The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-02-18
HAWAIIAN GAZETTE
History of the Hairless Horse
CaOutchOuc.


Of Some six years ago some stockmen in
the ueighborhood of the Balosne River,
in Queensland, caught several ghmpses of
a singular looking animal in wild mob
Of horses. Many were the conjectures as
to the nature and breed of this peculiar
quadruped, his black shiny coat, without
a vestige Of hair, giving them the impress
sion Of an animated model of horse
which had been cast in India rubber At
length, after many fruitless attempts TO
secure him, he was captured. castrated,
and broke IN as 4 stock horse. The curl
osity which this strange looking quadrl-
ped at first excited in the minds of his
captOrs soon wore of, and the now famous
hairless horse was employed in ordinary
station work, his unique appearance sell
dom attracting any attention from the
rough stoekmen who were daily on his
back. Occasionally 3 stranger from 8
neighboring run would view with aston
ishment the singular beast, as urged on
By spur he headed some rambling bullock.
and some quaint remarks would be ex-
changed between the riders as TO his APP
pearance and qualities "Guess stranger
you have nd hard Your horse has left
his bsir behind" The frequent reply
would be, always does when out for
hard run viii pick it up again when he
gets home.n Many similar amusing con-
versations took place, of which Caout-
chOuc was the subject; and the fact that
he was captured near where s tribe of
hairless natives exist is marvellous. But
he was not destined long to remain in his
present state of seclusion.
Fate had intended him for a nobler des-
tiny than usually befalls the Australian
stock horse. A party of surveyors called
at the station to enquire the road by a
short cut, which would save them con-
siderable distance. One of the stockmen
kindly offered to show them the road, if
they would wait till he got his horse from
the paddock He soon appeared mounted
on this extraordinary animal, now no
longer an object of curiosity or interest
to those acquainted with him, and the as
tonished strangers prepared to follow him
while be led the way. Strange to say no
one up to this time had ever dreamed of
exhibiting the animal BY some it was
thought he was no great curiosity, and by
others that it would not "taken One of
the party, a gentleman named Farmer,
Immediately saw that fortune lay in the
animal which was being so careIesslyrid-
den by the stockmen, VINO not appreciat-
ing, or ignorant of his real value as curl
osity, was freely desesnting on his merit
for running, jumping heading, &c, &c
But this discerning individual kept his
own counsel, and determined upon bis
course of action as he silently followed
his party. His plan was arranged, and he
promptly proceeded to put it into e1ecu-
ton. Some few weeks afterwards Mr..
Farmer again put in his appearance at the
station, saw the stoekman, and enquired
could be sell him a horse to carry him to
Sydney, and asked for the same horse on
which the stockman had showed his party
their road shortly before Great was the
stockman's glee at the idea of the strang-
er riding this indiarubber looking horse
through the streets of fashionable Sydney.
But he was assured that it was of no con-
sequence what appearance the animal |
had, provided he was equal to the jour
ney. a distance of several hundred miles.
After some bargaining and chatting about |
the figure he would cut" the horse was
eventually purchased for ten pounds, and |
the stranger and his charge went their
way.
After getting within the confines civil
ization, he at once commenced to exhibit
him He was now commencing his pub
lie career, and crowds of people visited
the wonderful stranger, and his value rose
in proportion. Previous to this, an offer
was refused for him of $500 in Newcastle,
\. 5. W., and party from Berlin after
wards offered $1,000 for halfshare in the
quondam station stock horse. Shortly af-
he was disposed of to his present
owners for good sum of money, and since
then they have frequently refused 1850
for him We had almost forgotten to
state that one Of his eapturers, grieved at
the loss Of the prize which be had allowed
to slip through his fingers, commenced an
action for recovery of the same, on the
plea that be had not been agreeable to the
sale, and that bis partner in the matter
had sold him without his consent, and this
statement was borne out by the fact of
bis name not appearing on the receipt.
This action cost Mr.. Farmer, his first ex-
hibitor, over fl0O to defend, and when
the case was called, Mr.. Stockman" was
not to be found. Meantime, Mr.. Farmer
had placed the horse in charge oftwo men
for safe keeping during the trial, and they /
took advantage ofthe circumstances to de-