Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-10
A Crazy Horse.

n OIdLy hVinSs
ONE OF the most curious cases ever
Known, and one that will tend to reyolu-
ionize some Of the preconceived notions
brute intelligence, has come
q light in this city. 1t would appear
hat the affection that has fallen upon
he head of one unfortunate horse is des-
,ined 10 open a new window in the
realms of science and to flood the walks
If psychological research with light upon
hat mooted question, the intellect OF the
brute.
About three months ago the firm Of q.
r. Short 81 Co. purchased for use in
heir livery stable on Elm street, near
Third, fine looking black stallion, for
which they paid $500. The animal is
specimen of horsefesh. lie
stands fifteen hands and an inch high, is
now about ten years of age, and came
rom Vermont five years ago. He was
considered one of the finest buggy
drivers ever kept on livery in the West,
md enjoyed the reputation Of three
minute horse, and, taken all in all, the
hessrs. Short found they had secured
lutte an acquisition TO their stock. The
borse was cared for and treated as a
horse of such value always is, and,
bough driven enough TO keep him
yell exercised, he was not abused or
landed recklessly. His health was and
bill Is excellent. His appetite has not
|een at all impaired. His coat is as
leek and glossy as it ever was, and he is
full and rounded as in his palmiest
AVS. Physically the horse Is all that
build bed emanded of horsefiesh.
Four weeks ago certain peculiarities
his demeanor attracted attention. IL
impossible To describe those peculiari-
les, but in horses watched SO carefully
bid attended so regularly they excited
Ime comment. Mr.. Short examined the
brse and was puzzled. In wind, limb
BID appetite he was as sound as new
bllar; but, for a horse, he manifested
lore idiosyncracies and eccentricities
IAN horsefesh had ever betrayed before.
bmetimes he would stiffen all his limbs
I'D contract his muscles and stand for
lie minutes like bronze statue. Some
-3nes he would drop down on his fore
hees and, sinking his head down be-
deen his legs, remain in that uncom-
irritable position for several minutes,
fishing the air with his tail. At other
tines he would throw his head up and,
oiening his mouth to its widest capacity,
ubuld shake all over. OF course the i'm
ptssion was that he was in pain, but il
ldked so much like a downright, jolly,
god horse-laugh that those who stood
bt would laugh in sympathy. A later
symptom was the manifestation of an in
clhation to get one fore foot into his
msnger. His legs were tied together at
llt ankles, but he refused to eat until he
had been united. Then he would imi
tase the motion of the rocking-horse
balancing himself alternately on his fore
and hind legs.
lr. Short was bewildered. Here was
a new disease to him. breaking out in his
stable, whether infectious or not he had
noidea. He looked helplessly around
upon the hundred or more stalls and
their contents, and began to speculate
upon the effect IL his hundred animals
should become similarly afflicted. Tier
helgave the cause of his bewilderment ar
extra kick in the ribs; and then sent Out
for horsemen. They came in crowds
and they came from all directions
to examine the phenomenon. They
pulled his mouth open, looked in, and
shook their heads. They pulled his eyes
OPEN, and shook their heads. They
poked him from the root of his neck to
the stump of his tail, and shook their
heads. They lifted up his four hoofs, one
after the other, and shook their heads
And then they all looked at each other
and shook their heads. rhe horse was
in perfect health, they all agreed upon
that. The most minute investigation Q
horse ever went through failed to reveal
any bodily disease. Finally an old fel
low delivered his opinions
Shouldn't wonder If the blamed hoss
was crazy"
Then they all fell back four or five fee,
and watched him.
lamay be that the existence of reason
Ing faculties Is essential to support in
sanity, but If that Is the case the exist
ence of the reasoning faculties In the
mind OF the horse is no longer debatable
For that horse is as clearly and unmis
takably insane $50 the horsemen say al
was ever human being. In their view
as has ever been known, and they are
now watching the lease" with more m
terest than even they ever manifested In
q horse before,
During yesterday quite a number o
people visited the stables and were per
mitted to examine the horse. To-day .
sort Of caucus of professionals will BIZ
held on him, and an effort will be mad,
10 locate the difficulty st Louis Globe