The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-08-13
old PIZEN."
The Fighting Horse of the Stanislans


ator Jones was engaged in mining on tn
Stanislaus river, California, at a pac
) called Cherokee Flat 1t was u small
camp, containing scarcely more than
dozen habitations, all told The most i'm
posing structure in the camp was board
lng-house, owned by Mr.. Joggles,
: Missourian This Joggles was a man o
sporting proclivities. He owned a vicious
looking old bulldog, with but one eye
whose nose was covered with sears, anC
whose front teeth We're always visible
even when in the most friendly mood. Thi
dog he was ready to back against any dog
on the river for a fight. He also had two
) or three game roosters of whose proves
he was boastful, But his especial glory
and pride was his fighting horse, large
!, powertilllymuscled and exceedingly vic
ious ''broncho." which he called 'Olc
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 large grassy fat, about
half q 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 neal
the camp. At Cherokee Flat, the ole
broncho was monarch of all he surveyed
lie had whipped and run off every animal
that had ever been brought to the camp
The old miners several times swore ven
geance against cold Pizen.n and would
have shot him, but they liked ,Joggles, and
the soul OF Joggles delighted in Old Pizen,
therefore they let him live.
Not content with cOn0Ilarino intl. .t1arS
the old broncho would chase them tor
miles. running them clear out of the coun
try. The moment he saw 4 strange ami
NAL he laid back his ears and went for
him, using both heels and teeth.
About all this Joggles didn't care 4 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 hghtin' hoss on the Stanislaus, :"
and that he would black 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 gnawed off to a mere
stump. When he thought OF the comical
appearance the MANNED horse must have
| presented with his little stump Of tail
,Jog@as would laugh till tears ran down
his checks.
The fame OF the "ighting horse cN-
| tended for miles around the camp Pro-
Spectors passing that way with pack ami
mails We're warned against him. Beware
OF the lighting horse" wa, the word
| through AL that section OF country
Sonora, the connty seat OF Tuslumnc
! county. was the source whence the miners
| at Cherokee Flat drew their supplies OF
grub and other neccssaries. The town
was fifteen or twenty miles distant, and
! he miners would occasionally g up tilere,
order what they wanted and have it
packed" down 10 their cabins.
One day J 7. Jones and one OF his part
ner1 went up to Sonora 10 procure sup
plies l"r their company. known rs the
buckeye They remained over night
| IN town, intending TO return the next day
| In the morning, soon after they arose.
! they heard 4 terrible conimotion in 4
| livery stable Iusl across the street from
| their hotel Running over To ascertain
/ The cause they found that a big Spanish
IackaSS had found his way into the stable
I through 4 rear door and was on the war
path among the horses. He had cleaned
ont several stalls almost at dash and
then reached that occupied by q powerful
black stallion. Here he found work to do.
As Jones and his partner entered 4 furious
/ battle was raging. the horse USING his
heels and the Jack his teeth The horse
| beng confined bva strong halter. the lack
I ii."l rathnr the best Of it. AttrI LtarlnG
and manglin@ the tlankS Of the horse
/ tri9httully. the furious Jack, unmindtnl Of
The blows the stablemcn were raining mp
on his back suddenly crowded himself
forward in the stall and seized the horse
by the under-lip Here he held on like Il
bulldog, the poor horse quiverin" in every
muscle and moaning in agony
One of the proprietors of the stable
drew his revolver and was about to shoot
the savage ass, when his owner arrived
and Il fierce wrangle ensued The owner
OF the lighting lack drew his pistol, and
for time it looked as though there was
likely to be "a man tor breakfast
/ Finally, however, the owner Of the iach
succeeded in getting him away from the
trembling and mangled horse and drove
him Que Of the stable.
1t now occurred to Mr.. Jones that here
WAS an animal that would make Old Pizen
| sick ut the stomach. A word Of this
thought to his partner, and they agreed,
ii possible, to secure the fighting jackass
Following the owner of the Jack, they
soon came to an understanding with him
They were told that the lack was q good
pack animal, and as quiet as lamb when
no horses were about. When he came
where there were horses his whole nature
changed and he went for them with the
fury OF tiger The Jack being an M
usually powerful animal, the owner asked
50 for him. Jones and partner agreed to
run him a trip on trial, and gave the
owner SO, which he was to keep in case
| the Jack was not returned within certain
time.
Having secured the fighting Jack, Jones
and partner packed him and started home
in high feather. As soon as he was out
Of town, the jack became as docile and
sleepy rs any other old ''burro' that eyel
trotted a trail Before getting home the
beast became absolutely lazy, and Jones
4 Go. began TO fear that off his owr
dunghil their jack was no account as 4
fighter.
1t was about sllndown when the men
reached Cherokee Flat and drove up tc
the door OF the Buckeye Company
cabin Their partners had quit work and
come up from the bar They We're getting
supper, but, for 4 time discontinued the
work of frying bacon and baking slap
Jacks TO come out and ask y. 7. and
companion how they came by the bio
donkey.
In rs few words as possible Jones made
them acquainted with the character Of the
beast When he had finished his account
Of the scene at the livery stable, every
| man OF the Buckeye COMPANY was firmly
convinced that the big jack could "walk
the log Of old Nick himself; but mum
was the word No hint of the fight
ing qualities of the animal was to 60 out
of the cabin
Presently Jo@gles. whose boarding
house was just acrossthe street, espled the
jacbass, and came over to where he was
being nnpacked
A smile struggled about the corners OF
his mouth rs he came
Walking up to the beast and cycling
him from stem 10 stern for 4 time. Jo~gleS
/ said