Dog Saves Family from Death.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 June 1914, Page 8

Dog Saves Family from Death.

A St. Bernard dog recently saved the lives of several people at a fire in. Wellington, New Zealand. The fire originated in a home ot Mr. and Mrs. Hall, who were burned to death. The adjoining house was occupied by Mr. J. Carruthers and his wife and family. All 'the inmates were soundly asleep at the time, but as their house gradually filled with thick pungent smoke, a dog which was in the kitchen made his way upstairs, pushed open the bedroom door, and, barking loudly, first beat on the bed with his paws,' and then, seizing the bed-clothes, tore them off. and followed this up by endeavouring- to drag the inmates out of bed. When Mr. Carruthers was awakened, he saw all too plainly, that a volume of flame was coming in at the open window, and the whole corner of the room had caught and was blazing fiercely. The dog made off to the next room, and when Mr. Carruthers entered it the dog was found endeavouring to get the children out of bed. In the opinion of the police, who arrived about this time if another two minutes had elapsed all the occupants in this house would probably have suffered death by suffocation.