American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-10-16
MisGellameous.
A RACE EXTRAORDINARY.

-
Some years ago race was run at the
Hague in Holland, which for its novelty
excited more than ordinary interest 1t
was between fast trotting horse in har-
ness and full grown hog single heat
distance, six English miles-ior wager
of one thousand guilders.
The circumstances which led to this
unique trial of speed we're as follows :
At sporting ciub at the Hague young
member of the club expa;iated upon the
beauty, symmetry, and extraordinary
speed of a trotting horse. he had that day
purchased, expressing an eager desire to
get up match to prove the hyperion
qualities of his horse. 4 gentleman, en-
gagged in a hand at cards, but whose at
tention had been attracted by the ardent
and impassicned remarks of the speaker,
quietly remarked: Come, Sir; don't be
Dragging 50 much about the swlftness nj
your horse, for / have a hog which, for a
trifipg wager, | would not hesitate TO
run against him. =" Peeis OF laughter
greeted hisstrange proposal to which
when partially subslded--thc owner of
"Grunty' quietly lnterposed 'iWel,
gentleman, | now challenge to run my
hog Nero against that gentleman's fast
trotter in harness, one straight heat, six
Eneligh miles, for one thousand guilders
aside" Done r was the eager response
from many voices, provided" the
challenger resumed, "that the horse car
ry two persons, and that f.urteen days
Si1ne be allowed me for training my an
ANAL" agreed P'"Agreed y rcsound,
ed all round for the joke was deemed
tvo good aud too uoyei to give it the 60
by. r..sI syl 4,..- .......... .-
Preliminaries being satisfactorily ar
ranged, aud the stakes deposited, it was
agreed that the match should come off
that day fortnight at IL O'Clock A. NJ.
precisely; and the beautiful avenue lead
ing from the Hague to the sea.shore at
Scheveningen was selected az the course,
The. news of this extraordinary match
for trial of speed between fast trotS
ting horse and full.grown porker spread
like wild fire, and caused the most in,
tense excitement, not alone in sporting
circles, but among the people generally
all eager to see the fun The day was
anxiously looked for, and the training
of Nero began .sH -..s
On the first day poor Nero was starved;
strict orders having been given by his
owner that no one should feed him, him
self alone attending to that matter. On
the second day Nero was p,etty sharp
set, when, punctualy at eleven o'clock,
his master made his appearance. A
rope was securely fastened to one of his
hiud trotters, and his mrster drove him
with many kick and forcible persuasion
all the way over the course to Scheven-
gen, shere he fed him upon scauty
meal of two herripgs, which Nero raw
.eneusly devoured after which he had
TO trot it back to the Hague. It may
be proper here to remark that the hog
prefers fish to any other kind of food.
- On the third day Nero felt perfectly
raven9us, but he had to bide his time,
and his master had TO resort to the strict
ezt hog discipline to start him off when,
at eleven o'clock, he presented himself
to drive him over the courss. Alter a
tiberai and energetic application of the
booted foot, and little loud and angry
discussion between the respective par
ties, they arrived at their journeys end i,
where Nero was regaleG with three her
rigs, being one extra, AMI which he dis
patched voraciously in double quick
time, looking for more, but in vain. He
was then, with much coaxing aud kick.
ing persuaded to resume rhc reksarn trip
homeward, and which was safe y accom-
plished, although not without eousidera>
bic opposition, accompanied by vigorous
squeezing and determined grunting on
the part of Nero. 3a TWi1 (
On the fourth day, puuctually at elev>
en- O'Clock, when his master presented
himself Nero seemed to understand
somewhat the object of his calling he
walked off not only without compulsion,
but with considerable aiaerity, at good
round pace, to get TO ms journeys end,
where his msster resaled him not alone
with his eovetsd dinner uof three her
rings, but, as reward for his traetabil,
ity aud gooa sJfsaasssss;;.. 18th enc herring
extra, and which Nero deroured with in.
credible velocity as soon as they came
within reach Of his grinders, 5gsi IL Z
On the fifth day Nero was fully up tc
the game, aud his master experienced
considerable difficulty to keep up with
him. At Scheveningen the usual allow
ance, now, of four herrings was placed
at his disposal and disposed of BY him in
short metre. q tsdatfnj sge ID. Sos
7 On the days following, and up to the
time of the race his master had nc
further difficulty with Nero but to keey
up with him. Nero invariably taking
the lesd although on the return trips
the same difficulties always rscurreds A
vigorous application of boets was in sucf
case the only convincing argument witt
Nero, who never could see the point mo-
Z comprehend the necessity of this bael
track movement, and every obstreperous
ly squeeIed and granted his objections
deeming this extra exercise probably su
perfuoas to his health, as be had nevel
shown any sigus of either dyspepsiaor