Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-23
{" OLD PIZEN."


In the early days, many years ago,
Senator Jones was engaged in mining on
the Stanislaus River, California, at a
place called Cherokee Flat IL was a
small camp, containing scarcely more
than dozen habtations, all told. The
most imposing structure in the camp
was a boarding house, owned by Mr..
Jogglcs, "A Missourian. This Joggles was
man of sporting proclivlties lie
owned Notwithstanding 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 fight He also had two or
three game rOosters of whose prowess he
was boastful But his especial glory and
pride was his fighting horse, large,
acknowledgements and exceedingly
vicious "broncho," which he called "Old
Pizen" 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 large grassy Hat
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. Al
Cherokee Flat the old broHcbo 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 Joggles delighted In Old Pizes, 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 strange
animal he laid back his ears and went
for him, using both heels and teeth.
About all this Jogglcs didn't care n
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 flghtin' boss on the
Stanislaus." and that he would back
him agin any critter that ever wore ha'r.
He would tell how big American horse
chased away by Old Pizen was found
forty miles distant with his tail gnawcd
off to mere stump. When he thought
of the comical appearance the manned
horse must have presented with his llttle
stump OF tail ,Joggles would laugh till
tears ran down his checks.
The fame of the " fighting horse" ex-
tended for miles around the camp. Pros
pcctors passing that way with pack ami
mails were warned against him. Beware
OF the fighting horse" was the word
through all that section of country.
Sonora, the county of Tuolumnt
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 il 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 q 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 a rear
door, and was ON the war-path among the
horses. He had cleaned out several
stalls almost at a dash, and then reached
that occupied by powerful black stall
lion. Here he found work to do. AS
Jones and partner entered a furious bat
tie 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 1t. After tearing ans
mangling the tanks Of the horse fright
fully, 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 under lip. Here he held on like .
bulldog, the poor horse quivering In
every muscle and moaning in agony.
One Of the proprietors OF the stable
drew his revolver, and was about TO shoo
the savage, when his owner arrived
and fierce wrangle cnsued. The owner
of the fighting jack drew his pistol, and
for time 1t 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 tho
trembling and mangled horse, and drove
him out of the stable.
II now occurred to Mr. Jones that here
was an animal that would make Ole
Pizen sick at the stomach. A word OF
this thought to his partner, and they
agreed. II possible, to secure the night
ing lack. Following the owner OF the
lack. they soon came TO an understand
ing with him They were told that tht
lack was q good pack animal, ana ~
0uiet as lamb when no horses were
shnut When he came where there were