A DOG MAIL-CARRIER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1789, 14 March 1888, Page 3

A DOG MAIL-CARRIER

There la now on exhibition at a jewelery stote under the Lick Honee, says the 11 San Jose Times " a magnificent oil painting, 40i 50in, the central Sgure being a Scotch colley. Tbe painting as a work of art, ie excellent, and will stand close scrutiny as to detßils and finish. The subject of the picture is known as Dcrßey and holds the distinction of being the only regularly employed canine mail carrier m the world. Dorsey has, for upwards of three years, carried the mail between Calico, fc'an Bernardino county, and Bismarck, a mining camp between three Bnd four miles dletant, over almuat Impassable mountains* Calico, as many of our readers know, is a station, and has a post office, Bismarck is without itage or post offioe. Without the aid of the dog many a miner wonld have a hard time getting his mails, as the oountry is very rough and steep m places, and most of the year the weather is very warm- Dorsey belongs to the postmaster at Calico, and m his youth was not regarded as above the average pup. The picture shows him to be about average size with very intelligent eyes, black and white color, ehaggy coat, and buehy Uil. The picture is made from a photograph, and dimensions of tbe dog, together with some of ita hair, being sent to Mrs Smith at her request to aa to have the picture true. The way the dog became a mail carrier waa as follows: One day the postmaster wanted to send word to his brother at Bismarck but did not want to moke the trip, It occurred to him to try tha dog, He wrote & letter, tied it around the dog's neck, pointed the animal's nose towards Biamarck and told him to go, He trotted off a short distance, and then turned abont to see what was wanted, Some of the email boys showered atones at him, and he ran on to Blemarck Nexfc day he returned with an answer tied on his neck, and he Bhowed that he had been well-treated. The experiment was repeated, each time with success and additional dignity on tbe part of the dog.

At soon as it became known that Dorsey could be depended npon, requests were constantly made by the miners to send their mails by him. The loads soon iupreased. and it became evident that they could oot tie on all the letters. The miners then ordered a handsome little mail-bag, and fitted It to the dog's •boulders. It is fastened around bis posit by ope strap, and around his ppdy, back of hio fore legs, by another. He had never missed a trip, for about three years, nor lost a letter; Now, when the stage comes m be getß up, stretches hlmaelf , walks to the post office, waits to have the mall strapped on him, and starts off as soon aa he is told all is ready. He will make a long detour to avoid meeting a stranger, seeming to realize the importance of his mission. As might be expected, Dorsey is a great favorite with all who know him m that ■ection ; The picture shows the animal with the mail-bag, on hia bick and bis fore feet on a rook, as if be had jaat ■topped to rest on his way up the side of a very rugged, deeolate hillside He Is panting, and so well ha 3 the work been done that It looks as if you could hear the animal pant. The canyon is painted from a photograph also. The conception is excellent aqd spleqdjdly carried out. The picture should be In the post office department at Washington, to shovr the expedient need to transport the mail on the western frontier.