HORRIBLE FATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1926, Page 4

HORRIBLE FATE.

ATTACKED BY BULLDOGS. SYDNEY,'August 20. A more terrible fate than that which overcame an aged woman in Melbourne this week would be difficult to imagine. She was attacked by three bulldogs and so severely bitten that she died from the injuries and shock a few hours later. The victim was Mrs Christina Olsen, aged SO years, a native of Norway. She lived at the home of Mr Ernest IT. Allan, of Preston, a dog fancier and breeder. The dogs, which hitherto had shown no disposition to attack either man, woman or child, were allowed to exercise iu the yard. Mrs Olsen was alone in the house at the time of the tragedy. It is surmised that she went into tile yard to hang out some washing. While doing so the prop supporting the clothes line fell, and Mrs Olsen's action in stooping to raise it again is believed to have caused the bulldogs to think that she was about to attack them with a stick. SHRIEKS AND GROWLS. At all events, hv almost a concerted movement the three dogs sprang at Mrs Olsen, and knocked her down. Their teeth hit into her, and the poor woman’s shrieks arose above their deep, angry growls. Women neighbours were attracted by the screams, but they all feared to enter the yard, so menacing was Ihe % attitude of ibc dogs. They did the next best thing—they made threatening sounds. These, attracted the (logs from Mrs Olsen, who turned over with her face to the ground. Then ensued for the aged woman a terrible crawl to safety. Too weak to regain ’’’cr feet, too exhausted

even to proceed at a fast pace on hands and knees. Mrs Olsen dragged herself painfully along the ground to tin' back door of the bouse. Inch by inch she opened this, until she was able to thrust herself inside, at the same time keeping the dogs, who had once more approached her. from entering. A few minutes later police arriv'd and took Mrs Olsen to hospital, whore it was found that she had been terribly mauled and bitten, and that O'e was also suffering from severe shock'. Late that evening Mrs Olsen died. The dogs were destroyed.