Salt Lake Telegram | 1949-07-02 | Page 1 | Dog's Heroism Saves Mistress from Fire

Dumb Animal? ' . ' Bog's I!crc::n: f.lisf rc:3 From .Fire I Pretty Bharlene Stoddard woa't have her favorite bed "all to myself' to slsep hi Saturday night. And therein Has ths story of a fire. Shaiiene's escape from ths flames, and the faithfulness of a 1-year-old part shepherd dog, "Sport," The 11-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mra. Gene Stoddard, 14u2 W. vth North, was preparing to sleep In a shed In the rear of the house when the fire broke out. A flaming' piece of ceiling . crashed about her, showering her with dehrts, and failing on the bed. Igniting it. The little girl was momentarily stunned. "Sport," ths dog who was given to the Ooddard children when It -was a puppy In Twin rails, Ida., leaped for the little gins writ and tugged her from tne flaming building. Mrs. Stoddard said Sherl-ns and ber s-yr-old sister, Luena, were to spend their first . mrht In the shed where they cou.d slsep "la a house by themselves." Actually, It waa a temporary arrangement while the 'Sloddards srs revamping their owa home. They are cramped for spaoa, and decided to let the girls sieep la the shed. Sharlene entered ths shed slone about 9'li p iru. expecting Lu-'ia to be rtrht at her heels. Tne younger Slates, however, remstned outside for a few minutes playing. play-ing. Bharlene ems fust preparing to disrobe when the -ceiling; came down. Firemen blamed faulty wiring wir-ing as the cause of the fire. By the time firemen arrived, the building and Its contents were destroyed. Damage was estimated at KoO. And so ttttle Sharlene wilt be berk ta with the folks Saturday nlrht - , . She'll have to wait awhile before be-fore having a "house of ber own."