The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-13
MASTER AND DOG ARE
MERCY WORK PARTNERS
Tale Of Lon Wescott Beck and
Dog Rufus, Who Saved
Many Lives.

Lou Wescott Beck and Rufus his
deg, were partners in work Of mercy
which covered thirteen years. Then
Beck Ia down his tife martyr to
his work He died as result OF drink
ing from poison spring at the edge
OF the desert Rufus fingered for three
years. watching ana langulshing for
his partner, VINO for the first time had
gone on the long long tran without
him; then the other day he set out 10
md HIM says Estclle Lawson Lindsey.
In rhe Los Angeles Express,
| talked RECENTLY to Mrs. Lou Nts'
colt Geek ana nom her Ups heard
Il simple story OF the devotion be-
tween nel husband ana the dog, She
talked Of them and th-ir work quietly
but her eyes were heavy with tears,
Mrs. Beck was the third member OF
the partnership that. WITHIN thirteen
years rescued between 500 uud 400 pco-
pie from the death 10y thirst and eN-
h stlon in the great American
deserts. the Colorado, the Mojave and,
worst OF all. Death valley But she
did not 60 into the deserts; she re-
manned at home in Pasadena, waiting
always to send help or supplies at
moments notice.
Friends Of the desert guide and his
four footed partner will erect monu-
ment 10 them in Brookslde park, Pasa-
dena Miss Maude Daggett is now
working on the model. which VIII be
cast in bronze.
II was fourteen years ago that Lou
Wescott Beck. Chicago man, pros
pectng In Death Valley, was lost in
that inferno of shifting sand. madden
ing heat and deceptive mirages. With
him was his dog, Rufus, splendid
intelligent animal. cross between
Siberian bloodhound and St Bernard.
There were no sign posts in the
deserts in those days. nothing TO guide
the traveller TO the water holes, no
warnings of poison springs. There
was just sand and hot wind loneli-
ness, thirst madness and ever and al
ways the marvellous fascination of the
desert colors and the lure OF hidden
metals
The man and the dog were almost
dead when finally they crawled to
water hole, drank the brackish water
and staggered on and finally out OF the
Lou Wescott had staked valuable
claims In the desert, but nobody. not
even his widow. knows where they
are.
story that was the beginning of the
end for the two lifesavers They had
been far afied in the desert doing
rescue work. When finally they came
to the edge of Death Valley they were
furnished for water and II was growing
that he had always used and offered
some water to Rufus. The suffering
dog refused It, The water had become
infected.
II was terrible trip home. and
when II was ended Lou Beck went to
bed never TO rise. Rufus grieved be-
side him and the night he died the
dog howled all night
AFTER that" said Mrs. Beck, rufus
lost interest in life He loved me and
he loved DR. Agncw The doctor al
ways had taken care Of him when
ho was sick
III left the dog with anybody else,
even to do an errnn1 he cried until
II would break your heart. He actually
shed tears Then he died"
Rufus has already been remembered
In art. Camoulous Searle. a local
sculptor, made n statuette of the dog
ecu pped for his rescue work and sold
n1an" copies OF II to raise funds for
the recent antivivisectIon campaign.