I Found a New Picture of the HMS Kestrel Dog in the WW I Plane

One of the pictures that accompany this blog is of the bulldog dog in the cockpit of what appears to be a WW I plane.  I attempted to find out some more information about it.

I came across a similar photo, this time in color, of the English bulldog in the cockpit of the WW I era airplane.

He is wearing an HMS Kestrel sailor hat.

At first I thought that meant the plane might have flown off the HMS Kestrel, but since it was a destroyer, it was way too small to have a plane.  Plus, I did not read anything about it having a plane.

So, not sure about why the bulldog had the hat on in that plane.

Quite the Dog.

Neat Picture, Though.  --Cooter

What They Ate and Drank on the Titanic's Last Night-- Part 4: A Chicago Connection

Adolphe Saalfeld had boarded in Southampton and his letter was mailed before the Titanic headed across the Atlantic Ocean,  "It was pure joy for me to stitch together the tales told in letters home, to tell the story of these amazing people through the lens of drinking and dining," Veronica Hinke said.

Hinke's culinary narrative tells the stories behind the dishes, desserts and drinks that appeared, or likely appeared on Titanic menus, based on contemporary Edwardian dining trends no doubt embraced on board.  She also includes recipes, many of which were adapted to modern tastes by Chicago-area chefs.

Hinke now lives in the Chicago area, notes that there were many Chicago connections to the Titanic.  One of them was Anne Isham, one of only five female first-class passengers who did not survive. She refused to leave without her Great Dane.

First-class passengers Ida Hippach and her daughter Jean, of Evanston were survivors of both the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago (at least 602 deaths) and the Titanic sinking.

--Cooter

10 Lesser Known Facts About Revolution Era America-- Part 2: Blood Sports, Dueling and Opium

5.  IT WAS THE PEAK OF BLOOD SPORTS

Bears vs. a dog or a bunch of dogs and then there was goose-pulling.

4.  NEWSPAPER EDITORS HAD TO CARRY GUNS

Attack a politician in print, defend yourself on the dueling field.

3.  NOVA SCOTIA COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED THE 14TH COLONY

Before the Revolution, it was just British North America, not the 13 colonies and N.S. was considered part of it.

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2.  THOMAS JEFFERSON CONSUMED OPIUM HABITUALLY

Well, our 3rd president had a habit.  And then, there was his slave.

1.  POLITICS WERE VERY, VERY UNCIVIL

And you thought politics are uncivil now.  They pale to those of the 18th-century.  Lord help you if you insulted Andrew Jackson.

I Challenge You to a Duel!!  --CooterCoward

Wondering What the Police Did in 1945? Did You have a 'Double-D' Charge?

From the May 6, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"Police department report for the month of April, as prepared by Chief of Police Horace Fothergill shows thirteen arrested during the thirty day period.  The arrests included ten on the "double-D" charge, drunk and disorderly, three on disorderly  conduct, and one person was arrested for not having a drivers license.

"Other activities of the department during the month included six autos stopped for defective lights, eleven complaints answered, two attempted burglaries, three stolen bicycles recovered, three minor auto mishaps, nine funeral and three bank escorts, five fires attended and five dogs disposed of  on the order of the department by the veterinarian."

"Defund the Police?"   Yea, Right.   Idiots.   --Cooter

Where'd the Onions Go and Dog Owners Beware in 1944

From the April 3, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago

For the first time in  the history of retail grocery and vegetable business a dearth of onions is causing many a disappointed shopper to return home without the desired purchase.  It is expected that the scarcity of onions is only temporary, but there have been no fresh onions on the market for some weeks."

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Dog owners in Sycamore, especially those in the Turner addition, found running at large will be picked up by the police department for disposal.  All fogs must be kept penned or on a leash."  There MIGHT be something wrong with the wording on this.

--Cooter

Of Dogs and Foxes in DeKalb County in 1919

From the March 27, 2019, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1919. 100 Years Ago.

**  "Two families are mourning the deaths of pet dogs, and a third home on Third Street, another dog has been poisoned. :  Residents are nor certain whether the poison was set for the dogs or  whether it was put out to catch pests."

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**  "A resident of Kingston township brought to the office of the county clerk a pelt of an animal shot by him, and supposed to be a wolf, claiming the $100 bounty.

"The fur was a rich red color and there were earmarks of a fox.  After several of the county seat experts had examined it, it was adjudged a fox pelt and bounty refused."

