Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — A Dog Train-Starter. [ARTICLE]

A Dog Train-Starter.

There died recently at Lowestoft, England, one who is spoken of by the local press as “a very popular member of the staff of the Great Eastern Railway. ” He was a black and tan collie dog, and he was not appointed to the “position” which he held by the officers of the company. Although self-appointed, time and habit brought about his recognition as assistant train-starter at the Lowestoft Station. Through residence at the station he had acquired an instinct which told him the exact time at which each train should start from the terminus on its journey. As the moment drew near, the collie became restless and excited, As the bell uttered its first warning sound, he would sctynper down the platform, and, planting himself close to the engine, bark furiously until he saw the wheels begin to moVe. Having accomplished the starting of the train as he supposed, he would rush to the guard’s or conductor's van, and hurry the conductor to his post. \ As the train passed out of tho station he retired, and was seen no more until the time was near for another train to start. At the end of July last there were 63,500 electric lamps—lncandescent and arc—in use in Paris. At the end of March, 1891, the number was 105,000, so that during a period of sixteen months the number of lamps in use increased by 41,500. Pakis is novWhe best lighted city in the world, and a model for all cities that are bent on Introducing electric lighting on • grand scale. /