The Placer herald., 1859-02-05
Thrilling Incident Of the Horse Cruiser

Cruiser should be exhibited in the ring of
the circus, at London. His behavior on the
occasion is thus graphically described by an
eyewitness:
Mr.. Cooke, furthermore, showed us the
heavy iron muzzle and chain halter with
which Cruiser had been confined, and then
gave the signal to his assistants to lead the
horse into the ring.
There was suppressed murmur of voices
for moment, and rustling of dresses, and
then, with every eye fixed upon him, Cruiser
walked quietly into the ring, led by light
halter held loosely by an attendant. He
seemed at once to comprehend the strange
place into which he had been ushered
Above our heads and in continuous cir
Gle around the amphitheater, there blazed
thousand gas jets; dense crowd Of people
hemmed in the narrow circle in which he
walked, and at one side Of the gallery band
Of musicians were playing upon their clang-
ing instruments.
The horse had such fearful reputation
and the public were SO uncertain as to the
completeness Of his cure that I could not
help feeling the greatest interest in the ex-
pertinent which was about being tried.
Cruiser walked over to one side of the
ring, and timidly put his nose over the bar
rier to touch the persons of the audience
Thus for moment he walked about, first to
one side, then to the other, seemingly un-
cratain whether to attack the multitude. or
be reconciled to their presence. The ring
master advanced, calling him by name and
extending his hand. The horse switched
his tail about little, advanced toward Mr..
Cooke, and then resumed his occupation Of
making acquaintances. Not content, how
ever, to let him waste his time in that way,
Mr. Cooke managed to engage his attention,
and then tried to get him to follow him
about Of his own free will, and without being
led. He was but partially successful in the
undertaking, so without more ado he pro
ceeded to demonstrate to us the principle of
Mr. Rarey's method The first thing was to
gently stroke the horses head and neck, and
then proceeding down to the nigh shoulder
and arm to the foot, to get strap buckled
around the fetock. Proceeding always
gently and kindly, the foot was to be raised
to the under part Of the arm, and then the
strap buckled tightly around both. Depriv-
ed thus of the use Of one leg, the stroking
and aentling was to be continued down to
the other forefoot, and another and longer
strap to be bucked around that fetlock, and
The end passed through ring in stout
circinge, buckled around his body at the
commencement of the experiment. Stand
ING at the nigh side, the operator leans leavi
y against the horses shoulder, at the same
time pulling on the long strap with the view
of lifting up the off foot, and thus to throw
the horse upon his knees, and once there, to
roll him over on to his side. Mr.. Rarey
claims that when once a horse can be thus
prostrated, be is virtually under subjection.
saw that Mr.. Rarey watched the move
ments Of the horse with great interest, and
presently he observed to me that the ring
master was afraid of the horse, and had under
taken to do something for which he was in
capable. The fact was that tie horse was
bad customer to deal with, and it needed all
possible frmness and GOODNESS to make him
obey. lie was annoyed and excited by the
glare of light, the uneasy crowd and the
awkwardness of his new master The first
and second attempts to bind bis leg with
the first strap failed, each time the horse
making great efforts to get free, and the man
not daring to stand close up to his side, but
doing bis work almost at arms length. At
the third attempt the assistance of a groom
was called in, he standing at the horses head,
to hold him whilst the ring master bucl1ed
the strap. The movements of both persons
were no less hurried and awkward than be
fore, and this time the horse reared up, and
with violent effort freed his foot from its
confinement, at the same time uttering
cry Of rage. His appearance was so awful,
that with a recollection Of the evil he had
done, upon their minds, both master and
man took to their heels and ran out of the
ring to escape the fury Of the horse.
This was the signal for general consterna-
ton. The crowd, separated from the ring
by barrier only some three feet in height,
were seized with panic. Women uttered
cries, and all men, women and children,
clambered over the back seats, to get to-
wards the doors. One poor young woman
was so overcome with fright, as to precipitate
herself into my arms, and beg my protec-
ton.
Mr. Rarey, who had sat unmoved through
out the tumut, now hurriedly left me and
went down into the ring. All eyes turned
towards the venturesome man, and the crowd
fingered to see if he would be killed out
right, or perchance come off conqueror
He first called the horse by name, several
times, in gentle tone of voice, but begged
and implored the audience to be seated, and
to make no noise or confusion. Some one
called out, "Is that Mr.. Rarey!" and when
he said, "My name IS Rarey," there rang
out hearty cheer, which, however compli-
mentary to our friend, was about as bad
thing as could have been done just at the
raanaont Cor Il onlu incraasnd the eycitemant