MR. Editor: In your number of February, 1883, there is an account by a citizen of Kentucky, who subscribes himself "Acteon," of the faithfulness of a Newfoundland dog, who acted as sentinel and guard to his mistress, during the absence of his master.
This story, (or as I should say fact,) induces me to give you a history of one of the largest and finest dogs of the kind, I have ever seen; presented to me, when a pup, by the proprietor of Arlington, on the banks of the Potomac, some years ago. This dog was raised by me in Georgetown, my place of residence; he became mischievous, and out of sheer fun and frolic, would place himself on the steps or platform of the street door, and on the approach of a person passing, he would crouch down, and so soon as they passed, he would leap on their back or shoulders, his weight unexpectedly brought most persons on the pavement, he then immediately made his retreat into the back yard and hid himself.
Being engaged at the time in erecting a country house, about two miles from town, near my milling establishment, this dog was in the habit of following me out, almost daily; when at the time I speak of, about to return home, I remarked to the dog, you sir, stay where you are, you have behaved amiss, and so go back; he looked most piteously at me, as much as to say, forgive me this time and I will mend my manners, I repeated, stay where you are. It was about eight or ten months before I removed to my country house, and the very night my family took up their new residence, the morning after, this dog was missing; having occasion to return to my house in town, there I found Baster, (the name of the dog.) whom I took home with me, that night he disappeared again, and continued so to do for ten days or more, until I put an old lady in the house to take care of it, and so soon as he saw her safely located, he instantly left the house and returned home, and thereafter gave himself no further trouble about it.
My house not being more than one hundred yards from my mills, the workmen and others were in the habit of daily intercourse to the same, and often late at night, the dog took no notice of them, suffered them to pass to and fro, at all times, but should I be absent one night, this dog would stretch himself on the steps of the outer door, next to the room his mistress slept in, and would suffer no one to approach the house, and so well was this understood by all persons attached to the establishment, not one of them would go to the house, until they knew of a certain my return home, they then could go as usual. He was the best water-dog, and the best squirrel dog I have ever seen, and notwithstanding his size, in an open place, such was his strength and speed, that a rabbit seldom ran sixty yards, without being picked up by him. At the same time, I had two springing spaniels; with these three dogs in the fall and winter of 1819, I killed upwards of one hundred and fifty pheasants; partridges, squirrels, ducks, &c., number not recollected. I have often seen Baster, when a rabbit was put up in an open field, turn him, without attempting to catch it, until caught by the little spaniels.
I had so trained these dogs to hunt partridges, that I generally got in reach of a covey, before they were flushed; and what has often surprised me, when firing into a covey, I neither see a feather fall, or any sign whatever the shot took effect. Baster would stand perfectly still, and observe where they went, if one was struck, the moment he pursued them, I was certain of one or more birds, otherwise he remained with me for the word of command. Baster became diseased with the mange; having placed him in the hands of a friend and neighbor, who promised me he would effect a cure; some days thereafter, he got his chain loose, and returned home delighted he had made his escape, but was soon followed by the servant of my friend; I took the chain and gave it in the hands of the servant, with instructions to confine him securely and not to let him return, when he looked at me, as much as to say, what is the offence, that I should merit such treatment. Some weeks after when nearly well, he again got loose, and instead of coming home, went to the mills, and remained greater part of the day, and returned to my friend's house; in consequence of swimming the creek in cold weather, was attacked with spasms, which caused his death.
I have given you but a brief sketch of this remarkable dog. (616 - 617)