The Great Dane 543 



the breed got a class. In 1887 the class appeared in the regular premium 

 list and not as a late addition, and a good entry was the result. The breed 

 then got two classes, and at the 1890 show in New York the entry was 25 

 dogs and 9 bitches. This good entry led to an increase in 1891 to two chal- 

 lenge classes, two open classes and a puppy class. Welz and Zerweck, who 

 had been very prominent so far, did not show anything, but a number of 

 their dogs were entered by new owners at this show. In 1892 we first find 

 mention of a specialty club in connection with the breed, there being a club 

 trophy offered at New York by "The German Mastiff or Great Dane Club 

 of America." This was won by Melac, a dog that had taken nine firsts 

 during the preceding year. The name of the club was soon altered, and as 

 The Great Dane Club we find it donating $80 in special prizes to the New 

 York show of 1893, in addition to ofi^ering the president's j^ioo cup, and 

 43 dogs were entered at this show. The best dog on this occasion was Wen- 

 zel, who beat Melac for special; but the great winner of the year was Major 

 McKinley, owned at South Bend, Indiana. This dog was very prominent 

 for several years, but few of the Great Dane exhibitors seemed to last, so 

 that with each prominent new man going in for importations of his own, the 

 native dogs were not very successful. The enthusiasm of the club members 

 also died out, and it was not until 1898 that the full revival set in. This 

 was really a wonderful year for the breed at New York, where Mr. J. Black- 

 burn Miller drew a remarkable entry of 29 puppies, 35 dogs and 15 bitches, 

 duplicate entries increasing the grand total very much. 



This was the occasion of the first appearance of Sandor vom Inn, en- 

 tered in the name of the late Charles E. Tilford. This grand dog won all he 

 was shown for, from novice to special for best of the breed, and during his 

 lengthy career he stood in the premier position at all times. As a combination 

 of size, symmetry, character and quality we have never had his equal in this 

 country and it is possible he could not have been beaten by any dog living 

 when in his prime. When, after Mr. Tilford's death, he became an inmate 

 of the Montebello Kennels two trips were made to Europe by the kennel 

 manager, who on one occasion had the assistance of Mr. Muss-Arnolt in 

 securing the best to be found in the sections where the best were raised and 

 owned; and, good as the dogs purchased were, they yet Cell short of Sandor 

 vom Inn, by a very perceptible difference. 



Mr. Tilford, in addition to Sandor vom Inn, had quite a number of 

 very good bitches and had much the strongest kennel in the East. Through- 



