DOG THAT RACED A TRAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 20 August 1925, Page 10

DOG THAT RACED A TRAIN.

NOW A MASCOT OX WARSHIP. An amusing incident occurred the other day when a party of 500 American Jackiea were about to start on their journey to Eotorua. The central figure of the occurrence was a dog, and lie is going to be the reminder for many a laugh among our visitors when NewZealand 13 left behind them. While the train was waiting at the station the men were attracted by the dog, which gratefully responded to their friendly overtures, and was quite willing to become an extra passenger at the invitation of some of the sailors. Regulations, however, are rigid, and the guard was obliged to veto the proposal. But the dog evidently got a "hunch" about the situation, and cocking his head knowingly, wagged his tail and cheerfully rested on his haunches The whistle blew and off went the train, and the dog, allowing it a reasonable handicap, trotted off in pursuit. The Americans thought they had seen the last "of bowwow, but then they didn't -know about the Rcmuera hill. Slowly and more slowly worked the driving rod of the panting engine as it hauled the 500 Jackies up hill. The load was beginning to tell, and the dog, running light and with a good lope, soon drew up alongside and barked greetings to his highly tickled friends on board. The chance was to good a one to be missed, and one of the sailors, hopping overboard, landed doggie triumphantly on a ear, and the extra passenger made the journey to Rotorua without further trouble from authority. He was jealously guarded during the stay at the thermal township and returned with his friends to Auckland. It is not many dogs which can count among their scalps the beating of a train, and he has now been elevated to the rank of a mascot on the battleship that captured him.