People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1893 — WOKE THE SENTRIES UP. [ARTICLE]

WOKE THE SENTRIES UP.

A Spaniel Which Refuted to Recognize a Soldier In Civilian Attire. “Speaking of queer dogs,” said Mr. Lawrence, manager of the post trader’s store at Snelling, to a Pioneer Press man, “there was one at Fort Sully that aroused the interest and wonder of everybody in the post. He belonged to no one. He was not a bad-looking water spaniel, but appeared to know a thing or two. Every member of every company treated him royally, and he was continually around them. The minute any of his friends appeared in citizen’s dress the dog refused to recognize him, and no amount of persuasion could induce him to make up. It was often tried by the men for fun, but in every single instance the dog showed his teeth and trotted away. He seemed to have a particular affinity for the boys of Company A, and many a one has he saved from trouble. There was a certain guard post in the fort that was not looked upon as being particularly important, but you know how strict regular army officers are, and should a guard be caught napping it would go hard with him. At this post the dog would be found every night as regular as clockwork. He stayed right with the sentinel, and his presence often gave the soldiers an opportunity to catch a little rest. They could go to sleep during the late hours of the night, but the minute the old dog heard the least sound of footsteps he would scratch the guard roughly on the shoulder and wake him up in time to meet the intruder, be he officer or otherwise. Ido not know of a single instance where a sentinel on this post was caught napping, though the officers tried it time and time again. The sentinels on other posts did not fare half so well. Company A could not do too much for that animal and is caring for him yet, though I believe it is required that he be locked up at night. This was a sad blow to the men, for they were seldom very much fatigued from guard duty when the dog was with them.”