STORY OF A DOG.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4419, 19 May 1875, Page 3

STORY 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 Bleucathra, at King’s Island. The party left Melbourne 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 three-quarters 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 dispatch it with. It was, however, then ascertained by means of a glass that the animal was no seal at all, but 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 bad been dreadfully torn and bitten on the hindquarters. 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 five 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, swam off to the vessel as soon as it anchored near. AU 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 swum at least a mile or more against a very strong current after it was first seen. The animal became a great favorite on board, and was raffled for before the voyage home was completed, ■

PIRACY ON THE AFRICAN COAST.

A French brig, the Berthe, of Nantes, has been plundered a few miles to the eastward of Brass Fiver, on the West Coast of Africa. The vessel had gone ashore on Saturday, 19th December, and for several days the crew unsuccessfully labored to, relieve her. On .the Wednesday following the stranding, when a majority of the sailors had left the vessel in search of food, a fleet of canoes, eight in number, was found to he approaching, and an attack being apprehended, the anchor was hove and the vessel put under sail, with the intention of proceeding at once to Bonny. The natives, however, having crowded boats with sail and paddles, renewed their exertions to catch her, and the wind- being exceedingly light, did so, the King of Brass in person being at the head of them. With fair words and promises the captain was persuaded to allow a native pilot and several of the head men to come on board, and at a given signal he and the whole of his crew were seized and pinioned, and the natives, swarming in hundreds over her sides, the vessel was taken possession of. After satisfying themselves that the vessel was completely in their hands, the crew were-unbound, and compelled to work the ship for the benefit of their captors,Jaud kept prisoners until her, arrival in Brass on the following Friday morning. . One..of,[the white men (the mate) was taken sickjh consequence of the strain put upon him, hut up'entreaties of either the captain or hiinself had the least effect upon the savage hearts of their captors, nor even, upon a steamer anchoring close .to the vessel on the Thursday evening, would they allow him to leave for the purpose of getting medical attendance, until tho captain declared his- intention of. refusing to interpret for them, or to assist them in any way in negotiating for the towage of the vessel into Brass, unless they allowed .the mate to leave. The captain was allowed then also, to go on board the steamer on parole, but again taken back to the brig, and detained there a prisoner until he had safely conducted her into tho river.