The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-07-23
I" OLD PIZEN."

the Stani>laus River, California, at q
place called Cherokee Flat. 1t was a
small camp, containing scarcely more
than dozen habitations, all told The
most imposing structure in the camp
was clearinghouse, owned by Mr.
loggleS. Missourian. This Joggles was
man of sporting proclivities. He
owned demonstrating old bulldog
with but one eye. whose nose was Gov.
cred with scars, and whose front teeth
were always visible, even when in the
most friendly mood. This dog he was
ready to back against any dog on the
river for a fight. He also had two or
three game ROSTERS of whose proves he
was boastful. But his especial glory and
pride was his fighting horse, large,
powerfully-muscled and exceedingly
vicious bronchO," which he called "Old
Pizcn." And "pizen" he was to all four.
footed creatures in the region: indeed,
was so mean" that he was almost poison
to himself
This fierce and unsocial beast had
taken possession of Il large grassy flat
about half mile above the camp, and
would allow no other animal to come
upon what he viewed as his private
domain: nor, for the matter of that, to
come anywhere near the camp. AT
Cherokee Flat the old broncho was mon
arch of all he surveyed. He had whipped
and run off every animal that had ever
been brought 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 Jogglcs delighted in Old Pizen, there
fore they let him live.
Not content with cOnQuering intruders,
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 Joggles didn't care a
cent When told of one of the exploits
of the animal he would laugh in spite of
himself, and would swear that Old Pizen
was the biggest tightin' boss on the
Stanislaus," and that he would back
him agin any crittcr that ever wore ha'r.' v
lie would tell how big American horse
chased away by Old PiZen was found
forty miles distant with his tail gnawed
of to mere stump. When he thought
of the comical appearance the manned
horse must have presented with his little
stump of tail Joggles would laugh till
tears ran down his cheeks.
The fame of the g fighting horse ex-
tended for miles around the camp. Pros.
pectors passing that way with pack ami.
mails were warned against him. Beware
of the fighting horsew was the word
through all that section of country.
Sonora, the county-seat of Tuolpmne
County, was the source whence the
miners at Cherokee Flat drew their sup
plies of grub" and other necessaries
The town was fifteen or twenty miles
distant, and the miners would occasion
ally go up there, order what they wanted
and have it packed" down to theil
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 remained over
night in town, intending to return the
next day. In the morning, soon after
they arose, they heard terrible commo.
ton in a livery stable just across the
street from their hotel. Running over
to ascertain the cause, they found that
big Spanish jack had found his way
into the stable through real
door, and was ON the war-path among the
horses. He had cleaned out severa
stalls almost at dash, and then reached
that occupied by a powerful black stall
lion. Here he found work to do. Al
Jones and partner entered furious bat
tie was raging, the horse using his heels
and the jack his teeth. The horse being
confined by a strong halter, the jack had
rather the best Of it. After tearing anG
mangling the TANKS of the horse fright
fully, the furious jack, unmindful of thu
blows the stablemen were raining upol
his back, suddenly crowded himself for
ward in the stall and seized the horse BY
the under lip. Here he held on like
bulldog, the poor horse quivering il
every muscle and moaning in agony.
One of the proprietors of the stabl,
drew his revolver, and was about to shoe
the savage, when his owner arrive,
and a fierce wrangle ensued. The owne
of the fighting jack drew his pistol, ant
for time it looked as though there wa
likely to be "a man for breakfast"
Finally, however, the owner OF the jacl
succeeded in getting him away from tn
trembling and mangled horse, and drov
him out Of the stable.
1t now occurred to Mr.. Jones that her
was an animal that would make OIL
Pizen sick at the stomach. A word o
this thought to his partner, and the,
agreed, if possible, to secure the fight
ing jack. Following the owner Of tn
jack, they soon came to an understand
ing with him. They were told that tn
jack was a good pack animal, and a
quiet as a lamb when no horses wer
about. When he came where there wer
horses his whole nature changed and b
went for them with the fury of tigel
The jack being an unusually powerfu
animal, the owner asked seventy-nve do
lars for him. Jones and partner agree
to run him trip on trial, and gave tn
owner seventy-five dollars, which he we
within q certain time
Having secured the fighting jach
Jones and partner packed him and start
ed home in high feather. As soon a. b
was out of town the jack became "a d.
cile and sleepy as any other old " bufro
that ever trotted trail. Before gettiu