Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 225, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1914 — PICKED UP DOG IN OCEAN [ARTICLE]

PICKED UP DOG IN OCEAN

Newfoundland’s Remarkable Swimming Ability Responsible for the Saving of Its Life.

Capt. Daniel Probst of the Hansa Line steamship Wildenfels, Recently arrived at East Boston, received word that he had been awarded a gold watch and chain by the Danish government for rescuing the survivors of the Danish steamer Ekliptika, which foundered in the Bay of Biscay, February 24, fahile bound from Newcastle, England, to Cagliara with a cargo of coal, a Boston Globe writer says. The Wildenfels, which was then on its way from Antwerp to Calcutta to load its present cargo, fell in with the ship Just as she was on the point of going down. An explosion hastened the destruction of the luckless freighter, and before boats could be put out it plunged to the bottom. Eleven of the crew, including Captain Hemmingsen, came to the surface and were rescued by means of lifebelts thrown from the Wildenfels. They were taken on board and cared for. Captain Hemmingsen died the day following and the remainder of the survivors were landed at Lisbon. Ten men were drowned.

Half an hour after the survivors were taken on board the Wildenfels Captaim Probst saw something black swimming in the wake of the - vessel. He thought at first it was a shark, but after carefully scrutinizing the object it was seen to be a dog. The vessel was stopped and the animal taken on board. It was so exhausted that it fell on the deck, but quickly recovered. The dog was Jack, a Newfoundland belonging to Captain Hemmingsen of the lost steamer. In the vortex caused by the sinking of the ship Jack was drawn under. While still under water the dog tried to save the fourteen-year-old boy. He seized the lad by the clothing, but in the swirl of the rushing waters the dog lost its hold. The survivors thought the dog was drowned. The Danish mess boy was saved, and told of the clog’s attempt to rescue him. When Captain Hemmingsen died he left Jack to Captain Probst, and the dog has since been the mascot of the vessel. He is the pet of the crew and when the captain is on board he is his constant companion.