DOG’S SAGACITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1927, Page 4

DOG’S SAGACITY.

BRINGS HELP TO master

SYDNEY, September 8. From the Ballarat district of Victoria comes an epic stor) ol t.i. s.'v>. city "and devotion of a dog in bringing nid 6) bis injured master. John Flynn, aged 29. years, a, wood cutter, was working in a- forest reserve felling trees when a branch of dry gum tree, 3ft in diameter, unexpectedly crashed. In attempting hurriedly to retrieve his coat, Flynn was struck across the back by a massive liipl) and rendered sensefcss. When Flynn recovered consciousness some time'later, liis dog, a half-bred kelpie, was licking his face and 'manifesting distress at his master’s unusual situation. On recovering his strength a little, Flynn extracted from the pocket of his coat an old envelope and a stub of pencil, and wrote a to for help to his mother at- their homo some miles away. He enclosed the message in his handkerchief, which he

tied round the kelpie’s neck, and ordered the dog to go home. After some persuasion, the laithiul animal made olf homewards. The kelpie apparently ran hard tho whole wav to his master's home. Mrs Flynn noticed that the dog was distressed when he reached home, hut her poor eyesight failed to notice the handkerchief with the mute call for aid round the dog’s neck. For hours the dog fretted restlessly about the house until late in tho afternoon a younger member of the household returned home and found tho message. The kelpie barked encouragingly as the handkerchief was untied and showed his joy. A relief party ol neigh- | hours was. quickly organised and set . off, led by the kelpie, ’ The rescuers found Flynn throe- : quarters of a mile from the scene of 1 the accident, stoically crawling along tlm bush track. He told his rescuers that when the dug failed to return within n reasonable time, ho began to dig himself out from underneath the great branch. After long and painful labour with his hands, lie succeeded in v freeing himself, his linger nails being \ torn to shreds in the process. He found that spinal injuries prevented him from rising to his feet, but lie set out to crawl home, pausing every few yards for rest, and ease. Flynn was hurriedly taken to hos- ° pital, where he was admitted in a serious condition. F7is faithful dog accompanied him the wbol’c time, and only left Ins bedside after long persuasion I by Flynn's relatives.