In 1881, flash floods hit Melbourne, Australia late in the year, a city vulnerable for its proximity to the River Yarra. When it rained, streets became small rivers, but that November, it was especially dangerous. A cab driver named Thomas Brown was driving down Swantston Street, the worst affected, when he was swept away by flood waters.

In 1931, the Melbourne Herald published this account of Brown’s situation:

‘Close to the gutter, which was a torrent five feet deep, seething to a culvert 50 yards down the hill, a cabman was trying to keep his horse still while waiting for his passengers. At length he clambered down to quieten the beast, and at that moment it tossed its head and knocked him insensible into the gutter. In a moment he was being swept down toward the culvert.’

Brown was lucky that day in that his cries were heard by William John Higginbotham and his dog, “Nelson,” a Newfoundland. “Nelson” jumped into the stream and caught hold of Brown’s clothing, but it gave way and Brown was swept “downstream.” A little further down the street, “Nelson” grabbed him again, but couldn’t keep his grip. His owner, Higginbotham, who’d been clinging to a post, leaned into the water and grabbed Brown, but he too lost his grip and Brown disappeared into a covered channel. Luckily, “Nelson” caught him as he emerged from the channel, but again, Brown was wrenched from “Nelson’s” jaws.  A final attempt was made to save Brown, and this time, the Newfoundland, his owner, and a Mr. Mates managed to haul Brown out of the water and safely to the side of the street where they found that his clothes had shredded, probably from “Nelson’s” indefatigable efforts to catch him.

It took Brown and “Nelson” weeks to recover from the dramatic rescue. Six months later, “Nelson” led the Albion Fire Brigade parade where the collar you see here was presented to him in recognition of his heroism, a copper piece with brass studs that was once nickel plated and shone like silver. The collar stayed in the Higginbotham family until about 1960. It was offered for auction in 2008, and again in 2011 when the National Museum of Australia was the successful bidder for the 130-year-old collar.

“Nelson’s” heroism is not surprising to anyone who knows his breed because it speaks to the predictability of the Newfoundland. A buzzword that, “Predictability,” and something to remember this May 1 when we celebrate National Purebred Dog Day. To this day, “Nelson’s” 19th century story is inspirational, and is the subject of a song by a 21st century folk band from Melbourne,  The Bastard Children. You can hear this song below:

The photo of the dog collar by Sotheby’s Australia is from a complete accounting of “Nelson’s” story which, along with pictures of “Nelson” and his owner, can be read here.