DOG’S SUICIDE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2033, 19 March 1907, Page 1

DOG’S SUICIDE

A story of the suicide of a dog at Crofton Park Station on a recent afternoon is vouched for by an eyewitness, Mr H. IT. Howe, of 17 Dalrymple road, Crofton Park. .

At Crofton Park Station there is a slope which leads down to the side of the railway line, and Mr Howe, who was waiting to catch the ten minutes to two p.in. train to Yictrria noticed the dog walking about tins slope in a lost kind of way, and a| ;rcnt.lv having no owner near at hand. Several times It started to go on tlie line ,liiit each time seemed to change its mind, and ran back up the slope. The train,' which leaves St. Paul’s station at twentytwo minutes past one p.m.. and arrives at Crofton Park at thirteen minutes to two, then ran into the station, whilst the dog stood quietly looking at tlie engine, which was a yard or two from tlie bottom of tlie slope. As soon as the train had reached the slope, the dog with almost human instinct, ran forward and placed its head on the line, apparently with the idea of courting death, and in a few minutes its wish was gratified, as tile train passed over it. severing the. head completely from the body. Cases of suicide ill the canine world are not unknown, as there is a recorded instance of such a thing a few years ago in tlie Regent’s Canal, and another in the White Stone Pond at Hampstead.