Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-03-06
4'lii! MIDN!(,IlT RIDE.

EliE MIDN!GMT RIDE.
"a number fyears ago,a gentleman
i'll Clydesdale offered me situation rs
head groom, which I accepted. He had
one horse Which was kept in q stable
by himself, and was without exception
the uglicst and most savage animal of
his kind I had ever seen.
There was not single point of a
strong or 4 fast horse about him. He
was black as charcoal; he was named
Satan, and richly did he deserve the
name. He woulG fly at you like a
dog, with his teeth; attempt to beat
you down with his fore feet; and strike
round the corners at you with his
hind ones. lie had beaten off all the
roug gh-riders, grooms and jockeys in
that part of the country.
After being in the place a few days,
| was asked by the gentleman, if I
thong lit could make anything Of Sa-
tan. replied, that if he would beat
me, he would be the only horse that
had ever done so; but still I consider
ca him to be by far the most savage
had ever seen: 'lry him to morrow at
jonc O'clock said he, as he turned to
so away: 4 will have y few friends
to sec how you succeed
! determined, however to try him
that night, and without any witness
to sec whether I succeeded or not. My
room was over the stables, and rs the
moon did not raise till eleven o'clock,
l threw myself upon tbs bed cloths,
and, contrary to expectations, fell
asleep. When I awoke, it was twelve
the moon was shining brightly, and
rendering everything visible as if it
were day.
went down to the stable with a
bride prepared for the purpose, and
heavily loaded whip in my hand. I
knew it that would be impossible to
saddle him; and indeed, should be
safer Oh his bare back, in the event of
bis throwing himself down. I opened
the door gently, and there he was
prone OH his side, his legs and neck
stretched out, as I have often seen
horses after sore fatigue. l clapped
my knee upon his head, looscd the
collar that bound him, slipped the bit
into his mouth, buckled the throat
band, raised him to his feet, backed
him out, lcapcd upon his back before
he had time to get his eyes right open
cd. But open them now he did, and
that with . vengeancc; he paved and
struck the wall with his fore-fect, till
fire flashed from the stones; and then
he reared till he fell right back upon
the pavement. I was prepared for
this, :na slipped off him as he went
down, and then leaped him again as he
rose. ! had as yet not touched him
with 4 whip, bride, or spur: but now
gave him the curb and the spurs at
the same instant. He gave one mad
bound and then went at 4 rate that
completely cc]ipscd the speed of the
lswittest horse had ever ridden. lie
could not trot, bu, his gallop was I'M
approachablc, and consisted in sue.
ccssion OF leaps performed with pre-.
cision, velocity and strength, abso-
lutely bewildering.
He fairly overturned all my prccon.
ceived notions ola fast horse. On he
thundered, till we camo under the
!. shadow Of . 1ir-wood, and then,
whether, out Of mischief Or dread OF
the darkness, he halted instantaneous.
", his forc.fcct so close together that
,, you might have put them into q buck.
ct. Owing to the depression of his
shouldcrs--tor he had no more withers
r than an ass-the way that he icrkcC
down his head, and the suddcnness O.
the stop, a monkey, although he hat
}. been holding on with his teeth
.. must have been unseatcd. For me,
:, was pitched a long way over his head
but alightsd upon a spot so sof
and mossy that it looked as if som,
. kind hand had purposely prepared
Il it for me. Had l been in the slightes
+ degree stunned, or unable to regal,
my feet, that instant he would hav,
torn me to peices with his teeth, an,
), beaten my manglcd body into the eartl
with his hoofS. But at once sprans
to my feet, and faced him. / coul1
have escaped by leaping into tn
wood; but my blood was up, my brai,
5 clear, and my heart gave not one extr'
pulsation. There he stood upon hi
hind-legs nearly upright, beating tn
!. air with his forc-feet, his mouth open
his upper lip curlcd, his under on
drawn down, his large white tcet1
glancing like ivory in the moonlight
AS soon as he saw me on my feet, h
gave y yell such as had never hear,
from horse before, save once, am
] which ] believe is never elected tior
that animal, except when under III
. determination ottrantic rage or fear.