The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-27
Fierce RongPe|S Almost XIII MervQ
Mrs. Peterson
HELP ARRIVES IN NICK OF TIME
RESCUER RUNS QUARTER OF A
MILE AND DRIVES BRUTEs
AWAY WITH HAMMER.

STAMFORD, Conn, Feb. 27.-Six
wolfish dogs, maddened by hunger
probably, furiously tried to rend Mrs.
Malcolm Peterson in Darien today.
while l stooa there all alone with
those wild brutes trying to tear me to
pieces l thought of my husband and
my home. Only that thought gave
me strength to fight them Off; to keep
my senses until help came to me-
said Mrs. Peterson.
She is sturdy young woman, but
the mere narrative of her narrow es-
cape made her semi-hysterical; now
she sObbed, now laughed foolishly as
she told it. She went to Darien to
visit her friend Miss Emma Delafield,
a wealthy spinster. Mrs. Peterson
was passing Mrs NJ. |. Hennen's sum-
mer residence on the Collender's Point
road. near that of the late William
Zeigler, the baking powder king. Mrs.
Hennen, a rich wioow, passed the
winter in New York; the six dogs be-
long to her, the neighbors say, and
having left them to forage for them
selves have reverted closer and closer
to their ancestral savagery.
Her Story Of the right.
AS Mrs. Peterson was walking by
the Hennen place the six dogs rushed
at her. A shaggy, snarling brute led
the pack.
The leader. jumped at my throat"
she said. Il put out my arm to ward
him off. and his teeth closed on it.
l shook the dog off and he sprang
again, but missed me-
Then the others jumped at me. Two
of them caught my furs and another
caught my muff in his teeth. Still an
other seized the back of my coat. The
big leader grabbed my skirt and bit
through it into my knee.
THE brutes were trying to throw
me down. | knew If | fell they would
bite me to pieces, SO turned face to
them and backed toward a tree Two
houses were near by, and | screamed
for help. Had l known then the
houses we're unOccupied I'm sure
would have died on the spot. Even the
thought of husDan,- and home would
not have supported me.
The dogs kept jumping at me, snarl-
ing and barring their fangs, the sight
of which l will never forget. One
climbed up my lack and tried to get
at my neck, but | shook him off.
Help at Last.
1T seemed an age before anyone
came to help me- William Fitch, a
business man, was IN his office, a
quarter of mile away, and he heard
my cries. He ran all the way with a
hammer in his hands. The dogs turn
ed on him, but few blows put them
to flight.
when they were gone, | tainted.
Mr.. Fitch assisted me to Miss Deli
fields house. and Dr. Nixon was called
and cauterzed my wounds. See, the
clothing l wore was ripped, torn, ruin
ed"
Mrs. Peterson's husband holds a
responsible place with big manufac-
turing company here they live at No.
131 Henry street.
Dogs Owner Little Known.
Very little is know in Darien OF the
owner of the dogs, except that she is
Mrs Madge |. Hennen, is wealthy,
spends most of her time in New York
hotels, and has a son. a physician,
now studying abroad. Her secretary,
David A. Rose, engaged Thomas Mad
den, of Darien, to look after Mrs. Hen
mems place and the dogs.
A. Floyd Delafeld. member OF the
New York Stock Exchange, who lives
in the house adjoining the Hennen
place, said tonight:
Mrs. Hennens dogs have attacked
my wife and servants several times.
There are at least II dogs all told,
but some of them are kept up. About
seven of them are at liberty and they
run in pack always and are vicious