Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1875 — Desperate Struggle With a Blood-Hound. [ARTICLE]

Desperate Struggle With a BloodHound.

Anight or two ago Patrick Eustace, a trusty and faithful guard at the Eastern Penitentiary, was going his rounds in the yard of the institution with the two Siberian blood-hounds kept there, when a fight was commenced between the latter. Fearing that one of the hounds was killing the other, which was down and the teeth of the uppermost dog in his throat, Guard Eustace took his. hickory club and tried to pry the maddened animal’s jaws open, whereupon the ferocious beast made a leap at the guard’s throat. Eustace quickly presented his right arm, upon which the hound closed, biting through an overcoat, undercoat, shirt and flannel undershirt into the flesh of his arm, a very painful wound being produced. A struggle then commenced between the guard and the attacking dog, the former using his club freely; but had it not been for the other hound, which came to the rescue of the gt&rd, the latter would have surely been torn to pieces, for no other help was nigh. As it was, tne victory was one hardly bought. Having secured the enraged animal, and, as the guard subjected him sufficiently, Eustace went into the warden’s office, where his wounds were dressed. About two hours later Guard Lennan was making a tour of the yard with the hounds, when Guard Eustace happened to cross some distance off. The moment the hound heard his footsteps he uttered a low cry and bounded swiftly off in the direction of Eustace, who was apprised of his danger by a shout from Guard Lennan. Eustace turned, drawing his revolver at the same time, and pulled the trigger as he saw the hound approaching him. The first shot took effect, and the animal staggered and fell, shot through the heart. A few seconds later and he would probably have had his fangs in the throat of the guard. The Siberian blood-hound is the most powerful and ferocious, and perhaps the most treacherous, of the canine family. He never forgets an abuse, and months or even years after receiving an injury Will fly at the aggressor. The convicts at the Penitentiary are more afraid of these animals than of the guards’ revolvers, and this accounts for the keeping of such beasts at the institution. — PhUadelphia Enquirer. “