was
going to his home in Europe, and he
would not part with for any money. It
is a very large. powerful looking ami
NAL and is a grey Dane.
In a recent issue of Dogdum. a mag
azine devoted entirely TO the best
breeds of dogs, there is a half-page pic
ture of Duke. who was regarded as
celebrated dog in the east.
Butte is soon 10 lose one of its best
known and most popular citizens, Ma
jor William z. Deeney. Major Deeney
viii leave the city early in December
for Deeneytown, Ireland, where he will
take charge of extensive gold mining
operations which may make him a mil
lionare before long.
Gold fields have recently been discov-
cred upon the farms of Major Deeney's
father. Roger Deeney, and his uncle,
which adjoin. and a stock company.
with 100000 capital. has been formed
of the wealthy men Of County Donegal,
Ireland. to work the deposits Major
Deeney's father is one of the principal
stockholders in the company.
-
The associates of this gentleman. rec
ognizing the immense value of Major
Deeney's twenty years of experience in
the largest mining camp on earth, were
in selecting him to manage
the gold mining operations which it is
proposed to establish on the new find
in Donegal.
A letter was received by Major Dee
ney from the secretary of the company,
a close relative of Shamus MacMannus,
the celebrated Irish author and story
writer. notifying him of his appoint
ment as general manager of the. COM
pany, and ii is reported that Major
Deeney will take two smeltermen,
named Boyle and Quigley, from Ana
eonda to assist him in his new labors.
Major Deenney, who has been prom
inent in politics, society, military and
lodge circles and the business world
of Butte for two decades, will be huge
~ missed from the city. He is regi-
mental adjutant. with the rank of bre-