December 29, 1905: Mad Dog Causes Havoc Before Being Destroyed

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

December 29, 1905: A mad dog has caused panic in the area this afternoon. He broke loose from the chain that had him tied up in Spunktown and took off. The mongrel first ran to Little Oley, where he attacked a young boy standing on his back porch, who was badly bitten on his hands and face.

Continuing the flight, next stop was back to Engelsville, where he pounced on a child walking along the street. His next victim was Mrs. Frank Davidheiser in New Berlinville, who received a serious wound on her left wrist, which bled profusely for some time.

At this point, a number of men who had been chasing the rabid animal shot him and put an end to the havoc, but not before several dogs along the path had been inoculated with his poison. The people bitten are being treated with “stoy” (considered a cure for rabies at that time).

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