Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1875 — A Remarkable Dog. [ARTICLE]

A Remarkable Dog.

Almost every one whose business brought him to the Central Police fetation has seen “ Captain Jack,” the favorite police dog. For the past two years the “ Captain” has been a regular visitor at the station-house, coming there almost nightly. He was owned by a well-known gentleman of this city, who took the best possible care of him, and he had all the comforts of a nice home. Strange to say, however, he preferred the company of the night men to that of his legitimate master. “ Jack” usually arrived at the station shortly before eight o’clock in the evening when the night men were formed in line preparatory to their going on their respective beats, when he would single out one of the men (he scarcely ever went with the same man twice) and follow close behind him on his beat during the entire ntght, returning with the officer at four o’clock in the morning. After the officer had hung up his belt and baton the “ Captain” would wag his tail in token of pleasure at having faithfully performed his duty, and would then make a bee line for home. Capt. Jack had a remarkable faculty for scenting out prowlers and drunken men in alleys, and whenever he came across one of these “ night birds" he would utter a sharp howl, attracting the officer’s attention. Numerous burglaries have been averted and burglars brought to justice through the instrumentality of this remarkable dog. When a policeman was engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with some sneak-thief the “Captain” would watch for an opportunity, when with astonishing alacrity he would grasp the rascal by the throat with his .teeth, and hold him until he could be handcuffed. The intelligent creature knew every nook and corner in the city, was seldom seen on the streets in the day-time, and would never follow a “ relief man,’’-but as soon as the bell struck the hour of eight he was at his post wi|h the squad. The men, of course, treated him kindly, and many a patrolman on his lonely beat shared his midnight lunch with “Captain.” What is more remarkable “Jack” would never accompany a new man. Instinct appeared to have taught him to ascertain a patrolman’s nature before venturing out with him. A hundred incidents of this remarkable creature’s sagacity, which would have done credit to a human being and which were worthy of emulation, might be narrated, of the “ Captain” did space permit. A few nights since he was found dead in an alley by a policeman, when upon examination it was found that - some one -had poisoned him. The news spread rapidly among the men, and an apparent feeling of sorrow came over them as though they had lost some valued-ftfend.

And they had. Captain Jack was of the specie known as shepherd and a powerful dog, and his presence is nightly missed at the Central Station. —Detroit Free Press. ~. U