Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01
SMALL HERO is HURT
CHILDREN DYING AS DOGS
CHASE THEM OVER CLIFFS.
Animals Set on Little Ones Picking
Flowers in Park Near
Weehawken, N. ].

NEW YORK,June 1.-Seeking to save her
little brother from two dogs which had been
set upon party of children gathering wild
flowers in Hauxhurst Park, Weehawken,
yesterday, Bernadine Dierks, thirteen years
old, of No. 300 Union street, Union Hill, fell
over fifteen-foot cliff, fracturing her skull
and breaking her arm
William Zimmerman, five years old, of
the same address, one of the panic-strCken
party Of youngsters fleeing from the dogs,
also fell over the cliff and fractured his
skull. Both are in the North Hudson Hos
pital and are not expected to live.
Charles Zimmerman, a bandmaster, and
George Dierks, fathers of the injured chill
dren, sought last night to cause the arrest
of Lawrence w. Wallace, caretaker of the
park, whom the children say set the dogs
upon them. No one was hurt by the dogs.
All the children live in Union Hill and
started for the park early in the afternoon
They had often been there and never were
disturbed in their rambles over the place.
which was for century more the home
stead Of the Duer family. Its wide acres,
which furnished cover and comfort for
many patriots of the revolution, have
passed into the hands of a real estate syn
dictate, and several residences have been
built.
Reserved for a park, liberal acreage is
favorite playground for youngsters Of
towns. Thought of danger to their little
ones there was the last to suggest itself to
the Union Hill mothers, who yesterday
sent off their boys and girls for an after
noon in the grassy fields and newly green
groves.
Man Sets on the Dogs.
There were several very young children in
the party, which was largely under the d.
rection of Bernadine Dierks, aided by an
other girl a few years her Junior. They
reached the place in safety, roamed the
fields and groves unmolested and were on
their way homeward when they passed
through wide meadow in which many
little wild plants were bloSsoming-
While the youngsters were engaged In
half aimless rambles across this field, idly
pulling the worthless but pretty flowers
they were startled by the shouts of a man
who had just come within view accompa-
MED by two big dogs. His words were unin-
telligible to the children. but his intentions
were evidently hostile, and they were hud-
ding together in alarm when the man, be-
coming further enraged because they had
not already begun to take flight whooped
to his dogs and, pointing to the children
set the beasts upon them.
From the dogs subsequent conduct 1t
seems more than likely that they regarded
the whole affair as a frolic, for they never
tried to harm the children. They dashed
Al tneIn, however, with all the appearance
of intense ferocity and at once threw the
already terrified little ones into panic
and fight.
Screaming with fright, they rushed away
to escape the dogs. They did not know
the place nor realize that they were head
ing straight for the top of ravine ff
teen feet deep. AS they ran most of them
carried their heads turned over their Shout
ders to watch the oncoming Of the dogs
and none saw the peril into which they
were dashing.
At the point where the scattering party of
children reached the edge of the ravine
long. broad rock juts out from the hillside
and upon it the little Dierks boy and Willie
Zimmerman ran. Bernadine Dierks, MAIN
tanning rear guard for the tiny fugitives,
was few feet behind them.
Saves Brother, but Falls.
Children and dogs reached the rock to-
gether. and Bernadne, forgetful Of her
own safety and thinking only/of her little
brother, threw herself at the dog nearest
to him. She caught the chids dress in
her left hand as she cast him out of the
path of the dog and at the same time. al
though she did not know it, dragged him
back from the edge of the cliff.
The effort, however, sent her plunging
off the rock, and at the same instant the
little Zimmerman boy went over. He raced
ing behind him as he ran. Bernadine's
swing threw her brother out of danger
and he did not go over. The other chill
dren reached the edge at less steep placs
and tumbled unframed down the ravine's
sides.
Whoever the man that set the dogs upon
the children, and who they say was Wal
lace, he does not appear to have realized
what had befallen them. He called off his
dogs and disappeared. The cries of the
still conscious youngsters brought help
from other quarters and a surgeon from
the North Hudson Hospital
In addition to the fracture Of the ZiDo-
norman boys skull he suffered a severe
wound from a twig which caught under his
eyelid as he fell and was forced up under
the skin Of his forehead, coming out on
top of his head.
Indignation followed the return Of the
survivors and news Of the injury to the
others as 1t spread in Union Hill Efforts
to obtain a warrant for Wallace failed be-
cause the recorder could not be found to
Issue one.