Notes: It is important for dog lovers to realize rabid or "mad" dogs terrorized the countryside in 1890s Blount County and were responsible for the deaths of lots of valued livestock and many humans who were unfortunate enough to get bitten. Death from hydrophobia resulted in about a month after an painful and agonizing experience. The author of the first piece appears to be the newspaper editor, L.H. Mathews. The author of the second piece is an occasional and opinionated submitter of Cleveland news items who went by the nom de plume of "Peck." Between the two of them they made lighter news of a serious problem, which, in 1893 could only be addressed by the extermination of most all free roaming canines. The Blount County News-Dispatch, 4 May 1893 Circuit Court. The Yaller Dorg. It appears that J.A. Talley (no kin to the presiding judge) owned a yellow purp he prized very highly, it was a good dog to tree coons, possums and other "varmint." It was therefore an animal highly prized by his owner, and his untimely end caused him much worry. It came about thus: It seems that the Clevelandites were somewhat excited on the subject of mad dogs, and had determined to kill all suspected canines that came that way. Tally's dog not knowing that such an edict had been sent forth sought recreation in the forbidden territory. Aaron Cornelius saw him coming and sought his trusty Winchester and made his dogship bite the dust. Tally felt aggrieved and sought redress in a Justice Court. The Justice gave judgment for the plaintiff, awarding damages at $50. Cornelius took an appeal to the Circuit Court, and Thursday last the case came up, and occupied the Court all day. It ended by the jury giving a verdict for Tally, damages $8.09. Robinett & Allgood for plaintiff; Inzer & Ward for the defendant. The "dogon'd" case has been an enormous expense to the county and it proves to the "whole world and the rest of mankind" that dogs are more valuable than either hogs or sheep in this county. Country and town are overrun with canines, and now that their value is enhanced their numbers are almost sure to increase. In Memory of Bowden Talley, a Dead Dog. The Court House at Oneonta last Thursday was crowded to its utmost capacity, to witness the funeral ceremonies and pay the last sad respects to the memory of Bowden Tally, deceased, who closed his eventful career, and came to this untimely death in the fall of 1890. Judge Tally presided over that august assembly, and the principal orators of the occasion were Inzer & Ward & Davidson and Robinett & Allgood. Chief among the mourners was A.C. Cornelius. As a dog should die, died he. Martyrs have kissed the stake and perished in the flames in defense of their holy religion, but Bowden Tally died a martyr in the service of his master and his country. No more will his well-remembered voice be heard to reiterate among the everlasting hills of old Blount, and arouse his slumbering master from the arms of Morpheus at the hour of midnight, for that loved voice is now still in death, but his memory yet lives; and in the ages to come, when the canine race shall congregate together to make an attack on the wild beasts of the land, many a young and vigorous yellow hound will rise up and with feelings of emotion and pride tell of the many brave deeds and daring exploits of his noble grand sire. Let us cherish his memory, knowing that he has gone to that place where all good dogs go; and in that happy hunting ground of the wildcat and the deer, of de possum and de coon, where there is no hydrophobia nor double barrel shot guns, he will wear the brightest crown that dog ever wore, till old hoary Time shall have unwound his silvery chain and in his stead the blackening waves of eternity roll their foaming billows. With trembling form, bleeding heart and eyes filled with tears we must say forever and forever farewell Bowden. Cleveland, Ala., May 1st, '93. Peck.