THE DEATH OF BOB,' THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY DOG.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Bob,' the South Australian railway dog, has ended his eventful career, which is, I think, worthy of notice in the Spectator.* Like many other clever dogs he was of uncertain breed. As a puppy he was attached to a rabbiting party in our North country, and, while still young, was given to a railway guard with whom he travelled for some time, having been taught to jump into the van, our narrow-gauge lines having no platforms. ' Bob ' very soon came to consider him- self as one of the railway staff, and although civil to
• Bee also Spectator for September 21et.
passengers who spoke to him, he never made friends with any but railway employes, whom he seemed instinctively to recog- nise. The engine-drivers and stokers were his special friends, and for many years he travelled all over the South Australian lines, and occasionally over those connected with them in the other Colonies. His favourite seat was on the tender, and his whole demeanour showed that he considered himself an im- portant adjunct to the locomotive. He belonged to the department, not to any individual driver, and I have seen him jump off one engine and join another, apparently with- out any reason, when passing at small roadside stations hundreds of miles from the terminus. His license was always paid for by the men, and he wore a collar which bore the legend : "Stop me not but let me jog, I am 'Bob,' the drivers' dog." The interest of his career lies in the fact that he attached himself to the locomotives, recognised no individual as master, and no house as home. He seemed to travel from pure enjoyment of movement, and was quite as much at home in the small up-country stations as in the city. He never seemed to be in a hurry, often remaining in the station till the last moment and joining the engine just as it started. He was well fed, and in spite of numerous predictions to the contrary was not killed by accident on the line, but died in town at a good old age.—I am, Sir, &c., ALEX. B. MONCRIEFF, Engineer-in-Chief.
Engineer-in-Chief's Office, Adelaide, September 5th, 1895.
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