Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-08-07
"OLD PIZEN."


Tho Fighting Horse of the Stanisla aus.
| [From the Virginia City (Nev) Enterprise.)
In the early days many years ago,
Senator Jones was engaged in min
ing on the Stanislaus River, Califor-
mia, at place called Cherokee Flat.
1t was small camp, containing
scarcely more than dozen habita-
tions, all told. The most imposing
structure in the camp was boarding
house, owned by a Mr.. Joggles, a
Missourian. This Joggles was a
man of sporting proclivities. He
owned a vicious looking old bull dog,
with but one eye, whose nose was
covered with scars, and whose front
teeth were always visible, even in the
most friendly mood. This dog he
was ready to back against any dog
on the river for a fight. He always
had two or three game roosters of
which prowess he was boastful. But
his especial glory and pride was his
fighting horse, a large powerfully
muscled and exceedingly vicious
''broncho," which he called "Old
Pizen." And 'pizen" he was to all
four-footed creatures in that region;
indeed, was SO "mean" that he was
almost poison to himself.
This fierce and unsocial beast had
taken possession of a large grassy
flat, about half mile above the
camp, and would allow no other ami
NAL to come upon what he viewed as
his private domain nor, for the mat
ter Of that, to come anywhere near
the camp. At Cherokee Flat, the old
broncho was monarch of all he sur
surveyed. He had whipped and run
off every animal that ever been bro't
to the camp. The miners several
times swore vengeance against "Old
Pizen," and would have shot him,
but that they liked Joggles, and the
soul Of Joggles delighted in "Old
Pizen," therefore they let him live.
Not content with conquering in
truders, the old broncho would chase
them for miles, running them clear
out OF the country. The moment he
saw a strange animal he laid back his
ears and went for him, using both
heels and teeth.
About all this Joggle didn't care a
cent. When told Of one of the ex-
ploits Of the animal he would laugh
III spite of himself, and would swear
that Old Pizen was the "biggest
fightin' hoss on the Stanislaus," and
that he would "back him agin any
critter that ever wore har." He
would tell how a big American horse
chased away by Old Pizen was found
forty miles distant with his tail gnaw-
ed off to a mere stump. When he
thought Of the comical appearance
the manned horse must have pres
ented with his little stump of tail
Joggles would laugh till tears ran
down his cheeks.
The fame of the ''fighting horse"
extended for miles around the camp.
Prospectors passing that way with
pack animals were warned against
him. "Beware of thetighting horser'
was the word through all that section
OF the country.
Sonora, the county scat Of Tuol-
ume County, was the source whence
the miners at Cherokee Flat drew
their supplies of 'grub" and other
necessaries. The town was fifteen
or twenty miles distant, and the min
ers would occasionally go up there,
order what they wanted, and have it
"packed" down to their cabins.
One day J. p. Jones and one of
his partners went up to Sonora to
procure supplies for their company,
known as the Buckeye" They re-
manned over night in town, intending
to return the next day. In the morn
ing, soon after they arose, they heard
Il terrible commotion in livery
stable just across the street from
their hotel. Running over to asccr-
tain the cause, they found that big
Spanish jackass had found his way
into the stable through rear door,
and was OH the war-path, among the
horses. He had cleaned out several
stalls almost at dash, and then
reached that occupied by a powerful
black stallion. Here he found work
to do. AS Jones and partner entered
a furious battle was raging, the horse
using his heels and the jack his teeth.
The horse being confined by strong
halter, the jack had rather the best OF
it. After tearing and mangling the
flanks of the horse frightfully, the
furious jack, unmindful of the blows
the stablemen were raining upon his
back, suddenly crowded himself for.
ward in the stall and seized the horse
by the underlin. Here he held on
like bulldog, the poor horse quiver.
ing in every muscle and moaning in
agony.
One Of the proprictors of the stable
drew his revolver, and was about to
shoot the savage ass, when his owner
arrived, and a fierce wrangled en-
sued. The owner of the fighting
jack drew his pistol, and for a time
it looked as though there was likely
to be "a man for breakfast"
Finally, however, the owner of the
jack succeeded in getting him away
from the trembling and mangled
horse, and drove him out of the
stable.
1t now occurred to Mr.. Jones that
here was an animal that would make
Old Pizen sick at the stomach. A
word of this thought to his partner
and they agreed, if possible, to secure
the fighting jack-ass. Esf@owing the
owner of the jack, they soon came to
an understanding with him. They
were told that the jack wa good
pack animal, and a. quiz is a lamb