The Washington times., 1917-03-11
GREAT DANES ROUT
MUTINEERS ON SHIP
Captain Whose Life They Saved
Tells Washingtonians Tale
of Devotion.

4 story of heroism and devotion is
told by Capt. w. C. Bonsel, coastwise
master of the steamer Adelaide of
Norfolk, who is visiting at 6S3S Sixth
street, Takoma Park.
The principals in the adventure, at
least the conquerors, are with him.
In downtown Washington yesterday
groups of people of all classes, from
solid business men to corner loiterers,
gathered about the visitors to hear
the shippers yarn at first hand. Even
the officer on the beat forgot his
habitual keep moving" admonition
and Joined the your-obstructing-t the
traffic class.
The heroes of the tale are of Dan
ish extraction, one having been born
in Denmark and the other in Norfolk,
of Danish parentage. In fact, the
latter two are Great Danes. answering
to the nameSof Sport and Beauty.
The dogs saved the captains life.
Crew Becomes UnruIy.
Captain Bonsel had taken on a crew
at Norfolk with articles signed for a
long trip and a pay clause providing
for percentage of earnings rather
than straight" wages. The boat was
engaged in a pickup trade which
went well for time. but there came
period of several weeks when
cargos were hard to find and char
ter parties scarce.
Things were going badly and some
Of the crew began to regret signing
for the voyage. The engineer con-
ceived a plan to mutiny. capture the
captain, and rob the purser's safe.
The captain suspected trouble was
brewing. He had but two dependable
friends on board-his two Great
Danes. These he stationed at his
cabin.
One night the engineer. and his fell
low malcontents approached the
cabin. Sport growled. The engineer
approached, but both dogs growIed
objection. Then two of the mutineers
came nearer. only to be thrown to
the ground by the faithful animals.
who held them down by the collars
of their shirts. at theesame time max
ing sufficient noise to arouse the
captain, who speedily covered the
culprits with his weapons and ended
the mutiny.
81 owe my life to those dogs" said
Captain Bonsel. land I'm never go-
inG to forget that night
Captain BOnsel is accompanied by
Paul Strider.
Dog Retrieves Man.
Each dog stands as high as the
average mans hip, has a large head
and a beautifully marked coat. Sport,
the larger, weighs about 200 pounds
He has been especially trained as a
police dog. He can carry a basket
twenty-five pounds, and
will not touch food he carries until
given permission by his owner. He
has rescued several men from drown
ing, and can carry a little boy on his
back, like a pony.
sport can scent a crook, especially
a colOred crook" said the captain.
He has often caught them prowlinc
around the wharvcs. II ! tell him
to go fetch any man ] point out to
him, he'll get him If he has to knock
him down and drag him to me. He
has never been known to make a mis-
take. and can trail a criminal like n
To prove il. CPDtain BonseI gave a
negro 90 cents to play victim. Al
though stranger to the dog, when
the man got about a block and a half
away Sport, at the bidding Of his
went after him, and the
quarry returned with the dog hold
ing onto his trouser leg.
He'll retrieve men, same as
huntin' dog will retrieve BIRDS" said
the owner.