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Their Rescue and Life-Saving Work
In 1774, the painter M. J. Bourrit from Geneva, wrote about the monks and their dogs. He indicated that the contributions by dogs to rescue work on Saint Bernard Pass was well known. The archives at the monastery do not tell us when dogs were first used for rescue work.
In the description of the Hospice, that was written in 1644 for the "Acta Sanctuorum", we find the Hospice's agenda with a description and enumeration of the tasks of the monks and their servants. The duties listed included keeping the pass open, yet no dogs were mentioned.
We are not certain if the note from 1707 "a dog was lost in an avalanche" refers to a dog used for rescue work. Prior Ballalu recounts that in 1700, between November 11th and May 15th, servants called "Marronier" (maron, marron = mountain guide) were assigned to accompany travelers between the Hospice and Bourg-Saint-Pierre. The Prior made no mention of dogs.
Records reveal that by 1750, marroniers were routinely accompanied by dogs. The dog's broad chests helped to clear paths for travelers. The reports about rescue work grew more numerous as reports about deadly accidents began to decline. The dog's primary purpose was to accompany the marroniers, as their excellent sense of direction proved most beneficial.
The dogs possessed an uncanny ability to maneuver through heavy fog or snow-storms. The dogs were always accompanied by a monk or marronier. Only later, do we read about excursions that the dogs made on their own.
During the 200 or so years that the dogs served on the Saint Bernard Pass, approximately 2,000 people were rescued. When Napoleon and his army crossed the Alps in May 1800 around 250,000 soldiers traveled through the Pass. The marroniers and their dogs were so well organized that between 1790 and 1810, not one soldier lost his life in the freezing cold of the mountains.
The last documented rescue is dated in 1897. A 12 year old boy was found nearly frozen in a crevice and was awakened by a dog.
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The Saint Bernard Pass >
The Origins of the Dogs >
The Dogs from the Hospice >
Short- and Long-Haired Saints >
Their Rescue and Life-Saving Work >
The Beginning of Purebred Saints >
The Legendary Barry >
Bibliography, Acknowledgement, Dedication & Copyright Notice >
Additional historical pictures
The legendary barrel strapped beneath the neck, however, seems to have been invented by alpinist Meissner who wrote in 1816 "Often the dogs receive a little barrel around their neck with alcoholic beverages and a basket with bread." The chroniclers from the Hospice never mentioned a barrel.
In 1800, however, Canonicus Murith mentioned a little saddle with which the dogs carried milk and butter from the dairy in La Pierre up to the Hospice.
And here, we may put an end to the legend about Barry having saved a child by carrying it on his back. This legend, along with an illustration
(Knabe , by Rittmeyer (who falsely painted Barry as a long-haired Saint), is simply not true. It is pure invention; told and retold by many authors (Scheitlin, Tschudy, Brehm, Strebel etc.).
Barry was a legend during his life. The story, probably invented by P. Scheitlin, was often narrated and was cited in many books and journals. Even though it was fabricated, it was of great importance in the rising fame of the Saint Bernard Dogs.
Barry, the most famous Saint, lived in the Monastery from 1800 to 1812. With his help, over 40 people were saved. A monk escorted the aging Barry to Berne, where Barry died two years later. In 1815, Barry's body was put on exhibition at the Natural History Museum where he continues to be admired today.
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