Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-26
HIS DOG SAVES HIM.

Betsy" MonereI, Guards George
Brace, Her Master.
The following from the Kansas City
Journal tells of an Iowa dogs troubles
in Kansas City:
Except for Betsy a faithful Eng
lish shepherd dog, George Brace, an
aged traveller who arrived in Kansas
City Tuesday night, might long ago
have died by the roadside, unknown
and unattended. Brace suffers from
heart disease and has fainting spells.
No matter where Brace may be when
such spell overtakes him, the faith
full dog, who is always with him, sets
out to get relief. She will approach
the first man she encounters and prac-
tically lead him to where her unconsci-
Gus master lies. If no human being is
in sight, Betsy will go to the nearest
house and Scratch on the door until
some one puts in appearance. Then
to drag the person to her masters side.
"I'd been goner long before
now said Brace at police headquarters
yesterday afternoon, If 1t hadn't been
for old Betsy
Brace left Shenandoah, Iowa, Mon
day to go to Springfield, Mo-, where
his wife is. His money gave out at
st. Joseph and charity organization
there sent him to Kansas City
Betsy was with me- said Brace,
and forgot all about her. We were
clear down to the depot when baked.
I wouldn't go and leave her. no sir.
She looked so pitiful like, and / guess
that l did, too, for tears were in my
old eyes, when a kind hearted man
whom told about Betsy said Don t
worry, old man, I'll see that Betsy goes
along with you all right And he did.
Brace went to Iowa several months
ago on the representation that lie
could get a piece Of land there and
pay for 1t by working the land. This
proved not to be true. His wife was
taken ill three months ago and she,
with five children and all the house
hold goods, was sent back to Spring
field. Brace remained behind to earn
money enough for his passage. Betsy,
the ever faithful companion remained
with him. He was taken i'll soon after
his wife and children's departure and
Betsy remained in the room with him
day and night.
When the old man and the dog ar-
rived here late at night, they were
taken to police headquarters and
thence to the Helping Hand Institute
where good care was given them Yes
terday Brace applied to Colonel J. G.
Greenman, Humane agent, for trans
portation home. This was furnished
and Colonel Greenman took particular
pains to see that Betsy went along,
too. They left last night
while here the old man had one of
his fainting spells and the old dog
Brace says he has often dropped down
by the roadside and in out of way
places but that Betsy always got busy
and secured help.
"'Lots of people told me that they
were afraid Of the dog and came near
shooting her, but there was always
some one who had sense enough to
say, Let's see what the dog wants p
and they alawys found me.
"tBy gosh, came near shooting her
myself once. 1t was last summer and
! never would have forgiven myself
had | done it for Betsy had probably
saved my 2-year-old baby's life. Ii
came about in this way: My wife and
were out in the garden when the dog
came running up to us, blood all over
her mouth and head Right straight
it came to me that Betsy was mad and
had killed Lizzie, the baby.
"I'll go and get the gun and kill
that dog right now, said, but my
wife, who understood Betsy better than
l, said Let's Investigate. The baby
was out in the yard on blanket play
ing. was almost afraid to look where
we had left her. Betsy ran on ahead
however, and picked up venemous
snake not five feet from the baby, and
began to shake it, She had killed that
snake right by the baby Betsy did
her duty for she had been left there
to watch the child She was only try,
ing to tell me about it.
No, SIR said the old man as he
patted the mongrel on the head, 81
Betsy don't go, / don't I'd rather
have her along than lots of people i
know, for she's more faithful and she
don't lie.'
Miss Ragby. Colonel Greenmans
clerk, gave her noon lunch to the dog
spreading a paper on the floor of the
Office to make table cloth
"Pll go and get some more she
said. I'D rather feed that dog than
any one | ever saw before"