The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-01-06
DOGS MIXED IN SOCIETY
An Event in DOgdOm in PittSburg
on Christmas Day.
TWO HUNDRED OF THEM THERE

But They So Far Forgot the Respect
Due Their Host as to Engage in a
Battle Royal and Demolish the
Christmas Tree. Owners of the
Dogs went at" One Another, Too.
A Society Event Has a Sensation
al Finish.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.-TWo hun
dred dogs of high and low degree
were guests of Our Teddy, an Eng
Ilish bulldog with magnificent set
of teeth, in the Hotel Sterling, this
city, Christmas day, and they so far
forgot the Christmas spirit and the
respect due their host that they en-
gagged in a battle royal. The fray
grew to such proportions that within
minute dogs were worrying one
another over the entire first floor of
the hotel. A Christmas tree which
had been the chief exhibit in Our
Teddys entertainment programme
was wrecked, and by the time police
reserves reached the scene of car
mage a dozen pOodles and Skye ter
riers were lifeless on the floor.
To add to the excitement the own
ers of the dogs went at one another
with their fists Each man was de-
termined in attempting to save his
pet from hostile jaws, and this con-
flict of aim quickly led to the eX-
change of blows. So men and dogs
mixed up in a general encounter.
The parlors, corridors, office and din
ing room of the hotel offered a space
too cramped for the combatants, and
before the police took a hand duels
were merrily in progress on the side
walks The wholesale fight resulted
in a flight of the regular patrons Of
the hotel, and as grand climax TO-
600 persons gathered in the street,
so that all traffic was blocked. Be-
fore order finally was restored fifty
policemen were on the spot.
The Christmas tree as a treat for
dogdom was the happy conceit of
James Griese and John Beymer, the
prOprietOrs of the hotel The men
are the joint owners of Our Teddy,
winner of several blue ribbons, and
who rests uneasily in swathes of cot
ton bandages. Our Teddy proved as
valiant fighter as ever played host
to motley company. At the frst
snarl he was eager for the tussel, ami
he disported himself gayly until he
worked his own undoing by fastening
on policeman's right calf. The pa
trOlman brought down his club with
merciless force, and Our Teddy was
unconscious to the havoc around him
for full half hour
The hotel men issued invitations
for the Christmas tree a week be-
fore, and dogs responded from all
parts of Pittsburg. Many of the
guests arrived in automobiles, but the
majority were content to trot to the
festival on foot. The Christmas tree
was Respondent in colored balls, tin
sci and tiney lectric lights. Brass
studded collars, Ieashes, combs,
brushes and dog biscuits hung in pro-
fusion from the branches as gifts for
the guests. When the folding doors
were thrown back and the tree was
exposed to view there was acclama-
ton in a babel of yelps and banks.
On platform, draped in red plush.
sat Our Teddy" in isolated glory,
as on a throne. Griese elected him
self spokesman, and taking his stand
near Our Teddy" began an address.
Il have been directed to an
nounce," began Griese, "by the host
of the occasion, the great and peer
less, Our Teddy, that It warns his
heart this merry Christmas day to
greet you all as his guests.
Griese got no further. A scrappy
customer, half bulldog, half Irish
terrier, launched himself straight at
daschund which had been squatting
with bored expression on a table.
The daschud was a dummy, stuffed
with straw, but it answered the pur-
pose. The belligerent mongrel with
grOWls of glee carried it triumphant
ly to the floor, and in an instant the
zoo guests were at it with might and
main. Our Teddy sprang lightly
from his perch and as lightly accept
ed the chance of showing his prov
ess. Fifty men ran together in
struggling group, pulling on ears,
tails and legs in a vain attempt to
separate the Combatants. In a short
time the warike spirit infected the
men themselves, and they abandoned
the dogs to vent their rage upon each
other.
Not only was the Christmas tree
reduced to wreckage, but much val
liable furniture was wrecked. The
dummy daschund that caused all the
trouble was scattered in pieces over
the hotel rugs and carpets. MANY
of the weaker and less spirited dogs
escaped by going straight through the
windows, and when a roundup was
attempted it was found that fftv
dogs were missing.
FRANCE RICHEST COUNTRY