Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-04-11
SAVED BY
HIS DOG.
Observation-Disclosures

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Last summer, while on a trip
through the White Hills, 1t CHANGED
ono night that, sitting out on the
veranda of the modest little hotel that
nestled at the foot of high noun
tain. the conversation turned upon
dogs. and the sagacity they had been
known to exhibit on very many oc-
casions.
Among the little group we formed
there was an old man, whose home
was In the valley some half mile
away. For some time he had taken
no part in the conversation, but had
pulled away at his pipe with appar-
emit enjoyment.
At length there came pause in
the conversation, and after it had
continued for a minute of more, the
old gentleman removed the pipe from
his lips and gave utterance to the
following remarks:
There Isn't critter living that
knows 80 much as a dog. Leastways,
had one once that knew nigh about
as much as a human being. I've
seen good many people in my day
who hadn't the common sense he
had"
II don't doubt that you are right"
said l. Dogs know a great deal.
and I've seen some people who knew
very little. They are about as good
friends as we have among the brute
creation. There is no creature who
; will stick by man like them.'
II know that" he answered. THE
one l speak Of did as much by me
as a man could. He saved my life"
slow was that?" asked; and in
response he told the following story:
ut was in the summer, several
years ago" he began. ut was in
that year, you know, that the great
slides took place among the White
Mountains, by which the Wiley fam
lily we're destroyed. The morning on
which 1t happened left my home,
which was down yonder, in the exact
spot where l live now, to get to the
settlements at Conway. In those days
there was no store nearer than there
at which we could get the things we
needed in the house.
81 was young man then, and had
a wife and two small children. We
lived in stout cabin, about half
mile from my fathers, and the only
brute things that l owned were a
COW and my dog, Nero. 1t was sell
dom when l went away that al
lowed Nero to go with me. The
wild beasts were pretty plenty in
those days, and wanted him to stay
and keep them away from the cabin.
/ was afraid they might venture too
close sometime, and carry away my
children, who might be playing about
the door. But had little fears Of
this SO long as Nero was there to
guard them.
when I set out that morning he
wanted to follow me badly, and l
had to speak twice to him before he
! would remain behind. Sitting on the
doorstep, he watched me until en-
tered the woods and was concealed
from his sight Much as he wanted
to go, l had no fears of his follow
ing. He knew too much for that. He
always seemed to understand almost
as we'll as human being.
81 went on foot, and all the way
down to Conway 1 could not help
looking at the sky. 1t seemed as
though / had never seen 1t threaten
rain so before. The clouds came so
low that they covered the mountain
tops, and appeared ready to sink down
into the very valley itself.
II got to Conway little before
noon, and hurried to get through with
my business as soon as ! could.
knew that fearful storm was close
at hand and unless hurried up
should catch wetting. Before was
through the rain came down in tor
rents. The people at the store tried
to prevent me from going home, but
1t was no use. Somehow or other
never felt so worried in my life. My
mind was made up that would go
lllOH1G W NldIy anu lIlC Gil IL ~
was possible for me to get there.
II never saw 1t rain SO before or
since as 1t did that afternoon. In
stead OF coming down in drops, 1t
seemed to pour by the bucketful. The
clouds, which had been low and dense
all the forenoon, now sank lower, and
as l went onward 1t seemed that l
would soon get to a place where
could touch them with my hand.
"The streams / crossed seemed to
rise even as / looked upon them, and
before / was half way home, some of
the smaller bridges were swep, away,
and formed some difficulty in getting
Z across the raging torrents. knew
that the branch s@eam which crossed
the road about half mile from my
house must be rising fast, and l
was fearful that the bridge across it
would be swept away before i could
get safely to the other side. If it
was, knew that it would be impos-
sible for me to reach home, for ford
ing would be out of the question.
II made the best time could, and
Just before nightfall came in sight
OF the branch. 1t was bankful and
running like mill race. Great trees
and other drlftwood were borne along
on Its surface as swiftly and easily
es though they had been straWs.
rThe bridge was still tAsFe. but 1t