SAGACITY OF A DOG.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 290, 17 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 a party of gentlemen in the steamer Avon to the, wreck of the Blencathra, at King’s Island.' The party left Melbourne jast Wednesday, 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 under New Year’s Island. They had not. come to an anchor for more than threequarters of an hour, when a cry was raised that a seal was swimming towards the, ship. The party on board sought for a weapon with which to kill the seal, and found a long pole to despatch it with. It was, however, then ascertained by means of a flaas that the animal was no seal at all, ut 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 hind-quarters. The wounds were sewn up and attended to, as well as could be under the circumstances, and it was conjectured at the time that they had been caused by sharks. Shortly afterwards a few of the ,party visited the island, and there 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 live apparently wild dogs of the kangaroo breed, which would no doubt have been dangerous had there not been so many persons present, who then felt persuaded that the dog had been worried by its wild brethren, and had, at the risk of its life, swum off to the vessel as soon, as it anchored hear. All on board were strongly impressed with the great instinct of 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 its own kind, if it could reach the ship. It was considered that the dog must have swam at least a mile or more against a very strong current after it was first seen. The animal became a great favourite on board, and was raffled for before the voyage home was completed.