The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-06-24
AWASHslE HORSE,
How 'sTobacco Plant'' has Coma Out
Cured of the Poll Evil. and Worth

$4,000.
(from the Virginia New. Entc.prisc.l
To hear that the celebrated trotting horse
''T"imcco Plant" lately sold in Illinois for
$29, Geo. is Of Washoe origin will doubtless
Oe new to most Of our readers. Speak
ing Of Tobacco Plant" the Springfield,
H., FIeld nnd Farm of May 22, says:
This remarkable horse. sold DAY before
yesterday by Mr.. J. H. Roberts to Captain
Amos Hendrick for $29. 900, was long con-
sidercd of little value, and has never before
been sold for sum Ut all correspondent
with its real worth; but in this the case of
Tobacco Plant" is not singular. ''Flora
Temple" when four years of age. was sold
sold for $4,000. and in 1858 for 5000 to
w. NJ. Donald. of Baltimore II is said that
Robert BOnner's agent arrived in this city
yesterday. empowered to offer Mr.. Roberts
$50, 900 for Tobacco Plant" He was one
day too late. however, and his present owner
will not part with him Mr.. Roberts pur>
chased Tobacco Plant" less than year ago
in Salt Lake CRY, for $4,000. Of y Chicago
man. who brought him from the State of
Nevada. In Salt Lake the horse was known
as "WOodpecker," and was bad with the
|,eaves, yet he could make his mile inside of
24O!
The Deseret Herald Of May 20 quotes the
above. and adds:
The Chicago man referred to is James p.
Macneil, now Of this city. who bought
"Woodpcckcr" of one Phiander Ferguson.
less than two years ago, for $3.50. the horse
at that time being known rs ''Beeswax,"
and beinS tnuGia sc.luycsl With ahe Hiwutlcrs,
but Macncil saw that he had ''atuf' In him,
and Ivy careful nursing and trimming brought
him out, and but for the heavcs setting IN,
would doubtless have sold him for $l5, 600
or more.
The most wonderful part If "Tpbacco
Plants" history remains to be told. We
learn, through Mr.. Ferguson. that this now
famous horse Is no other than the one eyed
animal formerly owned by Patsy F0y, of
this city, and driven by him about our streets
in his regular rounds with his swill>cart
He was iheu called Jim" and besides being
blind Of al eye was badly off with the poll.
evil Ferguson thought he saw something
in the horse. and gave Patsy fOrty-ive dol.
lars for hi u. He cured Jim" Of the poll
cyl; and got him a glass eye. which i'm
grovcd his appearance greatly. Ferguson
used to train ''Jin." or ''Beeswax," rs he
called him, regularly on tho race track north
of tho city, taking HIM out nearly every
day. and finally got 2:35 out Of him. 1t was
UIOUI tlu0 tslIBC sIBOt NA0NuClA uuSt uOIICGU
the horse, Ferguson being in the habit Of
dnshing wildly along c street in his sulky
every dav. Ferguson says that but for the
horse taking the CHAMBERS, be would have
got Ut least $500 out OF Nacncil for him.
Pstsey Foy got the horse Of Piute Indian,
who picked "im up. when . three year old,
On the plains, giving the red-skin m old
shot gun and a plug of dog leg tobacco for
him. At that time the horse had sore
back, and was ba.ily alkalicd: be even had
jim" afier the Indian FINN whom he coi
him. and by liberal use of swill, brough,
out his name and tail and some of his good
qualities. but too liberal use of the butt OF
hls whip resulted in the poll.evil and the loss
of m eye, and he sold him well, as he
thought, to Ferguson for forty-five dollars.
Now, see what he is-makiny his mile in
2:l4a, and cannot be bought fol-. $50, 900.