Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-08-31
Tale Of a Stray Dog
Miners Claim He Brings Them Luck

Miners Claim He Brings Them Luck |
Out of the bounds of the widespread
bunch of tents that make up the new
mining camp of Manhattan, New,
comes the story of little yellow dog.
It is an absorbing story in it's every
detail and withal true one
bob, the stray dog" they call him,
and it needs a Jack London in his
happiest moments of description to
truly depict the human interest side
of this little animals history. So
many tales have been woven around
him and so many incidents have been
given out with his actions as the CEN
ter of the story, that it is at times
hard to separate the truth from the
fiction.
tenths of the rich discoveries that
have been made in the Manhattan dis
trict, the STRAY Dog has appeared at
some time during the day previous
| and taken up his abode with the for
tunate miners. Nothing can prevail
upon him to remain with any one
miner or group of miners for more
than three days, and when once he
has left the camp where he has been
an ephemefal sojourner, he never
again greets his host in a friendly
spirit.
So strong has the belief in the
great luck that follows a visit of his
to any district become implanted in
the minds of the miners that they will
go to any length to obtain this small
dogs favor.
Bob" was with Davis when the
great discovery on the April Fool was
made. He was with Harry Dudson
when that cratic miner struck rich
ore on the "Stray Dog claim. When
the first shaft on the Annie Laurie
pierced what seemed to be barren
rock and found specimen ore that re-
sembled the show cases of a jewelry
store, the Stray Dog had already been
a visitor for a day. When the great
streak of white quartz on the Broncho
was first brought to light, with it's
beautiful seams of yellow metal, the
Stray Dog was barking with delight in
and out among the excited miners He
was on the Nellie Gray claim, of the
Cold Wedge property, when the con-
tinuation of the famous Briggs lease
was found, completely hidden, as it
was, by masses of country rock. He
was on the Iron King and Iron Queen
when the first rocker of placer dirt
shook down it's coarse granules of gold.
So many times has he been present, to
remain but few hours and then to
disappear, that no new discovery is
made but that the question is asked at
once by some one, "Was the dog
around?'
Thirty miles from Manhattan a dis
covery was made in Miller county, and
when the excited prospectors became
somewhat settled down again they dis
covered that the Stray Dog had been
before them just one week. When
Mershon located the Yellow Horse,
Bob" was there; when the rich leases
on Litigation Hill were found Bob"
was distributing his favors equally
among the miners.
At the time the Homestake claim
that rich discovery that startled old
time miners-frst showed it's true
value, it was learned that the Stray
Dog had chased chipmunk under the
tree where the richest gold was
brought to light.
The strife for the Stray Dogs favor
amongst the rough men Of the hills
becomes at times almost pitched bat
tie. They cut the heart out of the ten
derloins for the purpose of tempting
him. They feed him boxed candy, and
prepare beds Of cotton batting for him.
He stays three or four days with one
miner and. all of sudden he disap-
pears. He is fine watch dog. When
he Is around no strangers or intruders
are allowed near the tents. The miners
have taken his appearances so much to
heart that they have become firm be-
levers in him as sure forerunner of
good luck.
When any man strikes It rich, tho
dog has invariably been upon the
oAoNAAA' 0AAS AAAeAA3 VIII AoO 4OSI q
tune in eastern investments and was
roughing it in the foothills around
Manhattan, thinking to recuperate.
spent week in feeding Bob" dainties
and endeavoring to coax the dog to 70
out prospecting with him. But there
was nothing doing.
'Bob," the stray dog, is close to me-
dirm size, his ears are sharp pointed
and continually moving. He is a mix
ture of collie and cur. The story is
told of him that he belonged to an In
dian who was laid apart from his tribe
to die. Bob stayed with his master un-
til his fate finally oyercame him, both
man and dog silent, both seeming to
understand the necessary end. When
the Indian was finally found by a par
ty of white and buried out of sight the
stray dog took up his eccentric life,