The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-20
DOG BUM BILL" Is DEAD IN CHICAGO This Canine Hated All Auto
 mobiles HAS MET DOOM AT LAST Waas Most DsreputabIe Dog in Big city-His Death Is Sincerely
 Mourned-Deliehted in
 Running to Fires.
HAS MET DOOM AT LAST

From the Chicago Record-H Herald
 Bum Bill, the most disreputable dog In Chicago, is dead. His animosity toward automobiles finally proved his undoing. Since the introduction of the horseless vehicle he had vainly tried to keep it out of the levee. and whenever one of the machines invaded the purlleus of Whisky Row" Bum Bill was on hand with d protest. He could smell the gas oline before tlba auto came within a block of him, and the inevita ble chase with an- gry barks followed.
 Of recent years Bill didn't pay much attention to anything else but automo- biles Sometimes he would chase as many as 200 in day. Friends of the dog say that he used to patrol State street from Har- rison to Taylor in the same fashion that boulevard policemen keep a watch for speeding chauffeurs. Bill had no objec- tion to the cars being driven in thorough fares away from the levee. but there was trouble when one of the ''whizz wagons" turned into that part of State street known as 'Whisky Row" He didn't care how big the automobile was, or how fast it was going, he<would try to bite chunks out of the tires. He had many narrow escapes from being killed, but he seemed to lead a charmed life Old Foe Finally Got Him.
 But his old foe finally got him few nights ago at Wabash avenue and Park court. After being hit by ''red devlf' he crawled to a barn near by and was found dead in stall the next morning. An employe of the Frank Scott Express company, who found the dog and recog- nized him, notified Judge" Dolan, man. ager of the Tivoi hotel. 3SS State street, where Bum Bill had lived the last five years. The judge thought more of Bum Bill than some people do of their children. When he heard of the dogs death he wept, and he says he is not ashamed of it.
 The dos was brought to the hotel and "waked'' that night in the managers apartments. He was laid out in q white easl1et and several candles stuck in bot ties gave realism to the sombre scene.
 The news of Bum Bills death caused genuine sorrow among his friends. Ev- cry denizen of the levee knew the dog and loved him. They came sngly and In groups to the hotel to pay their respects to the dead. Expressions such as "He looks natural, doesn't he?" and Hes a handsome stiff," were heard around the casket
 It was a motley crowd that came to the hotel to gaze on Bum Bills remains. For the most part the@dog's friends belong to the underworld, and some of those who called to take last look at Bill had to be careful that they were not seen by the police. As a matter of fact two mourners on the way to the wake" were nabbed by Chief Shippy's men, it being the night of the big roundup of known criminals.
 There Were Tears and Flowers.
 At dawn the next morning they buried Bum Bill in the rear Of a resort where he had long been a habitue. There were tears and flowers and kindly expressions for the dog. whose pedigree no one knew, and whose life would fill a book. Bum Bill was a small black beast of unknown breed. There is no record of his birth or pedigree. He was found on the doorstep of barber shop at 372 State street one frosty morning in the winter of 1896 The negro porter discovered him when he came to the shop to open up. Bum Bill was then about 8 months old. The porter put him under the stove and he soon thawed out. When the proprie- tor of the shop arrived he ordered a pan of milk for the pup. He drank it and then went back to the stove.
 Props the keeper of the shop, was superstitious, like most barbers. That day happened to be a good one for hair cuts and slaves, and Props said it was the dog that brought the luck to the shop. So it was decided that the pup was to be kept as a mascot. A vote was taken among the barbers as to the name the cognomen chosen.
 That is how Bum Bill came to the levee.
 Bill Had Meal Ticket.
 Bill was the only dog in Chicago that had the distinction of alaving a meal ticket. His friends took care that he was well fed, and to make sure that he would on made three years ago with the Cafe Stross. Harrison and State streets, that Bill was to have a meal ticket as long as he lived. The ticket cost Bills friends $l a week, and entitled him to H meals, not one of which he was ever known to miss He was called the star boarder of the restaurant. Twice during the three years, it is told of him, he took strange dog to the kitchen and let the stranger eat his pan of food that the chef sat be- | fore him. Bill stood by looking on satis- | factorily as the other canine lay into the | mess, and trotted off in the consciousness | of having done good turn. The story of | Bum Bill stalking hungry dog to his | meal ticket is vouched for by Mrs. l Stress, proprietress of the cafe where | Bill dined. Having associated with the denizens of | the levee for so many years, Bum Bill | became used to their ways and language. | and he was unable to understand any | thing but slang. For instance. if per- l son should say to him, "Get away from | here'' or "Go on home' he would not l have known what was meant. But just | say "Sxidoo. Bill or ''Twenty-three for l you" and he would trot off In the direc- l ton of the Tivoi
 Had No Use for Policemen. One of Bills peculiarities was that he l had no use for policeman. He was able l to distinguish a fireman's s uniform from | that of a Cooper" and he always | wagged a welcome to the former. His an- | tpathy to the guardians of the peace l probably was instilled in him by those | with whom he associated. Bll's friends 1 were composed principally of pickpockets, | second-story workers. safe blowers, dla- mond getters, confidence men, race horse | touts, cabmen. bartenders, shell work | CTS, street fakirs. prize fighters and l cheap grafters The dog had often | heard them express their opinions of po- l licemen, and, being one. of them, he l came to look upon bluecoat as an en- emy. Judge Dolan, who wouldn't lie | about Bill, now that he is dead and gone, | says the dog could tell plain clothes of- ficer a block away.
 For more than ten years Bum Bill had |