Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-17
THE POLITE DOG.
What the Animal Has Now Been
TAUGHT to Accomplish In Paris.

Taught to Accomplish In Paris.
Quite an unusual sight was Witness
ed today on the race course at Vincen-
nes. Instead of steeplechasers or trot-
ting horses, with their multi-colored
Jockeys, the pesage, or inclosure, was
taken up by the curious collection OF
police dogs and their masters or train
ers. The "Club Franchise du Chen do
Defence, de Garde, ct de Police an en-
trely private association Of amateurs,
had obtained permission to use the race
course for a series of experiments, to
which the police authorities were in
vited. The ground was frozen, and the
immense plan Of the largest race course
near Paris looked like piece Of some
remote desert. About fifty persons In
all, including three fashionable ladies',
had come to witness the trials, which
were to consist, first, in a test Of the
dogs obedience and intelligence. He
was to walk quietly beside his master
held in a leash, and then loose, to eX-
plore the ground, sit guard, crouch
down in concealment, or bark at the
word of command. Rolf was told to
bark and deep rythmical sound came
out of his throat three times, as If he
understood exactly how many times
were sufficient for the occasion. All
the dogs went through the first part OF
the programme with success.
The most interesting trials were the
man-hunt and arrest Of supposed
burglars. Two men were dressed up
as Apaches. They were thoroughly
padded from head to foot with mat
tress-like coverings, and well did they
need them, for the dogs took their bus
mess in earnest. Each man also wore
an iron mask and a steel helmet, as
well as iron gloves. A dog was first
told to escort one of his prisoners to
given place. He marched close at his
side, and woe to the man If he made
the slightest attempt to escape. The
dog would make fierce bound at him
and throw him down in an instant
catching, as a rule, the mattress pad
IL
ing his teeth viciously in the mans
supposed flesh. An armed attack was
then represented. A man, represent
ing a burglar. crouched with his back
against a wall. stood concealed, armed
with a club and a revolver. The train
er came along with his dog, and was
not supposed to see the man in con-
cealment. The imaginary burglar sud-
denly pOunces out at him, fires a shot
and catches the man by the throat
The police dog. however, hardly gives
him time. In an instant he seizes the
man and bowls him over, belaboring
him at the same time with his teeth.
The man is allowed to use his club as
best he can on the dogs back, but the
animal easily has the better Of him, and
the blows only stimulate his vigor.
Only one animal out of nineteen, a
German sheep-dog, refused battle, and
acted the coward. All the rest per-
formed their part with powerful con-
viction, and it may well be surmised
that a real burglar, though armed with
club and revolver, would have Jared
very badly under such an attack. Seven
dogs especially distinguished them
selves by their clever and almost scien-
| tific behavior. The best of all seemed
to be big mastiff called Garcon, who
has been for some time already in the
police service of ROubaix. Prizes have
been offered by NJ. Clemenceau, the
premier. who takes great interest In
these experiments, and by NJ. Lepin,
prefect OF police. who was represented
at Vincennes by the police commissary
of Joinvlle. The prizes vary from POS