Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-06-24
A Knowing Horse.

DURING the early settlement of Wis
consin-or the wilderness part of It, at
least-l was frequently employed by cor
from abroad to search out
certain &c ections of land and report as to
their value, timber, quality of soil, etc.
In discharging this duty l usually went
out on horseback, using favorite old
family horse. To find the particular Sec
tion described, would first find a survey
or's "blazed line" and follow it up until
| found corner post" where l would
find the "corner trees" marked with the
number of the township, range, and Sec
tion of which the post was the boundary
then by glance at the map, could tell
at once the distance and direction of the
section was in search of, and would fol-
low the blazed lines accordingly. On one
occasion-a dismal, foggy day-I had gone
a longer distance from home than usual,
and in part of the wilderness that was
strange to me. After making the survey,
the fog came on 80 very thick that dare
not take my usual course of returning
by direct route, without regard to the
angles OF the surveyor, but started on
blazed line leading nearest to the required
direction. Before going far l came to a
bog, or marsh, which was impossible on
horseback, and l was forced to go round
it. After l had got on the opposite side,
could not find the line again, and, after
searching some little time, l gave it up,
and threw the reins upon the neck of the
horse and bade him go home; preferring
to trust to his instinct to find the way,
rather than my own judgment as to the
proper direction to be taken. We had net
gone many rods before | noticed the blazed
trees for which had been looking, and
my curiosity was at once excited TO know
whether the horse really noticed the faint
marks on the trees, and was guided by
them. Accordingly, l left the reins per-
fectly free, and was soon satisfied beyond
doubt that such was the fact, for, on COM
ing TO fallen tree or other obstruction,
he would go around it, return to the line,
and follow it without mistake; in fact, he
seemed to find the line more readily than
l could myself. Afterward, tested him
time and again. 1t made no difference
whether the direction was to or from
home. Once start him on surveyors
line, and he would follow it unerringly.
If the direction was from home, on com
ing to a corner post he would make stop,
as if to inquire whether to keep straight
on, or turn to the right OF left. This was
only one of many knowing traits display
ed by him. But notwithstanding the old
fellow was so docile aud knowing, could
never persuade him to let me shoot game
from his back and, after few attempts,
was forced to give it up. He would not
let me even mount him with the gun in my
hand, or allow it to be handed to me after
had mounted. He appeared 10 have a
horror of firearms perhaps he had
noticed the result of their use on the
game, and was afraid of some time getting
shot himself. With another horse tried
an experiment that / never should
have thought of except for the in
telligence, if not reasoning power,
displayed by an old favorite. had
bought horse in Milwaukee, jet t-black,
and perfect beauty of horse-which was
said to have been caught from drove of
wild horses on the Texas prairies. He
was gentle and docile enough while in
hand, but once loose, there was no such
thing as catching him again by any of the
ordinary means used for catching horses.
In fact, the man from whom 1 purchased
him, after chasing him for days with relays
of horses from his livery stable, had been
obliged, at last, to crease" him, in order
to catch hint. g., to shoot him through
the top Of the neck, just above the neck
bone. temporarily paralyzing him, with
out doing him permanent injury. This,
TO be successfully performed, requires a
good marksman; for, If the ball struck an
inch too low, the shot would be fatal.
After / had been his owner six or eight
months, he got loose in the fall of the
year, and took to the woods near by.
used to see him often, but he would never
let me approach anywhere near him. AT
ter snow fell in the winter, and feed be-
came scarce in the woods, he could occa-
sionally be seen in the evening near the
stable, and used to leave the door open
until bedtime, and sometimes as late as two
o'clock at night, and place a measure of
oats and salt within tempting distance in.
side the stable, in hopes that he would 60
in; but he was not TO be entrapped in
that way. At last began to cast about for
the reason why he would not venture to
enter the stable while the door stood in
vitingly open and no person in sight, and
l came to the conclusion that the horse
reasoned after this manner: GAS long as
lights are burning in the house people are
stirring about, and / am liable to surprise;
after the lights are out there is no more
stir for the night, and if the door was left
open l might venture in with safety"
Taking it for granted that had solved the
problem correctly, laid my plans accord
ingly. Attaching one end of rope to
the handle of the stable door, passed the
other eLd through the window Of the
house, which commanded a view Of the
situation, and at the usual hour for retir-
ing, had the lights put out and every
thing kept quiet. The result was as
had hoped, rather than expected. The
| lights had not been out more than ten or
| fifteen minutes before the horse cautiously
approached and entered the stable. The
trap was sprung and we had him safe.
How this affected his reasoning faculties
l can't tell, but he must evidently have
considered himself taken in. That the
horse would not have gone into the stable
had the lights been left burning, dom
pretend to say; give the facts as they
occurred But am satisfied, from more
than thirty years close observation, thai
the horse observes and makes a (mental
note of a great deal more than is generally
| supposed Overland Monthly.