New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
By CHARLES S. PEARSON

the face Or gray
est danger, lDy-
ally that Is sublime. and SELF sacrifice a~-
the distinctive attT,bute- ~ heroes. then
some dogs are Justly entitled 70 be So
considered Many instances are recorded 1-
OF the canine r8ce who have
proved themselves q possess. not the souls.
perhaps. but certainly the instincts. %. true
heroes. and NO more striking example could
bc cited than that of the dog IN The appended
story. This animal ot iudeterru,uate breed.
but undoubtedly Of a -uper,atIve degree 9- H.
teiligeuce and f1rtltude. was Instrument. IT.
preserving under extraordinary circumstance
the lie Of It~ master Ni4S Fletcher 1- Franklin
County New Work III the Adirondack N'.t--
tljus.
Forest fire. We're sweeping through that ~ec-
ti1u. dc~tr1VlUg many homes and UcUayluI
hundreds. Fletcher aW1kc one morning u
the fact that the flames We're approaching
perIlouSlv near his property. and unless the
most strenuous methods We're adopted his
dwelling and barns would be consumed The
house was located ON q bank of the ~ar4uay
River. with forest pu the other bank and tins
was Threatened The urc Wd~ raging ON the
mountain bevuui a narrow valley tr4vcr~ei
hv a stream of insufficient width u check the
Contagr4tlou. Fletcher enlisted such OF his
neighbor~ as he could secure. and they started
10 work acro~, the river. clearing away under
brush, back burning. and even pl'wing up
the land To halt the flames.
Flctchcr's dog had followed HIM and he
Strovc to drive II home remarkIng II W.tS no
place Tor a dog anyhow" The smoke, drtftei
down upon them, cIndcrs filled the air. and
their ears We're hIed with the distant roar ot
the flames, chanting their awful pecan IN the
orgy OF tr~tructinu- Leaving ms C0mpIUlpC-
still laborIng. Fletcher assembled httle ridge
crossed the summit. and made his way down
the other side. haltng ON rocky ledge % gaze
spcllbuuud at the sight OF the forest opposite
melting away as II by magic az the touch ~ the
sN F.-a.~ %
face even then.
\ strong wind arose suddenly. blowing III
the direction of his homestead Glowing en-
bers were waited skvW4ri. over the tops ot
the trees, and the tIrc swept down the noun
tam lust across from HIM. Alarmed ne turned
to retrace hIS steps TO the clearing he had
quilted What was his CONSERVATION To dis
cover that the belt OF sparse woodland through
which he had passed was afIre. "a Gordon ot
flame extending between HIM and his home
Caught literally between two nre~. he realized
that ms only hope lav in making Il long detour
down stream. tianking the burning brush
" he hdsteued 70 put his plan for escape IT.
operation he leaped from the rock ledge. t.-
revtlY INTO a stone Granny hidden 10y dry
leaves. His foot was wedged IN tightly ana
his leg waS snapped of like a pipe>te,u above
the ankle. Suffering eNcrucilting agony he
attempted 10 withdraw the foot. but could not
and was forced L. remain prisoner. with the
prospect OF being roasted alive when the tire
should reach the trees above and round HIM
Luckily there was no uudcrbr,,>h IN his direct
vicinity, owing To the rocky nature ot the
ground
y he lay suffering such physical and mental
agony only one III his position could cN-
perence. his dog crcPt UP 90 hmm whining and
licking his face. as ID aware ot his danger
Good dog, 60 and get help" he muttered
waving his hands tccbly IN the direction of nj,
companions. DIuly he saw the dog start up
the ridge 10 the tIre zone. through winch II
must pass. barking and swapping ~ the blazing
brush as u II understood and Disappear
Then Fletcher must have lost cpu~,,,t!sne,,-
Tor he was aroused hv men lifting h,m bodily.
aS the hot breath ot the fire tanned his face the
surrounding forest roaring like "a Niagara He
WaS CARRIED To- the center Ot the stream where
all found refuge and saw the trees flare up ike
torches and drop their fiery brauchce IN the
spot where the rescued one had lam
From out of the very heart Of the blazing
brush. ITS hair cruelty singcd away and one of
lts eyes destroyed, IT was as,crt4iued later
the intrepid dog had rushed to IT'S masters
TRENDS. m its dumb fashion telling ot the
m,h'P 10y tuggIug at their tr,uscr, legs with
ltS teeth, and trI,kiug IoVtulIv ahead through
the burned tract. when they followed O, It's
injured master
FIGHTING AN ALLIGATOR