Animals: Jack, Fido & Tip

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Housewreckers dissecting a brick wall in San Francisco lately found riveted to it a large memorial plaque of marble. Carved thereon were three marble dogs, two crouched beside, one perched on top of an old time safe. Below them was graven this testimonial: ". . . To the memory of three Dogs, JACK, FIDO, & TIP. In life they were intelligent, noble, and affectionate, and were cruelly poisoned by Burglars, and nobly perished at the post of duty.

"Jack, Fido, and Tip, illfated three,

Poor dead playfellows, a sad bequest.

Faithful to the last, now you're free,

Sleep on, forever, peaceful be your rest."

The story, as last week resurrected by American Kennel Gazette: On the stormy night of March 9, 1891, Jack, Fido and Tip heard three safecrackers chiseling into the brick-wall of the car barn that then held the safe of the defunct Haight Street Cable Car line. They barked, vigorously attacked first the chiselers, then the poisoned meat which the chiselers threw them. A wary nightwatchman, barked to attention, emptied a pistol at the poisoners, saved the safe, could not save faithful, greedy Jack, Fido & Tip.