--CootPelt

Cher Ami the Pigeon and WW I Hero-- Part 4: Remembered

To American school children of the 1920s and 1930s, Cher Ami was as well-known as any human World War I heroes.

Cher Ami's body was later mounted by a taxidermist and enshrined at the Smithsonian Institution.  It is currently on display with the body of pitbull Sergeant Stubby in the National Museum of American History's  "Price of Freedom" exhibit.

--CootPigeon

Sandy, the Fire Dog

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Ever notice the small black dog that is continually following members of the fire department whenever they go out on the street for anything?

"'Sandy', who formerly belonged to the Shellaberger family, is a typical fireman, and no matter where he may be if he hears the alarm bells, he runs for the station as fast as possible."

A Dog's Life.  --Cooter

Firing Squad For Unlicensed Dogs in 1918

From the June 20, 2018, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"If you have a dog and you have not yet taken out a 1918 license, better attend to the matter at once, as there is a chance that the firing squad will make a tour of the city and get those pups who have not as yet been licensed for the year."

A Warning.  --DaCoot

10 Terrifying Facts About Dog Breeding

From the June 1, 2013, Listverse by M.J. Alba.

10.  It's a slap in evolution's face.

9.  It takes away business from animal shelters

8.  Show dogs can't be spayed or neutered.

7.  Inbreeding leads to genetic disorder.

6.  Traits are selected for appearance, not functionality.

5.  Tail docking and ear cropping.

4.  Behavior is pretty much an afterthought.

3.  Seriously, judges don't care about behavior.

2.  Health is essentially a non-issue.

1.  Pure breeding is the racism of the animal kingdom.

--Cooter

Dogs of the Titanic-- Part 2

The only dogs on board belonged to first-class passengers

After the wreck, one family even got an insurance settlement on their two dogs who were lost. Will Carter of Philadelphia was on the Titanic with his wife and two children. He insured his wife's jewelry and a 1912 Renault automobile that he had bought in Paris for $5,000. (The movie's love scene took place in a replica of this car.)

Daughter Lucy's King Charles Spaniel was insured for $100. Billy's airedale was insured for $200. Billy begged his father to take his dog, but Carter said it was too big and would be fine. It perished in the ship's kennel.

Fifty-year-old Ann Elizabeth Isham had a Great Dane dog and visited it daily in the kennel. As the ship was being evacuated, she asked to take her dog but was told it was too large. She then refused to leave and got out of the lifeboat.

Several days after the sinking, a woman's body clutching a large dog were spotted by the crew of the recovery ship Mackay Bennett.

Two-known photos remain of the Titanic's dogs.

--Cooter

Dogs of the Titanic-- Part 1: Three Survived

From the April 9, 2012, Yahoo! Contributors Network "Dogs of Titanic: a Dozen Aboard, Three Survived" by Marie Anne St. John.

J. Joseph Edgette, PhD, has spent 20 years researching the Titanic ship records and eyewitness accounts. So far, he has come up with twelve confirmed (and perhaps more) dogs aboard the ill-fated ship. Only three survived.

Captain Smith's dog, Ben, was a huge Russian wolfhound given to the captain by Benjamin Guggenheim, had been on the ship the day before departure but was taken off, though.

The three surviving dogs were all small: two pomeranians and a Pekingese. One, lady, a pomeranian was brought in Paris by Miss Margaret Hags and was wrapped in a blanket. The Rothschild's owner the other pomeranian. The Pekingese was named Sun Yat-Sen and owner by the Harpers of the New York publishing company Harper & Row.

A Dog's Life.  --Cooter

Sgt. Stubby: One Decorated Dog-- Part 3

After the war, Sgt. Stubby was marched in many parades. Everyone wanted to see the hero dog they had read so much about in the newspapers. He met presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding.

Starting in 1921, Sgt. Stubby attended Georgetown University Law Center with master Robert Conroy and became the football team's mascot. Stubby would be given the football at half time and he'd entertain the audience by pushing the ball around the field.

When he died in 1926, he was stuffed and currently on display at the Price of Freedom: Americans At War exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C..

Something to See in D.C.. --Cooter

Sgt. Stubby: One Decorated Dog-- Part 2

Sergeant Stubby was a stray Boston terrier who appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Ct., when it was being used to train soldiers. He continued to hang around and Corporal Robert Conroy developed a fondness for him.

