Almost as extraordinary as Greyfriars Bobby, the level of canine loyalty of Crib, from The Red Lion at Cambridge, was touching.
“– Many marvels have been narrated concerning the dog and his attachment to man, but we know not that we ever heard of anything more extraordinary than that which we are about to tell our readers. At the Red Lion hotel in Cambridge there is an old, one-eyed, worn-out dog of the terrier breed, named Crib. He lies about in the yard, or stable, or kitchen, and enjoys his otium cum dignitate* just as is most agreeable to himself and consonant with his age and infirmities. Possessed of a proper sense of his own merits and position, he is somewhat particular as to the company he keeps, and one of the few persons admitted to his friendship was the late lamented John R. Barker, Esq., who was kind to the old animal, as he was to every body and every thing, and took a great deal of notice of ‘poor old Cribby’. For some two years past Crib has probably not been a hundred yards from the Lion gateway; indeed, as we understand, he would not follow any of the servants or handers-on off the premises. Now, Tuesday the 17th inst. Was the day appointed for the funeral of Mr. Barker, and the hearse used on the melancholy occasion belonged to Mr. Mitchell, and consequently proceeded from the Lion yard. Strange and unaccountable as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that this superannuated dog, which had scarcely been off the premises for two years, and which never by any sort of accident followed any of the post-boys or other servants, accompanied the hearse to Mr. Barker’s late residence, sat opposite the door until the body was placed within it, walked by the side of the mournful procession to Little St. Mary’s church, remained opposite thereto until the remains of his friend were consigned to their final place of rest, and then returned home unattended, the hearse having quitted the scene some time before! We pretend not to offer any comment upon this extraordinary occurrence, but we assure our readers the facts are as we have stated them to be.” – Cambridge Chronicle.
*Leisure with dignity.
The Stamford Mercury, 27th January, 1843.