Year: 1870

From the Detroit Free Press, June 81


About two months ago. wnile assisting to rig out
q vessel III the fivef man named Peter Demery,
living Peterbor0 street, IN the. northern outskirts
OF the city, stuck rusty spike through the sole OF his
left foot, and has ever since been laid up with the
accident once narrowly escaping attack or lock-
jaw. His family consist OF wife and boy, the latter
about ten years old. On Sunday afternoon the mo-
tier aud boy went on visit TO friends on Gra-
tot road leaving the invalid lying on a bed that
stood in recess OF the front room In fact. there
is but one room III the house, the boy occupying


lounge at night. AS Demery goes about OH crutch,


lie had heavy one lying on the ped when The family
went away For three years tie family had owned


large cur dog. The dog wanted TO 60 with the boy,


but was driven back and laid down ON the step.


Demery states that he had read for about an hour,
The animal had walked In at the open door
and stood in the centre Of the room, utter.


Shining and Tie hair on his back brlsting up


straight. He spoke sharply to the animal, who


slnnk under the bed, keeping up bowling as II in


almost opposite the door, and this was up little


way at the botton the SASH being held up BY hook.


Slammed the door shut, and Demery and his dog


were thus shut up, as 1t were, together. He states


that the dog kept up his annoying tones until he


finally spoke sharply to HIM. when ali at once the


brute bounded from under the bed and commenced


running around the room. Ills eyes were full of


and every hair on the animal seemed 10 stand erect.
There was no foam about the brutes jaws, but he


emitted sort % Of sudsy saliva that scented The room
swapping at tle blowing window curtain every
time he passed, AMI each time he eaped over


the cook stove, which stood just out from the
wall. Demery did not realize that he invoked any


danger in speaking to tie dog; he regarded the affair


as arising from desire Of the dog t. get out and fol-
low the BOY. So he yelled sharply at the brute, bid
ding him lie down. The dog just thea, had halted
near the door, and Demery was raised up on his
elbow, holding his crutch In one hand, as ne had
notion to hobble over and open tie door. Hardly
mad he spoken when the dog bounced forward, CIV.
ing fearful howl. Instlnctlvely the man extended
his crutch, which came in contact with the dogs
head, and he went rolling on the door. When lie
got up II was TO resume his race around the room,
looking more frlghtlul than ever. Demery sprang
the back side of the bed, close to the wall, hold


ing his crutch ready for deferce but hoping that the
mad brute would not again attack him 1t was now
time when Demery might expect his wife and child
to return at any moment, and It suddenly occurred
| to him that their return would only be TO meet an
attack from the dog. II they ascended the steps
and opened the door, as entirely natural, the dog
would bite one or both. There was no longer room
to doubt that he was rabid, and that his madness
was growing worse all the tiine He might shout an
alarm as they stood at tie door, but would they
understand anu Iced II in tine? In thai moment Of
peril 10 his family and 20 hiplsen he resolved to