The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-01-16
a NOVEL RACE.

I
excited more than ordinary interest. 1t
ness and full grown hOg-single heat ::
distance, six English miles-for wager
of one thousand guilders.
The circumstances which led TO this
unique trial OF speed were as follows: At
sporting club at the Hague young
member expatiated upon the beauty, sym
metry and extraordinary speed of a trot-
ting horse he had that day purchased, ex
pressing an eager desire to get up match
to prove the superior qualities of his horse.
A gentleman engaged in a hand at cards,
but whose attention had been attracted by
the ardent and impassioned remarks of the
speaker, quietly remarked: ''Come, sir,
! don't be Dragging SO much about the speed
of your horse, for have pig which, for
a trihng wager, would not hesitate to
run against your animal Peals of laugh
! ter greeted this strange proposal, to which,
when they had partially subsided, the
owner of ''Grunty'' quietly interposed:
"Well, gentlemen, now challenge to run
my hog, Nero, against that gentleman's
fast trotter, in harness, one straight heat,
six English miles, fer one thousand guild~
ers a side'' ''Done done - was the
eager response from many voices. "Pro>
videa,' the challenger resumed, ''that the
horse carry two persons, and that fourteen
days time be allowed me for training my
| animal" "Agreed - resounded from all
sides, fer the joke was deemed too good
and too novel to give it the go-by.
Preliminaries being satisfactorily ar
ranged, and the stakes deposited, it was
agreed that the match should come off
that day fortnight, at eleven o'clock A NJ.
from the Hague to the sea shore at Sche-
! veningen was selected as the course. The
news of this extraordinary match for a
trial of speed between fast trotting horse
and a full grown porker, spread like wild
! fire, and caused the most intense excite
ment, not alone in sporting circles, but
among the people generaIly-all eager to
see the fun The day was anxiously
looked for, and The training of Nero begar.
Ga the first day poor Nero was starved,
strict orders having been given that no one
| should feed him, himself alone attending
| to the matter. On the second day Nero
was pretty sharp set, when, punctually at
! eleven O'Clock, his master made his ap-
pearanoe. A rope was securely fastened
to one OF his hind trotters, and his master
drove him, with many kick and forcil 3,
| persuasion, all the way over the course to
| Schevenlngen, where he fed him upon a
scanty meal of two herrings, which Nero
rayenously devoured, after which he had
to tret 1t back again 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
ravenous, but ne had TO bide his time, and
his master had to resort to the strlctest
! hog discipline TO start him off when, at
II O'Clock, he presented himself to drive
him over the course. After liberal and
energetic application of the booted foot,
and little loud and angry discussion be-
tween the respective parties, they arrived
at their journeys end, where Nero was
RECALLED with three herrings, being one ex-
tra, and which he despatched voraciously
in double quick time, looking for more,
but In vain. He was then, with much
kicking and coaxing, persuaded to resume
the return trip homeward, and which was
safely accomplished, although not without
considerable opposition, accompanied by
| vigorous squealing and determined grunt-
| ing on the part of Nero.
On the fourth day, punctuaily at eleven
O'Clock, when his master presented him
! self, Nero seemed TO understand somewhat
the object of his calling. He walked off.
not only without compulsion, but with
! considerable alacrity, at a good round
pace, to get to his journeys end, where
| his master RECALLED him not alone with his
coveted dinner of three herrings, but, IS a
reward for his tractabiity and good con-
duct, with one herring extra, and which
Nero deyoured with incredible velocity as
soon as they came within reach of his
grinders.
| On the fifth day Nero was fully I'D to
the game, sand his master experinced con-
! siderable difficulty to keep up with him
AT Scheveninger the usual allowance, now
of four herrings, was placed at his dispo-
sal and disposed of by him in short metre
On the following days, and up TO the
time OF the race, his master had no further
difficulty with Nero but to keep I'D to him
he invariably taking the lead; although
on his return trips the same difficulties
always recurred. A vigorous application
OF boots was in such cases the only con-
vincing argument with Nero, who never
could see the point, nor comprehend the
necessity of this back>track movement.
and ever obstreperouslysquealedland grunt-
ed his objections, deeming this extra exer-
else probably superfuous to his health, as
he had never shown any signs of either
dyspepsia or indigestion. Bot, be that as
Ii may, Nero had to submit to strict dis
cipline, his master intending thus to train
him up to fame and renown.
On the ninth day Nero had become per-
fectly trained, and having grown extreme