110 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Accidents prevented by Newfoundland dogs. 



cried out with pain, and, being utterly unable to 

 exert himself, was about to sink, when his faith- 

 ful dog, who had watched him with the greatest 

 degree of anxiety and agitation, rushed forward, 

 and cautiously seizing his arm, rescued him from 

 his perilous situation. 



In the summer of 179-> a gentleman went to 

 Portsmouth for the benefit of sea-bathing. He 

 was conducted in one of the machines into the 

 water ; but being unacquainted with the steep- 

 ness of the shore, and no swimmer, he found 

 himself, the instant he quitted the machine, 

 nearly out of his depth. The state of alarm into 

 which he was thrown, increased his danger; and, 

 unnoticed by the person who attended the ma- 

 chine, he would inevitably have been drowned, 

 had not a large Newfoundland dog, which was 

 standing on the shore and observed his distress, 

 plunged in to his assistance. The animal seized 

 him by the hair, and conducted him safely to the 

 shore; but it was some time before he recovered. 

 The gentleman afterwards purchased the dog at 

 a high price ; arid preserved him as a treasure of 

 equal value with his whole fortune. 



During a severe storm, in the winter of 1789, 

 a ship belonging to Newcastle was lost near Yar- 

 mouth; and a Newfoundland dog alone escaped 

 to shore, bringing in his mouth the captain's 

 pocket-book. He landed amidst a number of 

 people, several of whom in vain attempted to 

 take from him his prize. The sagacious animal, 

 2 



