Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1880 — A Bloodhound’s Gratitude. [ARTICLE]

A Bloodhound’s Gratitude.

I The Detroit Free Press tells a remarkable story of a bloodhound’s gratitude at Andersonville, The prisoners were allow ed to go out In squads strongly guarded, to collect firewood. One day it was the hero’s turn to go,, aud for the first time since his imprisonment he caught sight of “Colonel Cateheni,” the big bloodhound. The Michigander noticed that the dog limped painfully on one of his forefeet, but gave the matter no special attention until, after being opt for half an hour, he sat down to rest near one of the guards. The dog approached the guard os if to ask some favor, but was repulsed with an oath and a threatened blow. He then skulked around and came near the prisoner, who saw that he had an old horse-nail run info his foot. With a little coaxing he got the (Jog near and finally pulled out the nail, and the animal ran away seemingly pleased. Twelve days after that, one night, about midnight, a tunnel was ready. The pris-

oiier was a long tjme gettjng clear of the neighborhood, and wpftk and starved as he was he was not more than two miles from the stoekade when day broke, and “Colonel Catchem" was put on his track. When he heard the nound coming he looked for a suitable tree to climb, but failed to find one. Armed witli a club, he took his stand, and determined to make a fight for it. The dog recognized the man, and t>egan exhibiting every sign of friendship. After a few minutes this pursuers were heard in the distance. ’php dqg at once trotted off in that direction, and was shortly baying fpid leading them Qyer 4’ fictitious trail. Tips prisoner pushed ahead for half an hom’, *nd W4# then rpioiqed by the dog who kept either pU {*> hlB heels or iqst ahead of h|m ail day, *«d h»y beside him ju-tbe woods a/ night. This position of guardian or companion he maintained until toward the night of the second day, when he returned to the stockade. The prisoner was then thirty miles away, but on the fifth morning he was recaptured. When he returned the

that hour to the close of the war the dog would not take the trail of an escaping prisoner.