A DOG FINDING HIS WAY BACK FROM CANADA.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8364, 25 December 1895, Page 1

A DOG FINDING HIS WAY BACK FROM CANADA.

A correspondent of the Spectator, writing over the Initials " H.C.N.," contributes the following wonderful dog story to a recent issue of that journal : " A friend thinks I ought to add to the collection of dog stories appearing in the Spectator one which is within my own knowledge, arid may appear deserving of publication. My uncle, a well known chairman of the bench of magistrates in a western county, had a tenant on his estates who occupied a farm not from the river Severn. The farmer possessed a fnvorite dog, who slepb at the foot of his bed every night. When a brother emigrated to Canada the farmer gave him the dog as a travelling companion. In the course of time the news arrived that the emigrant and his family, together with the dog, had safely reachod their destination — a farm in the interior of Canada, some days' journey from the port where they landed. At a liter date the brother in Canada wrote to his family in England saying that the dog had disappeared. Some time afterwards the dog came b>ck to the farm of his old master, about three miles from Gloucester, and though at first it could hardly be believed that he was returned from Canada, yet he soon established his identity by taking his o'd place at the foot of his master's bed at night. Inquiries were made and the dog's course was traced back a ar da to the river Severn, thence to Bristol, and theuce to a port in Canada. It appeared thab, after running from his home in Canada to the seaport, he selected there a vessel bound for Bristol, and slipped on board. After arriving at the Bristol basins he found out a local vessel trading up and down the river Severn (locally called a " trow "), and rranaf erred himself to her deck. When he reached the neighborhood of Gloucester the dog must have jumped into the Severn and reached the shore nearest to his old home. I can vouch for the truth of this story from information received fiom my relations on the spot shortly after the occurrence took place. I know the farm well, and the farmer who occupied ir."