New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-15
Cruelty to Animals.

The following article from the Chicago Times of
the 18th inst, is well worthy of consideration,
nrutatiS nlutdndis quite near home;
A late New York newspaper publishes history
of the formation growth present character and
objects Of a society in that city for the proven
ton Of cruelty to animals. The objects involved
in the organization of this society include all sorts
of animals and every kind of misuse to which
they may be subjected. The society oVerlooks
the operations of butchers, drOvers and cartmen
it has an eye upon the owners Of gamecocks and
bulldogs; it inspects the plucking Of chickens,
and sees to it that turtles and HOLSTERS are pre-
pared for the kettle with no unnecessary torture.
If we take half hundred men Unfortunately
from the street, greater or less per centage of
them will be found to be thorough brutes. Per-
haps it is uncomplimentary to the lower order of
animals 10 name such men brutes. The brute
proper, if it infiet pain does without knowledge.
Its human imitatOr is equally insensate in the in
Fiction of pain; but he does not have the excuse
of a lack Of knowledge. For this reason the hu-
man brute is infinitely more culpable than his
namesake among the lower order of animals.
If there be any place in the United States in
which there should be a society for the preven-
ton of cruelty to animals, it is Chicago. Two
legged brutes here have full swing. Either the
public is thoroughly calloused, or else, II 1t have
any indignation over repeated acts of cruelty
everywhere visible, it is too busy to give the mat
ter proper attention. We presume there is not
a man in the city whose business calls him to
cross the river bridges that has not witnessed
frequent and detestable acts of cruelty at these
crossings, Chief among these is the overlooking
of horses. The poor brutes, drawing load of
freight, are given all they should draw upon
level When they 90 up the grades of the bridges
their exertions, as they strain and slip upon the
rails, are terrific and frightful. The scene is ex
citing and almost tragic when to it are added the
fierce oaths and savage blows of the teamsters.
Another common and disgusting occurrence is
witnessed at all hours of the day everywhere. 1t
is that of calves tied and lying upon the sidewalk
in front of butcher-shops. The four legs are
brought together; fine, stout string is passed
about them SO tightly that it disappears in the
swelling of the irritated flesh. Confined in this
painful manner, lying in the scorching sun, COW
cred with hungry flies, the poor beast lies for
hours, incapable of movement. Something of the
sort may be seen on the streets IN butcher-carts
or country wagons, in which a number of calves
securely fastened are piled upon each other, de-
spite the savage heat.
At the stock yards the instances of cruelty are
said to be both frequent and malignant. 1t is not
uncommon, when hog is unable to stand, to
drive hook into its jaws, and then to drag it
upon truck for conveyance to some other point
AT the same time, save the dirt, the following
scenes described as taking place in New York are
offrequent occurrence here: u4
d" At the great cattle Enclosure on the upper
part of Fifth avenue and elsewhere, may be seen,
crowded together in q narrow space, with no
shelter, large droves of weary, dirty, perspiring
steers, that have come by rail to the market
hundreds of miles, with not drop of water nor
1norsel Of food They trample about the filthy
muck VI tue pen, low most plteOuSly, ana l0l Ou1
their tongues in misery, while their large, blood
shot, but expressive eyes, beg crafty for water
Some of them exhibit serious hurts and abrasonS
of the skin, obtained on their passage in the
rudely-constructed cattle cars others have theil
horns wholly or partially broken off; and all Of
them appear painfully distressed Brutal drovers
stride in among them, with a blow here and
kick there the forest of horns Struggle together
and rise and fall they hook and kick and bitt
each other, and crowd this way and that--anl
way to escape the blows which menace then
from all directions; and thus they are driven tt
the stables, where their hot, painting, thirst,
bodies are often butchered in the most barbarou
manner-dispatch being the main object with TIN
slaughterer.n
The enumeration of cases of cruelty of the mos
common occurrence in Chicago might be con
tinued indefinitely. One sees every day in tn
early part of summer bull-headed Teutons from
the country driving COWS and calves to the Ran
dolphstree market The calf scarcely old enOug
to stand, and used to being driven, is urged fol
ward by blows from a heavy cudgel or, with pre-
trudng tongue, it is dragged along by a cor
around its neck. Poultry sent here from dis
lance is placed in boxes, and during all the trans
aud while remaining exposed for sale, is deprive
of water.
There never was more fruitful field for bt
neVoent society that would befriend animals tina
is Chicago. From the shooting and clubbing b
policemen of inoffensive pedestrians to the mau
ing of 0yerworked horses by ruffanly drivers, an
the persistent and deliberate torture of hogs
cattle and poultry by unfeeling Dealers there is a
aggregation Of evils that humanity and cOmmo
dnrnunV ahpi,ll ha cd