When the unit shipped off, he hid Stubby on the troopship. A story has it that when Stubby was discovered by the unit's commander that he saluted the officer as he had learned at camp. The officer was so impressed that he allowed Stubby to remain with the unit.

The 102nd Infantry of the 26th (Yankee) Division spent 18 months in France's trenches. During that time, Stubby was gassed once and learned to alert his unit when it was being used.

One Smart Dog. --DaCoot

Sergeant Stubby: One Decorated Dog-- Part 1: Caught German Spy By the Seat of His Pants

From Wikipedia.

Last week I wrote about pit bulls and came across two from the Civil War and one who was promoted to sergeant during World War I. That one's name is Sgt. Stubby.

Born in 1916-1917-April 4, 1926. The most decorated dog of World War I and only dog ever promoted to sergeant through combat. Sgt. Stubby served 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front.
One of his fortes was saving his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks. He also found and comforted wounded from his regiment and once even caught a German spy by the seat of his pants, holding him until American soldiers arrived.

Every American newspaper covered his exploits back home

--Cooter

Pit Bulls Up Close and Personal

Back in the early 80s, we had some friends who had two pit bulls. The male was a big black and white one named Brutus and the female a brindle named Venus. I didn't like or trust Venus as she looked like she could be mean, although I never saw it.

However, as big and solid as Brutus was, he was nothing more than a big-lug scaredy cat. He thought he was a lap dog and if he jumped into your lap and clipped you with his really hard head, you were in for some pain.

And, you didn't want to be around him in a storm or fireworks. Thunder sent him trying to prove how close a dog and human really could get. Venus and Brutus had one litter of pups and they kept one woth the same markings as Brutus that they named Radar, who, while lovable, had to have been the dumbest dog who ever lived.

I should mention that as nice as Brutus was, there was one thing he would attack and that was a vacuum cleaner.

Remembering Ol' Brutus. --Cooter

Some More on Pit Bulls-- Part 2: Sallie and Jack

Pit bulls served in the military.

One named Sallie went along with the 11th Pennsylvania through most of the big battles in the Civil War as did one named Jack with the 102nd Pennsylvania.

Interesting stories on these two dogs which I will write about if and whenever I get this paragraph problem solved.

It will be in my Saw the Elephant Civil War Blog.

One was also the first U.S. Army dog promoted to sergeant. Helen Keller's dog was a pit, as was the Little Rascal's dog Petey.

A Real Dog-Gone Shame What Has Happened to the Noble Pitbull Breed.  . --DaCoot

Some More on Pit Bulls-- Part 1: History

The July 22, 2013, Time Magazine "The Softer Side of Pit Bulls:

A reviled breed gets a makeover" by Paul Tullis.

Well worth reading about efforts to reverse this breed's reputation.

Pit Bulls date to the 18th century when dogs often were categorized by the jobs they performed rather than how they looked. According to Bronwen Dickey, who is writing a book about the dogs, about 200 years ago "a terrier was any dog that dug for vermin. A bulldog was one that caught errant cattle."

These two working dogs are believed to have been crossbred around 1790, creating the bull terrier, or pit bull.

How Much Is That Doggie in the _____. --Cooter

Pity the Poor Pitbulls

Talk about a dog breed that gets a bad rep, these poor pooches have a real public relations problem. And, that bad rep was not always so.

At one time, they were just another dog, not the vicious killers they're regarded as today. Why, even the Little Rascals' "Petey" was a pitbull.

Other dogs having bad reputations in the past were the bloodhounds, partly for their reputation for tracking runaway slaves. Then starting in the 30s, it was the German shepherd dogs as they were regarded as being too closely associated with Hitler and the Nazis.

Of course, the problem revolves around the horrible people who raise them to kill other dogs in fights.

Too Bad. --DaCoot

Ten Things You Might Not Know About World War I-- Part 2

3.  Russia mobilized 12 million in its military, the largest of the war.  More than 3/4 ended up killed, wounded or missing.

4.  Dogs were used as messengers and also laid down telegraph lines.

5.  The most successful aviation fighter pilot was Baron von Richtofen (1892-1918) who shot down 80 Allied planes.  France's Rene Fonck (1894-1953) had the most success on the other side with 75 confirmed kills.

6.  To  increase the size of the US Army during the war, Congress passed the Selective Service Act in May 1917.  By the end of the war, 2.7 million men had been drafted.  Another 1.3 million volunteered.

Four More to Come.  --Cooter