Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-20
The EpIzooTy.
che disease SIN Spreading
More Horses and Mules Attacked by
the Plague.
No Alarming symptoms or severe
Gases Reported Among the
Sick Equtnes.
oxen, MISCELLANEOUS, Bipeds and Sa-
cred Animals Being Used with
Novel Effect and Tre-
mend0us Success.

n is almost impossible to ascertain how
many animals are unwell, though the
change in the weather, which is now
warmer than for the past three days, may
have proven favorable 10 rendering the
cases here milder than in Northern cities.
Ouite a number of private horses, and
those used by merchants IN delivery wag-
ops have been seized. 1t Is common to
hear the hack and other horses coughing
on the streets, and the prevalence of the
disease is no longer subject of wonder or
alarm among our citizens. Up to this time
we have only heard of two deaths; one
was v here the horse was worked hard after
attacked, and the other colt
MANY OK TEAMS
are being driven and their novel appear
ance excites much merriment among the
urchins who follow along the sidewalks and
is temptation for the display of witty re-
marks which few grown persons can resist.
Hence much humor is given and genius
of is often manifested. The OK
is a curious beast and while not afraid OF
the snorting locomotive or the rumbling
cars takes strange notions as to the proper
turning, often refusing to go the right way.
Yesterday the driver of the Express Corn-
panv's OK team had no little annoyance in
getting his brutes to turn right, and the
moor animals when at the depot received
much cruel treatment, which undeserVed,
vet results from their unyield1Dg dlsposl-
ton. There is as much science, though OF
a different kind required IN
DRIVING OXEN,
as in running an engine or riding a two
wheel velocipede, an argument forcibly i'm
messed on the head of darkey who was
yery unceremoniously pitched from the
hack of one of these horned animals. In
the first Mace a successful OK driver must
he sufficiently versed in the quadrupedal
vocation to act as second lieutenant for
Kentucky mule driver, have constant
swing to his left leg, be able to twist bis
month into a figure 2, content himself with
tar when buffers scarce, know how 10 use
all The sibilants in the alphabet, and accus-
toned to sing sixteen songs to one tune at
The same time without affecting his jaw
bone or shocking the nerves OF e hyper
electrified old man. Such one as an OK
eniet wonld be a success. Several mer-
chants for the
DELIVERY OF GOODS
are using wheel barrows propelled oy por-
tiers, not few of whom do well, altnough
some become frightened when meeting an
OK team. Yesterday young man OF snarI
appearapce, nimble tread and modest at
tainments while pushing a wheelbarroW
down the street from the capitol was fright
ened by the convicts and ran away. Z new
mirror. half dozen glasses and as many
stsr-spancled plates with q huge pitcher,
whose ornamentation was Of yellow pump
kin vine, and pale green leaves, were emp
tied on the pavement and shivered to pieces.
A stout man from the country assisted by
an itinerant peddler caught the anrlghteo
youth in his mad career, after the latter
had run nearly two squares. Ihls we De-
IeVe is the only runaway team reported
NO STREET CARS
exeept those of the Edgefeld line have been
running since Sunday, and the hacSs are
NOT an numerous as heretofore, though
many drive sick horses. Especially is This
coromon among the negro expressmsn,
many of whom relying on the money made
by hauling, have nothing to ouy 1000 Win
in case they cease driving. Hence tney ten
YOU their horses may as well die OF SICKNESS
as 10 starVe to death.
TIE INCpNN EN1hNNh
resulting from suspension OF street car
travel is greater than most persons imagine
School children experience it and also su-
bnrban residents, workingmen, and those
who live a long way from the markethouse'
II is no wonder then that the most matter
Of fact person should be heard 10 utVer' OF
at least concur in the lines:
ITpon nv sole I've walked so much
Since horses have been hoarse,
feel like some pedestrian sport
In training on the course.
I've worn my boots to sandals, ana
The sands all in my feet;
Nv calves wont work, II oxen DO,
For horses on the street.
Such npilgrim's progress" as this is,
Makes each man "bunion" hate;
And though a strict teetotaler,
He's corned ia spite of Fate.
Forgotten now is horsemanship,
And driving's a lost art;
Hotels can't furnish carriages
They've nothing but the carte,
The price OF leather's going up
At a most fearful rate,
And every COW hides quivering,
Lest shafts should be her fate.
No car 'os now will carry us,
Urged on by drivers whacks;
Oh for the wings Icarus had,
Although they were OF wax
Then let US hope that horses may
Be freed from present woes,
And running on their feet again;
Instead o. at the nose.
Nav there come no other show,
With sick horses in the hippodrome,
But each and every man belleVe
That there is no place ike nome
For had they never 'mOng US come,
With ponies, horses, clowns and fun,
The whoop-de-snoostics were not here,
And the street cars still would be run.
The number of horses taken yesterday
was quite large and we no longer take &C
count of the new cases. The disease has
not reached Chattanooga yet, but IS sald
TO prevail in the country adjoining the
towns mentioned in our report OF yester-
day, MIR. George Thompson, Of Bedford
county. has two or more sick horses which
he thinks are affected with the epizooty,
though his neighbors believe it merely
distemper or cold. In this city the
HORSES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
have been attacked several days, though 1t
was considered advisable to make no pub
lie notice thereof until means could be
adopted to guard against arson, should
such be attempted by malicious persons.
All the horses of the Deluge aud the
Eclipse companies are affected, aud trusty
mules are now in readiness to pull the en-
zines in case of necessity. Should there
be confagration requiring the instant
presence of the engines the horses would
be used. But another method has already
been devised and men are TO
take the place of horses, during
their sickness, in the fire department.
last night was held meeting at which
fiftv-four persons were present, sll taking
an active interest in forming volunteer COM
panies. Officers were elected and commit
tees appointed to solicit names OF those
who are willing to serve in the companies
The various committees, with the officers
of the fire department, will meet at the city
council chamber at o'clock this afternoon
Reports will be made and the organization
perfected. The Memphis Appeal, Nov. Z,
says:
sLast evening the Iumor obtained cur
rencv about the city that BarDum's horses
had "Old Ep." Capt. Athy at once tele-
graphed to the Mayor of Paris, Tenn, IN.
curing about the facts, and stating tnat
aO,d Ep'' was not to be tolerated Ia MEM
mis-: Barnum would be kept outside the
gates of the city, if he came along with tne
whale and "Old Ep" together. An answer
was Immediately returned, sC"'ins 'n"'