SAGACITY OF A DOG.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1996, 28 May 1875, Page 3

SAGACITY OF A DOG.

An incident showing the sagacity of a dog occurred on the recent trip of Mr G-. Stevenson and»aip'artypjfjgentlemen in the steamer Avon to the wreck of the Blencathra, at King's Island. The party left Melbourne last to visit the wreck, with the view of seeing if the Blencathra could be raised, but owing to adverse .weather they were obliged on the following morning to anchor for more than three-quarters of an hour, when the cry was raised that a seal was swimming towards the ship. The party; on board sought ffor! a? weaj)onnffith which to • kill tie seal, and found a long pole to despatch it with. It was, however, then asipertained by-means of aglass that the animal was no seal at all, but a dog of the Irish retriever breed; The dog came right on to the vessel, and was welcomed on board, when it was discovered that it had been dreadfully torn and bitten on the hindquarters. The wounds were sewn up and attended to as well as could be under the circumstances, and it was connected at the linlethat they had been caused by. sharks. Shortly afterwards a few of the party fisited ! the; island,-, and they_ arrived at what seemed- the real solution of the

means by which the animal had been injured. They were greeted by the howling and furious barking of five apparently wild dogs of the kangaroo breed, which would no doubt aaye'been dangerous had there not been so luany persons present, who then felt persuaded that the dog had been worried by its wild brethren, and^haa, 'at llie" "risk of its life, „--3l?um off to the ycssel as soon as it anchored ' near. All on. board were istrongly impressed with the great instinct ©f the^dog, which in their _opinion had come to the conclusion that it would find safety and kindness from the hands of man, and deliverance from the enemies of Ms own kind, if it could reach the ship: ' It was considered that the dog must have swum at least a mile or more against a very strong current after it was first seen. The animal became a great favorite on "board, and was raffled for before the voyage home was completed. —Australasian, May Ist.